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Ground source proves ideal for stunning rural self-build

Ground source proves ideal for stunning rural self-build

A stunning contemporary design self-build house in rural North Norfolk is enjoying the benefits of renewable heating thanks to Finn Geotherm.

Located near Fakenham, the bespoke detached property is the vision of owners Rod and Pat George. Built entirely using Porotherm blocks within a light steel frame, the house uses some of the most up to date construction techniques and materials from around Europe. Energy efficiency has also remained front of mind, with all of the property’s spectacular 100m2 of floor to ceiling windows being triple glazed.

Rod and Pat managed the entire build themselves and when it came to heating, they took advice from their Finnish daughter-in-law who had seen first-hand the effectiveness of heat pumps to heat properties across Scandinavia. By contacting heat pump expert Finn Geotherm early on in the project, they were able to design a ground source system which fitted perfectly with the property’s requirements.

Rod explained:

“We’d previously had gas in our old house but, having done our research, we knew it was going to be extremely costly to bring a supply up to the new house. A ground source heat pump system was a much more cost effective, cleaner and lower maintenance option, which also fitted perfectly with what we were trying to achieve with our project, so we approached Finn Geotherm – the sole distributor of Lämpöässä heat pumps from Finland.”

After completing a full site survey, Finn Geotherm specified and installed a Lämpöässä VM9 ground source heat pump with 480litre thermal store, fed by three 60m boreholes in the garden. The closed loop system was installed by local company James & Milton Drilling who are based in Great Ryburgh. Heating is distributed throughout the house using underfloor heating and the entire system is controlled by wireless remote.

Pat said:

“We chose the best contractors we could find to help create our dream home and Finn Geotherm was certainly one of them. They made the entire heating system installation effortless and their knowledge and expertise were second to none.”

Having had the heat pump installed in June 2017, Rod and Pat have enjoyed a full four seasons in their new home and are also benefitting from quarterly Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments which are payable for their heating system for seven years.

Rod sums up:

“I can’t overstate the huge difference that having hassle-free heating has made to our lives. We can get on with enjoying our home and don’t have to give heating or hot water a second thought. The heat pump just sits in the garage and ticks away. Even with two families currently living in the house, we never run out of hot water and it’s always the perfect temperature for a bath.”

Rod and Pat are already planning their next project – a five bedroom home for their daughter-in-law, complete with an air source heat pump.

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