News from Econic Renewable Energy Solutions

renewable energy solutions

home	about econic About Econic News Press releases Econic in the Press Contact us Where to find us Vacancies Links Privacy policy Register Health and Safety	econic solutions Econic Solutions Viability Renewable choices Building requirements Finance & grant options Design Site research Site testing System design Delivery Supply Install Commission Aftercare Planned maintenance Emergency call out Extended warranty Fault finding Solution Downloads	technology solutions Technology Solutions Energy Sources Ground Water Air Sun Plant Room Equipment Introduction to heat pumps Ground source heat pumps Air source heat pumps Water source heat pumps Integration & control Heat Distribution Underfloor heating Low temperature radiators Air handling units Future Developments Technology Downloads Rotary drilled Hydraulic pushed Sonic drilled Thermal piles Deep geothermal Horizontal Open Closed Air to air Air to water	finance solutions Finance Solutions Renewable Heat Incentive Renewable energy finance LCBP phase 1 grants LCBP phase 2 grants CSEP Grants Council grants Carbon Trust loans Enhanced capital allowance VAT benefits Finance Downloads	case studies Case Studies Hellesdon Hospital Scarning Primary School Denman College Hethersett Farm GreenGauge Eco Homes Ramsgate Library Peaseland Housing East Carleton Rye Primary School Stowupland Pre-School Broadlands Housing Assoc Southwold Stanwick Lakes Gainsborough Educational Village The Barn Barrington Winnersh Triangle Laburnum House	contact

Read the latest news from Econic, including details of projects, both new and completed, and developments in the renewable energy services and solutions offered by Econic.

Renewable heating needs a boost	June 2010
Latest Government figures released today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change reveal that renewable heating and cooling still only account for less than 2% of total heating and cooling demand in the UK.	back

The latest Government figures on UK energy trends released today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change reveal that renewable heating and cooling still only account for less than 2% of total heating and cooling demand in the UK. This figure has barely changed over recent years and there has even been some reduction in biomass heat production according to DECC. Over the same period renewable electricity generation has increased significantly mainly due to subsidies through the Renewables Obligation and more recently from the Feed-In-Tariff scheme. Heating and cooling of buildings accounts for almost 50% of total UK energy usage and also about 50% of total CO2 emissions. “It’s clear from these figures that something urgently needs to be done to encourage the take of renewable heating systems like heat pumps” said Steve Roberts Sales and Marketing Manager at Econic a leading specialist in heat pump technology. “The new Government needs to get behind the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme proposed by the previous administration. Without their unequivocal support for the RHI the UK will continue to lag behind the rest of Europe in renewable energy production” he added. The proposed RHI scheme is designed to overcome some of the barriers to the widespread adoption of technologies like heat pumps. An annual subsidy will be paid to owners of renewable heating systems based on the amount of renewable heat generated. These payments, guaranteed over the lifetime of the system, will be set at a level that offers a good rate of return for anyone prepared to make the investment in a renewable heating system. The RHI is planned for introduction in April 2011 but the industry and consumers need assurances from the new Government that it is still aiming to meet this date. The full report on UK Energy Trends can be found at click for report

Econic is recruiting!	April 2010
As a result of its continued expansion Econic is looking to hire two high calibre field sales engineers to service clients in the construction industry supply chain.	back

Econic is recruiting! As a result of its continued expansion Econic is looking to hire two high calibre field sales engineers to service clients in the construction industry supply chain. You will work independently from a home-office base, supported by the Sales and Engineering teams. We are looking for one candidate based in the North of England and a second for the South East region. The ideal candidate will have experience in the ground source heat pump sector but someone with experience in the broader M+E world would also be of interest. If you are interested in finding out more about the role please call Sales and Marketing Manager Steve Roberts on 07554 458120 or email your CV to hr@econicres.com We also expect to have further vacancies in this fast growing sector and are always looking out for committed, enthusiastic individuals to join our team. Please send your CV to the email address above for consideration.

Econic shortlisted for prestigious renewable energy award	February 2010
Econic has been shortlisted for “Renewable Energy Project of the Year”	back

Econic has been shortlisted for “Renewable Energy Project of the Year” in the Heating and Ventilation News annual awards. The shortlist recognises Econic’s pioneering ground source heat pump installation at Hellesdon Hospital near Norwich. The heat pump system that Econic installed at the new hospital building features the largest ground collector of its type in the UK. The heat pumps at Hellesdon get their energy from a so-called hydraulically pushed ground collector. This technique, that Econic has pioneered, literally pushes the collector piping into the ground with a hydraulic ram. It is faster, quieter and cleaner than conventional drilling methods used for heat pump ground collectors. A total of 120 “pushes” were carried out at Hellesdon, each to a depth of about 25m. More details on the project can be found at Econic - Hellesdon Hospital Case Study “We’re obviously delighted that the Hellesdon project has been recognised in this way” said Murray Treece, Managing Director of Econic. “We hope we can go on to win the category when the results are announced at the end of April” he added. Econic operate nationwide from their base in Norfolk specialising in the planning, installation, integration and commissioning of ground, air and water source heat pumps and integrated solar thermal systems from large one-off domestic to large scale commercial heating and cooling installations. For more information visit the web site at Econic Website

Heat Pumps to attract significant subsidies	February 2010
Government announces details of proposed Renewable Heat Incentive	back

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) today announced details of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which is aimed to encourage the take-up of renewable heating technologies such as air and ground source heat pumps. The RHI will offer owners of renewable heating systems annual subsidy payments for the production of low carbon heating at a level designed to remove the barriers to installation. The levels of the subsidy, which is to be introduced in April 2011, are detailed in the DECC consultation document which can be found at: DECC Consultation Document The relatively high capital cost of heat pump systems is sometimes seen as a barrier to their widespread deployment, even though they can offer major benefits in terms of CO2 reduction and operating cost savings” said Murray Treece MD of Econic, a leading heat pump installer. “The RHI payments, at the levels outlined in the DECC consultation, will offer users of heat pump systems a guaranteed return on their investment and stimulate growth in the renewable heating sector”. Heating of buildings accounts for about 50% of total UK energy use and carbon emissions. The Government target is that 12% of all heating be supplied by renewable sources like heat pumps by 2020. The RHI scheme is seen as a vital part of this ambitious plan. Econic operate nationwide from their base in Norfolk specialising in the planning, installation, integration and commissioning of ground, air and water source heat pumps and integrated solar thermal systems from large one-off domestic to large scale commercial heating and cooling installations. For more information visit the web site at Econic Website

ECONIC – IN THE LOOP ON MAJOR HEAT PUMP PROJECT	January 2010
PART OF £100M WINNERSH TRIANGLE OFFICE DEVELOPMENT	back

Econic, the leading specialist heat pump contractor has recently completed work on a major renewable energy project at SEGRO’s Winnersh Triangle Phase 1 office development near Reading. The £100M scheme will see the construction of four office buildings, totalling 328,000 sq ft (35,790 sq m), a 168-bedroom hotel with leisure and conference facilities and 19,805 sq ft (1,840 sq m) of retail and restaurant space. Developers SEGRO want to make this one of the most sustainable office developments in the Thames Valley and the buildings on the site are all designed to meet the BREEAM “very good” environmental rating. A number of measures have been taken to reduce the environmental impact of the development including a large capacity ground source heat pump system to provide cooling for the office buildings. The ground source heat pump system at Winnersh uses a so-called “open loop” technology to provide cooling for the offices. In most ground source heat pump systems a special heat transfer fluid flows around a “closed loop” of plastic pipes which are buried in the ground. In an “open loop” system groundwater is used directly to provide heating or cooling. Water is extracted from a well and passed through a heat exchanger before being pumped back into the ground via a second well. The groundwater in the area stays at a more or less constant temperature of around 14°C all year round. During the summer this source of chilled water is used to remove excess heat from the building via the heat exchangers. This method of cooling produces much lower CO2 emissions than conventional air conditioning systems. Cooling is one of the largest energy consumers in many commercial buildings. Specialists Econic were brought in by Wates Construction to manage the installation of the well equipment and heat exchangers as part of the circa £1.9M cooling and heating installation. A total of four wells have been sunk at the site, two for the abstraction of water and two for the re-injection of the water after it has been used. Each pair of wells is connected to a large plate heat exchanger that forms part of the cooling system of the buildings. The heat exchangers themselves are over 2m high and water flows through them at up to 20 litres a second. Each heat exchanger can provide up to 500kW of cooling for the offices. 'There aren’t many companies with the necessary skill and experience to take on large, complex open loop projects like this one' commented Murray Treece Managing Director of Econic. 'If renewable energy systems are to truly deliver on their promise it’s vital that installations are carried out by well qualified contractors like Econic' he added. Econic operate nationwide from their base in Norfolk and carry out a wide range of projects from one-off domestic to large scale commercial installations like this one. For more information visit the web site at www.econicres.com. SEGRO plc is a commercial property investment and development company that leads the way in the provision of flexible business space across Europe for more information visit www.segro.com and www.winnershtriangle.co.uk

Econic supports BRE low carbon seminar series	November 2009
Econic are working with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on a series of renewable energy seminars throughout the UK.	back

Econic are working with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on a series of renewable energy seminars throughout the UK. The talks are designed to give an update on the options currently available for financing renewable energy projects including the Low Carbon Building Program Phase 2 (LCBP2E). The LCBP2E program, which BRE manages on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change, has recently been extended with £35 M of additional funding. The BRE seminars are aimed at Government and not-for-profit organisations that can get up to £200k of funding towards renewable energy projects via the LCBP2E scheme. The seminars will also explain how the proposed Feed-In-Tariffs for on-site electricity generation and the Renewable Heat Incentive are intended to work. Econic is presenting a case study at the seminars to show how the Norfolk NHS has benefitted from the available grants to install heat pumps and solar photovoltaics at a new unit in Norwich. “Keeping up to date with the latest grant and tariff schemes isn’t easy” said Steve Roberts Business Development Manager at Econic who is speaking at the seminars. “We hope to reach almost 800 people all over the country during the seminar series and make them aware of the opportunity that exists to get funding for their renewable projects” he added. A large amount of funding is still available from the LCBP2E program, particularly for heating systems using heat pumps and biomass boilers. The scheme runs until April 2011. The seminars, which are taking place in nine cities during November, December and January 2010, are now all fully booked.

Want heat? Get a Heat Pump!	November 2009
Setting fire to chemicals like gas should be made a thermodynamic crime	back

Professor David Mackay, the newly appointed Chief Scientific Officer for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, has reiterated his support for heat pump technology in comments he made recently after his appointment in September. “Setting fire to chemicals like gas should be made a thermodynamic crime,” he said. “If people want heat they should be forced to get it from heat pumps. That would be a sensible piece of legislation.” Professor Mackay made his comments as part of wide ranging analysis of the problems the UK faces in meeting the challenge of climate change. He believes that the UK needs to move away from fossil fuel based heating to forms of electric heating like heat pumps. The low carbon electricity needed will be generated from a big increase in nuclear capacity as well other renewable sources like wind and solar, according to Professor Mackay. Almost 50% of the UK’s CO2 emissions are generated heating buildings, mostly through the burning of gas and oil. Some European countries, like Sweden have already moved to a low carbon electricity generating grid using a combination of nuclear and renewables. It’s no surprise that heat pumps are now used to heat nearly all new houses in Sweden. “North Sea gas is running out fast and other sources of gas may prove unreliable over time.” Murray Treece, Managing Director of Econic commented. “We quickly need to find other ways to heat our homes. Heat pumps are one of very few viable alternatives to provide the central heating and hot water we’ve become used to.” he added. Heat pumps use electricity to extract heat from the environment, usually from the ground or the air around us. Over three quarters of the energy produced by the heat pump comes for free from a sustainable, renewable source. Unlike other sources of renewable energy like wind and solar, the heat in the ground or the air is always available for use.

Ingenious Econic	October 2009
Heat Pump Project Wins Prestigious RIBA Award	back

Laburnum House near Ely in Cambridgeshire, designed by Graeme Lockhart of CMP Architects has scooped the Royal Institute of British Architects East “Spirit of Ingenuity” award for residential project of the year. The project was also commended in the sustainability section of the RIBA awards. Renewable energy specialists Econic were responsible for the design and installation of the ground source heat pump and under floor heating systems on the project. The house is designed to take full advantage of spectacular views of Ely Cathedral, fenland and River Great Ouse and respond to its environment, promoting sustainability and biodiversity. In addition to the ground source heat pump system the house features a number of other sustainable elements including a reed bed drainage system and wind turbine. Econic worked closely with the architect to specify the renewable energy systems for the house. In a well insulated and well designed, new build property like this, a ground source heat pump provides the most cost effective form of heating as well as significantly reducing the CO2 emissions normally associated with fossil fuel heating. The property is not on the mains gas network so oil or LPG heating would have been the only other choices available to the client. “Econic are one of the leading specialist contractors in the renewable energy sector.” said Murray Treece Managing Director. “It’s great to be involved with award winning projects like this one where the client shares our vision for a low carbon future in the built environment.” He added. Econic are involved with projects from prestigious one-off domestic installations like this one, up to large scale commercial schemes for schools, hospitals and prisons.

Econic becomes a CHAS accredited supplier	July 31st 2009
Econic is now an accredited supplier under the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS).	back

Econic is now an accredited supplier under the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS). The scheme, which has been running for over ten years, was set up to make life easier for public and private sector organisations looking to hire contractors to carry out work for them. Instead of having to individually assess the health and safety credentials of a potential new supplier the organisation can simply check the CHAS database to find a suitable contractor. The CHAS scheme ensures that accredited contractors meet a rigorous set of health and safety criteria. "Health and safety is very important to Econic and we’re delighted to have been granted CHAS accredited status" said Murray Treece, Managing Director of Econic. "The scheme will save our customers lots of time and effort and as a contractor we can reduce the resource needed to fill in individual health and safety questionnaires each time we work with a new client" CHAS has more than 400 public and private sector buying organisations registered who have access to over 25,000 listed contractors.

Heat Pumps to play important role in Government Renewable Energy Strategy	July 15th 2009
The Government has acknowledged that heat pumps will play an important role in achieving ambitious renewable energy targets	back

The Government has acknowledged that heat pumps will play an important role in achieving the ambitious renewable energy targets for 2020 set out today. In its Renewable Energy Strategy document the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has outlined a plan to have 15% of the UK’s total energy requirements met using renewable sources by 2020. Of this 15% almost a third is expected to come from renewable heating systems like heat pumps. This would mean that by 2020 12% of all heating in the UK was delivered from renewable sources, principally heat pumps and biomass boilers. That amounts to a total of 72tWh’s of heating or the equivalent of heating over 4 million households! The Government projects that between 40 and 50% of all renewable heating could be coming from heat pump systems by 2020 with the balance mostly coming from biomass systems and biogas. Both ground and air source systems are seen to have a role with a roughly 50-50 split between the two technologies being anticipated by 2020. DECC acknowledges that “heat pumps could also play a more important role than previously estimated..” Murray Treece Managing Director of Econic said “We welcome this endorsement of heap pump technology from the Government and hope to play a major role in helping these ambitious targets be delivered”. For more information visit the DECC web site at http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/publications/lc_trans_plan/lc_trans_plan.aspx#1

Air Source Heat Pumps are Renewable!	July 1st 2009
It has now been agreed at a European level that air source heat pumps are a recognised renewable energy system.	back

After some discussion between the industry and the regulators it has now been agreed at a European level that air source heat pumps are a recognised renewable energy system. The new EU renewable energy directive, coming fully into force in 2010, will set this out in detail. The new directive will also agree standard methodologies for establishing the renewable contribution of a variety of technologies and the SPF’s* of particular systems. This should make life much easier for people specifying renewable energy systems, particularly when they are trying to compare the pro’s and con’s of different technologies and manufacturers. “There’s been a lot of confusion over this issue, with some authorities allowing air source heat pumps to count as renewable while others do not” said Murray Treece Chief Operating Officer of Econic. “There’s also been an inconsistent approach to the performance claims made for heat pumps by the various manufacturers. Hopefully this directive will help clarify that situation” *SPF – Seasonal Performance Factor. This is a measure of the average efficiency of a heat pump system over the course of a heating season.

New High Efficiency Air Source Heat Pumps from Econic	June 18th 2009
A new range of high performance, high efficiency air source heat pumps are now available from Econic.	back

A new range of high performance, high efficiency air source heat pumps are now available from Econic. The new products which have outputs from 12 to 40kW are being manufactured by Econic’s partner Dimplex. Using an innovative design approach these systems achieve levels of efficiency previously unheard of in air source heat pumps. The so-called Coefficient of Performance or CoP of a heat pump measures the ratio between the amount of electrical energy used to drive the heat pump and the useful heat delivered. If one unit of electricity delivers four units of heat then the system is said to have a CoP of 4.0 or to be 400% efficient. For an air source heat pump the CoP is measured at a particular air and heating system flow temperature. With an air temperature of 7°C and a flow temperature of 35°C the new TU range of air source heat pumps from Dimplex have CoP’s of between 4.2 and 4.8, much higher than previous models. The Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF), which aims to give an estimate of the average CoP during the heating season, is 4.0 or more for the TU range. Dimplex have taken a new approach to the design of the fans and evaporators at the heart of these systems. Coupled with the latest compressors and refrigerants this has enabled them to deliver very high levels of efficiency. In addition the new fans feature so-called “owls wing” blades that create a more natural sounding and less disturbing noise. One model is capable of cooling and it is also possible to set the twin compressor models up so that each compressor delivers water at different temperatures, for heating and domestic hot water. “Air source heat pumps can be a great choice, particularly in the UK climate where winter temperatures are relatively mild” said Murray Treece Chief Operating Office of Econic. “These new models from Dimplex offer a real, cost effective alternative for renewable heating and cooling applications”. The new products are available starting in June.

Grant Scheme Extended for Econic Customers	May 2009
£45 million available to support renewable energy installations	back

Following the announcement in the budget of an additional £45m to encourage the installation of renewable energy systems the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced an extension to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP). £10m of the funding has been allocated to Phase 1 of the LCBP which is aimed at householders. This phase, which was originally due to end in July 2010 has been extended to July 2011. The remaining £35m has goes to Phase 2 of the LCBP which is for community and public buildings. This scheme was due to end in June this year but has now been extended to April 2011 at which point a new renewable heat initiative is planned to be in place. Econic is an approved installer under the Low Carbon Building Programme so can help customers get access to this grant funding for their renewable energy projects. In fact Econic did the first heat pump project approved under the LCBP2 scheme and have helped a large number of clients to date. In fact Econic has to date worked with customers on projects totalling over £1m in value that have received part funding. Murray Treece Chief Operating Officer at Econic said “it’s great to see the Government putting its money where its mouth is and continuing to support the wider use of renewable energy” “climate change is an issue that affects us all and this funding will help develop the market for low and zero carbon technology in the UK” he added. LCBP Phase 1 Under Phase 1 homeowners can get a grant of up to £1200 towards the cost of a ground source heat pump system or £900 for a qualifying air source unit. Solar thermal and other renewable energy systems can also be supported by these grants. LCBP Phase 2 This scheme is aimed at community and public buildings like village halls, schools, hospitals and sports clubs. Up to 50% of the total installation costs for a renewable energy system can be granted for qualifying projects. In a new development larger scale heating systems up to 300kW are now eligible for grants, opening up a wider range of potential projects. The maximum available for any one project is £200,000 which can make a big difference to the affordability of a heat pump system for example. As a specialist heat pump and solar installer Econic can advise customers on whether their project is eligible under the LCBP scheme and assist with the application process. They can also help with other sources of funding that in some cases will mean that the entire renewable energy system can be paid for through grants! For more information contact Econic by phone on 01603 277 040 or by email at info@econicres.com or consult the web site at www.econicres.com Press contact: Murray Treece

Econic Agrees Investment From Cape Verde Capital	May 2009
Specialist renewable energy contractor set for expansion	back

Marsham Norfolk, May 2009 – Econic the renewable energy specialist contractor has agreed to an investment from Cape Verde Capital in order to support the company’s continued expansion. Under the agreement Cape Verde, the renewable energy investment arm of the Wates family will acquire 50% of Econic. Econic specialises in the installation of ground and air source heat pump systems, solar thermal collectors and under floor heating. Richard Palmer, Chief Executive of Econic said: “We have been looking for an investment partner for 18 months. It was important that we work with someone who could bring more to the business than investment funds. Cape Verde and its shareholders bring a wealth of experience and a substantial track record within the construction industry. They also bring a shared vision, with the Econic board, of expansion and substantial growth in the renewable energy market. As CEO of Econic I am absolutely delighted that Cape Verde has invested in the company and I look forward to working with Jonny Wates, our new chairman and the rest of the Cape Verde team”. Jonny Wates, Chairman of Cape Verde Capital said: “This is Cape Verde’s third investment in the renewable energy market and we see demand in this sector growing rapidly as organisations and householders wrestle with the twin challenges of climate change and rising energy costs” With some of the most experienced specialists in the heat pump industry Econic can help with every aspect of a renewable energy installation from initial feasibility through to installation and commissioning. Started in 2005, the company operates nationwide from its main office near Norwich and currently has more than 25 employees. Cape Verde is the renewable energy investment arm of the Wates Family. It aims to buy stakes in early stage companies in the renewable energy field, working with entrepreneurial managers to help them to realise the full potential of their businesses. Cape Verde brings capital, expertise and the benefit of an affiliation with Wates Group, a major UK construction and property development business. For enquiries regarding Econic please contact Richard Palmer on 01603 277 040 or at rpalmer@econicres.com For enquiries regarding Cape Verde please contact Belinda Luton on 01372 861 264 or at belinda.luton@wates.co.uk

Econic Nominated for Prestigious Award	April 2009
Econic Ltd have been nominated for a Micropower award for their work on Ramsgate Library	back

Econic Ltd have been shortlisted in the Public Sector category of the prestigious Micropower Awards 2009 for their work on Ramsgate Library. In August 2004, Ramsgate Library was almost completely destroyed by fire, leaving only the external walls standing. An ambitious plan was put together to rebuild the library inside the original facade and in May 2006 planning consent was granted and work commenced. The client and architect wanted to create a modern interior within the original structure, and as part of the desire to incorporate the latest technology ground source heat pumps were specified by Econic to heat and cool the building. The Micropower Council Annual Conference took place on Wednesday 29th April 2009 at the BERR Conference Centre, London and was followed by the Awards Dinner at One Whitehall Place, London. Although Econic Ltd missed out on the prize, the judges commented on the strength of the application.

Econic Helps Return Historic Library to Former Glory.	February 2009
Ramsgate's historic library opens for business after fire.	back

In February 2009, Ramsgate Library opened again for business after fire gutted the building which had served its community for nearly 100 years. Econic was pleased to be part of the project to restore this landmark building not only to its former glory, but also giving it an environmental stamp of approval in the process. Econic designed the ground energy array to provide both heating in the winter and cooling in the summer to ensure the library can be kept at a comfortable temperature all year round. To do this, a total of 84 hydraulically pushed concentric ground collectors were installed around the library grounds and at the time of installation, this was the largest hydraulically pushed array in use. The array was then connected via trenches to field manifolds, and then to the two Dimplex SI 50TE heat pumps. These supply a heating output of 46.7kw per heat pump. Once the ground energy array was installed it was flushed, to clean out the pipes, purged of air, filled with the ‘brine’ – a food-grade anti-freeze - and pressure tested. Ramsgate’s Golden Globe winning actress Brenda Blethyn, attended the opening ceremony and wrote out a cheque for £26.00 to cover her overdue fines for a book she had taken out before the fire closed the library.

Econic Complete Largest GEC to date.	December 2008
Largest Ground Energy Collector completed by Econic.	back

For the project at Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich, for the Norfolk & Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Econic specified the use of innovative hydraulic pushing technology to install the ground energy array (GEA) as a lower cost and quicker alternative to conventional methods. This technique, adapted from the world of geological analysis, pushes a special pipe into the ground using hydraulic rams mounted on a special rig. The GEA at Hellesdon is made up of a total of 120 pipes that were pushed to a depth of 25m into the chalk beneath the car park and landscaped areas at the site, making this probably the largest pushed collector in the UK to date. The building also incorporates 2 large arrays of photovoltaic cells to help power the two 50 kW Dimplex SI50 TE heat pumps, as the NHS aims towards a zero carbon footprint.

Hellesdon Goes Green	November 2008
Local MP Praises ‘Push’ for Zero Carbon During Norfolk Hospital Visit	back

Dr Ian Gibson, MP for Norwich North, today visited the new mental health building under construction at the Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich for the Norfolk & Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. It is being constructed in line with the NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy which aims to make all state medical facilities zero carbon by 2018. The new building features the use of solar photovoltaic cells that help to power the two 50 kW Dimplex ground source heat pumps which will heat the building. Norfolk based specialist engineering contractor Econic was responsible for the design and installation of the ground source heat pump system at the hospital. The two heat pumps will be used to supply the under floor heating system within the new building. The use of heat pumps in this way, using electricity generated from photovoltaic panels on the roof delivers an effectively zero carbon heating system. Speaking during his visit Dr Gibson said: “Seeing heat pumps and solar energy panels, which will save a fortune, is in my experience the first example in Norfolk of an environmentally sustainable project of this type.” "Renewable energy is a major government enterprise, so it is spectacular to see British engineering and innovation being carried out here in Norwich. The Mental Health Trust is to be congratulated for its decision to use this ground energy collecting heating system." He added. The Chief Operating Officer of Econic, Murray Treece, said: “Econic is very pleased that Dr Gibson has taken the time to visit the site and see the work that we have been doing along with our partners Dimplex and Lankelma.” “It’s a pleasure to work with such a progressive client to create a building which will be comfortable for its users and at the same time be sustainable, environmentally and economically.” The trust received a grant of from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform towards the installation of the renewable energy systems in the building. When the building is handed over in April 2009, it will house the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, as well as a Low Secure Unit, serving the communities of Norfolk and Waveney.

School goes to ground for Heating.	September 2008
Ground source heat technology installed at primary school.	back

Chad Varah Primary School in Lincolnshire is installing ground-source technology into one of its new buildings. It works by sinking water pipes into the top 200 metres of the earth, which is a constant 12 to 14C (54-55F), then pumping it into a heating system. The scheme is part of a £2.4m county council initiative to encourage renewable energy in schools. Nic Wincott, from Econic, who are installing this technology, said it was almost getting something for nothing. “For every kilowatt of energy you put in to pumping the system you get another three from the ground. “We are also looking at ways of using the system to cool classrooms in the summer as the temperature of the ground does not change.” The school’s head teacher, Julie Harrison, said she was delighted with the scheme: “It is a fantastic project with so many different dimensions to it. We are going to be able to have our heating free in the future and as we speak the drill is going down 150 metres to tap into that natural heat source.”

copyright © 2009 - Econic Ltd. | privacy policy | contact | links | register | find | site map | website by - webwork-uk