PERSISTENCE and innovation were the hallmarks of BES's efforts to provide a heating solution to its client Hanover Housing Association's Bramble Court Extra Care development in South Tyneside.

The development consisted of 42 self-contained apartments for the elderly plus associated communal areas and was subject to South Tyneside Council’s Low/Zero Carbon (LZC) technology policy which states that at least 10% of the energy requirement of the development be reduced by the integration of a LZC technology.

Initial design work determined the solution would be a ground source heat pump but this proved to be too expensive.

BES then investigated various alternatives in terms of budget, performance and feasibility and came up devised a suitable alternative technology – a high temperature air source heat pump (ASHP).

During design development this solution was found to be unsuitable and as a result of BES’s work the manufacturer of the system withdrew the product from the market for further research and development.

BES began searching for a unit capable of achieving the solution required. It found a domestic unit with potential and initiated talks with its manufacturer to develop it to integrate into Bramble Court’s community heating and hot water system.

BES had to bring all its expertise to bear on adapting the unit for the needs of the development.

In the end the solution was substantially less expensive than the original specification and complied with the council’s LZC obligation.

SPONSOR: CIBSE North East
WINNER: BES
PROJECT: Bramble Court, South Tyneside for Hanover Housing Association