Air source heat pumps can perform up to four times as efficiently as gas boilers in winter temperatures in new build homes.
These are the findings of an important study conducted inside one of the world’s largest climate-controlled chambers which will inform the new homes industry as it moves away from fossil fuel heating.
National housebuilder Bellway and The University of Salford have carried out one of the most comprehensive trials of low-carbon heating for new homes at the university’s Energy House 2.0 facility.
The results of the research are already driving the design principles for new Future Home building regulations which start to come into force from next year.
Bellway built a full-size three-bedroom home inside the chamber to Future Homes Standards.
Tests were then conducted to see how low-carbon heating systems would perform in a range of climate conditions.
The results show that air source heat pumps can produce more than four times the amount of heat from one unit of energy compared with a typical gas boiler.
The heating costs for the air source heat pump used in the testing were as little as £1.19 per day. The research shows the most efficient way to use a heat pump is to keep it running at a low temperature all day, then increase heating for a period in the morning and the evening, or during periods of extreme cold.
This will require a change in behaviour among consumers who are used to demand-led heating, turning gas central heating on and off at set times.
Jamie Bursnell, Head of Technical and Innovation for Bellway, said:
“The Future Homes Standard building regulations are the most significant change for the industry, and we have led the way through this research to understand how our homes perform with low-carbon technology. The air source heat pump, installed in a well-insultated home, combined with underfloor heating downstairs and radiators upstairs, provides the most efficient heating system combination we have tested.
“The research shows that new build homes can provide low-carbon, low-running-cost heating without the need to pay for expensive upgrades, which can run into tens of thousands of pounds in an average second-hand home in the UK. This means new homes built to Future Home Standards will have a vital role to play in reducing the UK’s carbon footprint as the grid moves to net zero.
“New legislation means low-carbon heating will be mandated in all new homes from 2027 onwards. Thanks to our partnership with The University of Salford, Bellway has already begun installing air source heat pumps to this optimum specification, meaning our customers can reduce their carbon footprint while saving money.”
The results of this research will be published in full, which will help small and medium-sized housebuilders to learn from the project and adapt their approach to building future-ready homes.
Bellway’s Future Home project launched in 2023 and the first tests focused on the fabric of the building. This showed that The Future Home aligns closely with the specifications published in the Government’s Future Homes Standard consultation, which makes it a reliable indicator of how homes will be built.
