Installing a heating and hot water system into a new build property offers us a blank canvas to work with. New builds meet the new building regulations meaning, unlike older, more traditional housing, the heat losses are always lower, they have high levels of insulation and have low ventilation rates. The windows and doors also have lower U-values as manufacturers strive to provide products that are as energy efficient as possible for very competitive prices.
We recommend:
- For small buildings an air source heat pump with under floor heating is an ideal solution. Typically in screed under floor heating installation are a third of the price of overlay systems that are installed in retro-fitted buildings.
- Larger buildings can benefit from biomass heating and hot water and with lower heat losses the boiler will be sized appropriately for the dwelling and the heating cost with pellets would be reduced. There is also scope for air source heat pumps providing the heat loss is not excessive.
- Large scale buildings would need a biomass system and the options would be readily available from pellet, wood chip or log dependent on the customer's needs. Large buildings tend to have the scope for a dedicated boiler room with a biomass fuel store. Again as the heat loss would be lower compared to a building of similar size the boiler size would be reduced making the heating and fuel cost lower.
- All these applications have the potential to add solar thermal for hot water requiremnts, providing that the building has adequate roof space that gets good exposure to sunlight. Hot water cylinders, thermal stores and accumulator tanks cater for a solar coil, dependent on manufacturer.
- With new builds heating and hot water installations are at 0% VAT.
Please note that new builds are only eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) if the customer retains ownership of the property either as the occupier or as the Private Landlord.
