Manor Farm, Lutton, Oundle
A rural farmhouse in the heart of Northamptonshire is truly warm for the first time in its 300 year history thanks to the installation of a renewable energy system. Manor Farm is occupied by the Raby family and has provided their livelihood for three generations. Situated in a small hamlet the three storey property has solid stonewalls and single glazed metal windows. Due to being off the gas grid electric storage heaters had been used to heat the home but these were very expensive to run and did not provide enough warmth for the farmhouse. Orangehouse Renewables Ltd of Stamford recommended two Nibe F1145 (17kW) ground source heat pumps, a 300 litre UKV Buffer tank and Jaga fan assisted radiators to optimise the heat emission at the efficient heat pump flow temperature of 45°C. Now in complete juxtaposition – a 17th century farm house has a 21st century heating system thus proving that old and new can work together seamlessly
The Solution
Specialist installer Orangehouse Renewables Ltd were asked to provide a solution and recommended Ground Source Heat Pumps as the best option for Manor Farm. Orangehouse are NIBE VIP installers and the seven year warranty appealed to Mr Raby who, especially as a farmer, makes long term investment decisions focussing on quality and reliability.
“Bill and Susie contacted Orangehouse for advice on their heating options. They were considering PV to power their electric storage heaters but were attracted to the renewable system for environmental reasons as well as the potential financial benefits from running cost savings and the Renewable Heat Incentive programme,” said Alex Driver of Orangehouse Renewables. “There was plenty of adjacent land to install the ground collector loops and the two heat pumps were housed in a stone outbuilding. This was a complex project due to the space that needed heating, and the fact that the building does not have any modern insulation or energy efficient windows. We engineered a heat pump solution and the installation of fan assisted radiators ensured efficient heat distribution around the house. The hot water had previously been heated by an oil fired Aga that had no temperature controls. Now, the hot water is provided by the heat pumps in a much more efficient way. The Rabys will receive regular RHI payments and also save considerable amounts on their electricity bill now that they are no longer using energy guzzling electric heaters.”
Results
Most retro-fit installations pose unique challenges but Orangehouse Renewables drew on their considerable expertise in this field to ensure that it was a smooth and seamless installation. The landlords of the property agreed that this was a wise investment to make and the house is now maintained at comfortable temperatures across all rooms, thereby removing the previous electric heater ‘hot spots'. This is an impressive example of how old properties can benefit from renewable energy systems. The Raby family now have one of the most sophisticated renewable energy systems available; a warm home and radically reduced heating bills thus demonstrating how old properties can benefit from the latest technology.
Testimonial
Bill Raby commented; “We are delighted with the heating and hot water that we now enjoy and are confident that we made the right decision to install a NIBE Ground Source Heat Pump system. Orangehouse Renewables imparted their knowledge and wisdom and their recommendations, particularly of the NIBE products, has been entirely correct. They installed the system with the minimum of disruption and I am confident that their energy assessment for the RHI payments will pay dividends in the long term. In addition, we expect our energy bills to be reduced by over 90% pro rata.
“For me, renewable energy systems are definitely the way forward. They are becoming ever more accessible and for homeowners like us, with the land to facilitate a Ground Source Heat Pump system, they will prove invaluable as oil, LPG and electricity costs continue to fluctuate making such systems untenable and outdated.
“It is a delight to have a lovely warm home and I would recommend anyone to research renewable energy systems and understand the massive technological developments that have been made in supplying heating and hot water to our homes. I was staggered by the options available and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend NIBE and Orangehouse Renewables to provide and install your own system.”
NIBE Case Studies
