Research by Bellway and The University of Salford has found that air source heat pumps can work four times as efficiently as gas boilers in new homes.
The findings will be used to inform how the housebuilding industry moves towards the Future Homes Standard.
Bellway built a full-size three-bedroom home to Future Homes Standards inside the university’s innovative Energy House 2.0 climate chamber, with tests conducted by academics 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.
In testing, the heating costs for the air source heat pump used 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.
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 research shows that new build homes can provide low-carbon, low-running-cost heating without the need to pay for expensive retrofitting of second-hand homes, which can run into tens of thousands of pounds. 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.”
“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.”
Professor Will Swan, director of Energy House Labs at the University of Salford, said: “Our collaboration with Bellway exploring air source heat pumps shows the value of Energy House 2.0 in allowing us to try different approaches before we install heat pumps in people’s homes. This collaboration shows us the importance of ‘doing it right’ and the value this can bring to the occupant in terms of efficiency.”
The government announced in March that the Future Homes Standard will come into effect from 2027, meaning that new homes built from then will require heat pumps or heat networks, rather than gas boilers.
Bellway’s Future Home project was officially launched in 2023, with initial research showing that the fabric of the building was a very close match to guidance in the Future Homes Standard consultation. The results of the first heating tests indicated that air source heat pumps were highly efficient, but identified several areas where improvements might be possible.
A further research project is underway to explore whether fan coils can be more efficient than radiators for heating efficiency, and also how effectively air source heat pumps can cool homes in more extreme summertime temperatures.
