09/12/2009 - Renewable energy could heat offices
A significant proportion of offices could be heated by renewable energy over the next 10 years, helping businesses cut costs and meet energy targets.
A report by the Environment Agency has said that ground source heat pumps could, if maximum potential is reached, be used to heat 40% of commercial buildings by 2020.
Currently only around 8,000 ground heat pumps are in operation, although this figure has doubled since last year. However, the UK is currently behind other European countries.
The Environment Agency said that, with Government help, the energy sources could be installed in 320,000 businesses and homes by 2020, providing 30% of the renewable heat needed to meet energy goals. It would mean that 11% of commercial buildings were using renewable heat.
However, the agency outlined goals for the scheme to go further, with one million systems put in place, and payment for businesses generating renewable heat under an incentives scheme set to come in in 2012. If the scheme is really effective, it is hoped ground heating could be a feature of 40% of businesses.
Ground source heat pumps still require electricity to drive the pump, but they produce three or four times more energy than they use.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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