How we can help you

Businesses

Save money by future-proofing your commercial or industrial site against rising energy prices
Increase your green credentials by giving your business profile a boost by reducing your carbon footprint

Property Developers

Stand out from your competitors by creating sustainable buildings and homes with the attraction of lower running costs

Housing Associations

Offer your membership the most effective green energy technologies with added peace of mind that design, supply and installation are all part of our service

Farmers

Make money and count the savings too by becoming your own electricity generater through solar PV and wind power technologies

Commercial Heating Solutions

Solar Thermal
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat Pumps
Thermal Stores
Underfloor Heating

Solar Thermal

Ideal for ...

hot water needs at commercial premises

Free assessment >
See solar thermal savings live now >

Solar thermal systems explained

Solar collectors use energy from the sun to heat water which is then stored in a hot water cylinder.

The collector takes the form of panels or evacuated tubes generally fitted to the roof of a building.
Advanced coatings on the glazing of the panels maximise the absorption of heat.

Best practice

Solar thermal systems are great for generating hot water for use in hand washing and canteen
kitchens.

Generally installed to face south, they may also achieve effective water heating when orientated
anywhere SSE or SSW. In some cases, two collectors may be used: one facing east, the other west.

Types and options

In terms of efficiency per square metre, evacuated tubes are well-suited to the UK climate.

Flat plate on-roof panels and, in new builds integrated roof panels (inroof panels) work very well too.
East Green Energy recommends Velux integrated roof panels where the integrity of the roof is
paramount due to this company’s unrivalled experience. Although more expensive and less efficient
per square metre, solar thermal roof tiles are also available. For aesthetic reasons, these may be
preferred by a planning officer.

Planning considerations

Planning permission is always required for commercial buildings, but renewable energy solutions are
looked on very favourably by planning officers.

Delivering efficiency

Solar thermal systems using evacuated tubes are more efficient in our northern European climate as
they passively track the sun.

The tubes lend themselves to accurate sizing too, so systems can be more bespoke, tailoring the
number/length of tubes to the amount of water you wish to heat. Efficiency alone however, should
not be the only deciding factor in any choice between flat plate or evacuated tube systems.

East Green Energy is Micro Generation Certification Scheme (MCS) certified and only uses MCS
registered equipment.

Technical product Information

To discuss detailed system queries and requirements with our technical team, please contact us

Outline costs

To discuss costs for specific projects please contact us

Frequently asked questions

You may find an additional useful resource in our general FAQs information >

Making green sense

Solar hot water is a green, renewable heating system which supports carbon footprint reduction.
Systems reduce Co2 emissions by at least 750kg per year

Making business sense

Sunlight is free, so once the system is installed, hot water costs will be reduced. Correctly sized, a
solar water heating system can provide up to 70% of the hot water required annually. In the summer
months, the figure is 100%.

Depending on the fuel being displaced and the hot water consumption of the premises, expected
paybacks can be as little as 10 years.

Making money

What’s more, by June 2011 the government will introduce Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI) which
will be non-taxable ‘thank you’ payments similar to the feed in tariffs for electricity generation. This
means that, with a solar thermal system in place you will earn money for the Co2 emissions that you
save as long as the system has been fitted by an MCS certified installer such as East Green Energy,
More >

Customer case studies

We are currently compiling this customer case study, so do check back soon. In the meantime
please take a look at our other case studies >

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ideal for ...

Commercial properties
Conference centres
Sports halls

(with heat outputs up to 70KWs in single units)

Free assessment >

Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) explained

These are electrically powered appliances consisting of compressors and heat exchangers.

The underlying concept is much like a fridge in reverse: using coiled pipes buried in trenches heat is
extracted from the ground, then improved by evaporation and compression with a refrigerant acting
as the transfer medium in the cycle. The only prime energy required is the power to circulate the
refrigerant.

Designed to work most efficiently with space heating through wet systems (preferably under floor
heating or oversized radiators), ground source heat pumps can also provide domestic hot water to
55°C. At a lower efficiency however, an immersion heater is required within the hot water cylinder
to ensure a temperature of 60°C is achieved to control legionella.

Best practice

When combined with underfloor heating in a well-insulated building, the heat output is four times
the electrical input power ( COP 4:1).

Ground source heat pumps are compact units. They run at lower flow temperatures than
conventional boilers and thus insulation levels are important and should be at least those
recommended by current building regulations.

No buffer tank is required as the heat pump can be sized to provide a 100% of a building’s heat
requirement and cuts out any need for an expensive immersion heater back-up.

Types and options - site requirements

Ground source heat pumps do require an area or depth of ground to be accessible where coiled
pipes or slinky can be set out.

This may be achieved through borehole ground array whereby approximately 20 vertical metres of
bore is required for every 1 kw of output needed.

Alternatively, trench ground array may be laid across a calculated area. For every 1 kw of output
needed from the heat pump, approx. 10 linear metres of ground array are required.

East Green Energy use a coil/slinky ground array which has 5m of coiled pipe in each linear metre,
eg. a 50m long trench bears 250m of pipe. This can either be laid upright at a depth of 2m or flat at a
depth of 1.25m depending on soil conditions. The trenches need to
be 5m apart.

Planning considerations

Planning permission is required for the ground array as is deemed as engineering works, but
planning officers look very favourably at this type of application

Winning efficiency

As the temperature below ground is a near constant 8-10°C, the efficiency/COP remains constant. If
a flow temperature of 40°C is produced for space heating, then a COP of 4:1 is achieved which is
ideal for underfloor heating.

If radiators are to be used the flow temperature needs to be higher thus reducing the heat pumps
efficiency.

Technical product Information

Download – Commercial plant heating >
Download - Commercial plant heating and cooling >
Download – Communal heating systems >
Download – Heat pumps and domestic hot water >
Download – Ground Source Heat Pumps Building Regs info >
Download – Sizing compact heat pumps >

To discuss detailed system queries and requirements with our technical team, please contact us

Outline costs

To discuss costs for specific projects please contact us

Frequently asked questions

You may find an additional useful resource in our general FAQs information >

Making green sense

The ground heats up during the day, so why not draw on this as a renewable energy source?
The only prime energy required in heat pump technology is the power to circulate the transfer
medium refrigerant.

Making business sense

Heat pumps are a very cost effective means of providing 100% of space heating. As a result, savings
on fossil fuel /electricity bills can be very significant.

Making you money

What’s more, by Junel 2011 the government will introduce Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI) which
will be non-taxable ‘thank you’ payments similar to the feed in tariffs for electricity generation. This
means that, with a solar thermal system in place you will earn money for the Co2 emissions that you
save as long as the system has been fitted by an MCS certified installer such as East Green Energy,
More >

Customer case studies

We are currently compiling this customer case study, so do check back soon. In the meantime
please take a look at our other case studies >

Air Source Heat Pumps

Ideal for ...

commercial properties
conference centres
sports halls

Free assessment >

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) explained

These are electrically powered appliances consisting of a compressor and heat exchangers.

The underlying concept is much like a fridge in reverse: heat is extracted from the air, then improved
by evaporation and compression with a refrigerant acting as the transfer medium in the cycle. The
only prime energy required is the power to circulate the refrigerant.

Both air-to-air and air-to-water systems use the heat energy in the outside air as a source of free
heat. This heat is improved, then delivered either directly by blowing warm air into a building via
ceiling or wall mounted cassettes or fan-assisted units to the air inside, or to a water-based
indoor system of underfloor heating or radiators. Air source heat pumps in sizes from as small as 3
kW up to approx 20 kW and can be connected together in series to achieve higher outputs. The fan
noise is typically the same as a boiler flue (approx. 40dB (A)).

Best practice

If a property has good levels of insulation an air source heat pump can be a direct replacement for a
conventional boiler. Air source heat pumps are compact units. They run at lower flow temperatures
than conventional boilers and thus insulation levels are important and should aim to be up to current
building regulations.

At East Green Energy, we are experts in calculating appropriate heat pump sizes and we make every
effort to eliminate the need for a costly back-up heating by sizing pumps to provide 100% of a building’s
heat requirement.

Types and options - site requirements

Air source heat pumps do need to be positioned on an outside wall where there can be good air flow
around the unit.

Planning considerations

Air source heat pumps require planning permission.

Winning efficiency

When combined with underfloor heating in a well-insulated property, the heat output can be up to
five times the electrical input power. This is called the coefficient of performance (ie. COP 5:1).

The typical seasonally adjusted COP for an air source heat pump is around 3:1 depending on the
ambient air temperature and flow temperature being produced.

Technical product Information

Download – Sizing compact heat pumps >

To discuss detailed system queries and requirements with our technical team, please contact us

Outline costs

To discuss costs for specific projects please contact us

Frequently asked questions

You may find an additional useful resource in our general FAQs information >

Making green sense

The air heats up during the day, so why not draw on this as a renewable energy source?
The only prime energy required in heat pump technology is the power to circulate the transfer
medium refrigerant.

Making business sense

Heat pumps are a very cost effective means of providing 100% of space heating. As a result, savings
on fossil fuel /electricity bills can be very significant.

Making you money

Customer case studies

We are currently compiling this customer case study, so do check back soon. In the meantime
please take a look at our other case studies >

Thermal Stores

Ideal for ...

Commercial buildings

Free assessment >

Thermal stores explained

These are hot water tanks or cylinders used to store heat. They supply high flow rates of mains
pressure hot water and also as act as a store for providing central heating.

Using a thermal store can do away with the need for stored water. The hot water is provided by
passing the cold water at mains pressure through either external or internal heat exchangers which
are connected to the thermal store unit.

Best practice

Thermal stores are particularly well suited for use with mulitiple heat sources such as heat pumps
solar thermal, immersion heater and conventional boilers.

Types and options

Thermal stores can be vented or un-vented. If they are to be combined with a wood burning stove
however, they must be vented units. The vented store can have the fill and expansion tank either
attached to it (combination fortic) or situated remotely.

Winning efficiency

Thermal stores can improve efficiency by storing what might have otherwise been wasted heat.

Technical product Information

To discuss detailed system queries and requirements with our technical team, please contact us.

Outline costs

To discuss costs for specific projects please contact us

Frequently asked questions

You may find an additional useful resource in our general FAQs information >

Making green sense

Maximise the renewable energy generated in your building without any waste by directing it
through a heat store.

Making business sense

A heat pump, wood burner, solar thermal unit and boiler may all be connected to one central
thermal store as well as an immersion heater, so each of these heating solutions can contribute even
more to savings.

Customer case studies

We are currently compiling this customer case study, so do check back soon. In the meantime
please take a look at our other case studies >

Underfloor Heating

Ideal for ...

New builds commercial)
Refurbishments

Free assessment >

Underfloor heating (UFH) explained

UFH uses water which has been heated to a lower temperature than conventional central heating.

This makes it ideal for use with heat pumps. In new builds the heating pipes are usually embedded in
the floor screed and the areas to be heated are zoned. Most installations adopt a one-zone-per-
room system which gives immense flexibility and energy saving possibilities: each zone is heated and
controlled independently according to required time and temperature.

Best practice

As in-screed application is seen as the best installation for heat pumps, underfloor heating really is
best-suited to new builds of all kinds and to refurbishments. This is primarily because screed acts as
a thermal store.

East Green Energy recommends that at least 100mm of cellotex-type insulation should go beneath
the underfloor heating pipes on ground floor installations. On the first floor, installations can be set
in a 25mm dry screed between joists.

Floating timber floors are also commonly used with an aluminium diffuser plate fitted between
joists. The flooring is then secured tightly to these plates to ensure good heat transmission. Even the
slightest air gap between floor and diffuser plate acts as insulation and heat transfer is reduced.

If UFH is to be installed in an existing building, floor levels will need to be raised by up to 75mm,
unless the existing floors can be lowered. Skirting boards, doors etc. will also need to be lifted.

The fitting of a UFH system is no more complex than fitting a traditional radiator system and requires
only low temperature warm water. It is thus ideal for use with heat pumps and delivers high comfort
levels on low running costs.

Types and options

There are two types of under floor heating: water-based and electric.

East Green Energy does not recommend electric UFH due to the high running costs and limited
design life.

Winning efficiency

Ceramic or stone act as the best floor coverings over UFH installations because they transmit heat
easily. Laminate floors and carpets can be used, but tend to act as insulators, so heat transfer to the
room is slower and can be reduced.

The effect of the heating on the types of flooring/floor covering needs to be considered and it is
often advisable to check with the manufacturer/supplier if suitability is uncleari. There may be a
need to adjust the method of installing the flooring i.e. thick underlays should not be used with
carpet or laminates, as they will act as a heat insulator.

Timber flooring should have a moisture content of less than 10% to reduce the risk of the flooring
drying out then shrinking, twisting or warping. It is generally advisable to check with the manufacturer
before confirming any flooring order.

Technical product Information

To discuss detailed system queries and requirements with our technical team, please contact us.

Outline costs

To discuss costs for specific projects please contact us

Frequently asked questions

You may find an additional useful resource in our general FAQs information >

Making green sense

Underfloor systems are simply more economical because they deliver a large and even distribution
of heat from the bottom of the room upwards. They use water which has been heated to a lower
temperature than conventional central heating so are for use with ground or air source heat pumps.

Making business sense

As well as contributing to savings on fuel bills, underfloor heating systems save on space: with no
need for awkward or possibly unsightly wall-mounted emitters, commercial premises and offices win
on flexibility.

Customer case studies

We are currently compiling this customer case study, so do check back soon. In the meantime
please take a look at our other case studies >