If your question is not listed below, please email microgen@goodenergyshop.co.uk. Not only will we be able to answer your question, but we may also add it to the list for future visitors to our site.

What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is used to extract heat from one source and relocates it to another. Heat can be extracted from the ground, a water source, even air. You can even extract heat from an ice-cube so no matter where you are in the UK, you can still use heat pump technology to create heat for heating and hot water use.

Can I use heat pump technology to heat my radiators?
You can run heat pumps with radiators if they are large radiators or fan assisted as they can make better use of the lower temperature heat offered by heat pumps. In some properties we would recommend adding additional radiators once a heat pump has been installed to boost the heat in colder rooms.

If you install a heat pump in a house with poor insulation, which is heated by radiators your heat pump will operate less efficiently and has the potentially to cost you a lot of money to run.  Good Energy and our installers will not recommend that customers install heat pump systems if their home is not suitable. 

Do I need planning permission to install heat pump technology?
Heat Pumps are included within permitted development rights and, provided your house is not listed, in a Conservation Area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty you will not need to make a planning application.

I don't have a really big garden. Does that mean a heat pump is unsuitable for my property?
No. A lot of properties don't have a big enough garden for a trench (horizontal), but that doesn't automatically mean they can't use ground-source heat pump technology. The ground heat exchanger can also be buried in a borehole (vertical) which covers a smaller surface area, but it dug much deeper into the ground (up to 200m).

Air-source heat pumps also require very little garden space. The smallest external unit we sell is 950mm wide, 360mm deep and 740mm high. It can even be wall mounted.

A heat pump requires electricity to run so how can it be classed as a renewable energy source?
Heat pumps produce between 3 - 5 times the amount of renewable energy than electricity required to power them. So for each unit of energy you invest you are returned between 3-5. We would recommend that you sign up to a renewable electricity tariff to ensure the ‘green' credentials of your system. Click here to switch.

Can I sell the energy I generate from my Heat Pump?
Still in the proposal stage, the Renewable Heat Incentive is due to be implemented for domestic technologies by October 2012. The rates of payment and technologies eligible have not yet been confirmed but we'll be sure to keep you updated as things develop.