Widespread use of ground source heat pumps could help people switch energy practices - 09/12/2009
Homeowners looking to compare energy rates and pursue cleaner sources could be interested by news that ground source heat pumps could become widespread by 2020.
According to a study from the Environment Agency, 8,000 ground source heat pumps, which warm buildings using natural heat from deep underground, are currently used in Britain, but the report suggests this figure could be expanded to 320,000 properties within a decade.
This number could be even higher if the government decides to offer cash incentives for businesses and homeowners generating electricity through renewable means.
Tony Grayling, head of climate change and sustainable development at the Environment Agency, said: "Ground source heating is a rapidly growing technology that has the potential to produce at least 30 per cent of the country's renewable heat needs, but it needs financial support in order to grow."
The government is considering relaxing legislation on renewable energy so that businesses would not need planning permission before installing equipment such as wind turbines.
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