Airway Daikin Sustainable Home Centre supplies low temperature heat pump for eco-home

We supplied High Trees – a newly self-built two-bedroom cottage – with a low temperature Daikin heat pump, with the eco-friendly lifestyle in mind for maximum comfort, economy and efficiency.

Complementing a modern take on traditional design, the cottage incorporates contemporary building materials, Daikin Altherma heating expertise and renewable energy.

“It was conceived with an older couple in mind. It is an eco-home, designed for low energy costs and no worries about heating. It’s built from structural insulated panels (SIPs), clad externally with brick slips, and it is all on one level, apart from a 30 sq.m mezzanine in the central section, above the kitchen.”

Airway’s Daikin Sustainable Home Centre allowed the couple and their builders to browse the range of Daikin heat pumps available and consult with a heat pump specialist. Discussing their needs and requirements we were able to advise on the best solution for their eco-home taking into consideration efficiency, design, power requirements and budget.

We decided the Daikin 6-Class Daikin Altherma low temperature R-split air to water heat pump was the most suitable. With the couple also opting for a rooftop 3.0 kW solar photovoltaic installation that can feed into the heat pump to enhance its overall efficiency. The system is set up so that if the heat pump is running and the solar panels are producing electricity, the energy from the panels will be used before anything is taken from the Grid.

The heat pump serves 11 underfloor heating zones downstairs, which are always open. A Daikin Madoka controller allows small adjustments of the indoor temperature, when needed. The mezzanine has no heating, but is warmed by convection currents from downstairs.

The heat pump also serves a 230-litre Daikin domestic hot water cylinder. This has an integrated Hydrobox, containing a pump and other hydraulic components needed for the heating and hot water systems. The cylinder shares a small storeroom with the manifolds for the underfloor heating system.

Phil Tyte, Technical Director at Airway visited the site ‘’the seasonal coefficient of performance is at 4.7. It’s running in weather compensation mode as well, so it’s going to produce some really high performances.”

The heating project was part-funded through the government’s boiler upgrade scheme. Keith and Ann says: “We received a £5,000 grant as a self-build eligible property. A new developer can’t access the scheme, but you can for a self-build – or for a retrofit if you are taking oil/gas/direct electric heating out.”

The governments boiler upgrade scheme is available to homeowners and those opting for self-build properties such as Keith and Ann. Once you have found an MCS accredited heat pump installer, such as Airway, they will apply for the grant on your behalf, you cannot apply for it yourself directly. You can receive £5000 for Air source heat pumps and Biomass boilers and £6000 for Ground source heat pumps to help with the cost, only one grant is permitted per property.

The couple are extremely happy with their new home “we like the new system because we don’t have to worry about the cost, the house is very warm without a huge bill.”