Maximising efficiency and space in holiday homes

Altecnic has supported a development of holiday homes in Cornwall to achieve net zero emissions and operate under the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Specify & Build reports. 

Amber Heating is a family-run business with a strong focus on renewable energy solutions, including heat pumps. Copper Beech is a development of six high-end holiday homes in St Issey, Cornwall, where Amber Heating was tasked with providing efficient heating solutions. The project focused on achieving net-zero emissions and operates under the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a government scheme that rewards businesses for using renewable heat technologies. 

The Copper Beech project presented Amber Heating with several technical and spatial challenges that required innovative solutions to meet its sustainability and design requirements. 

1. Operating at lower temperatures: Ground source heat pumps were selected as the primary heat source due to their efficiency and environmental benefits. However, unlike traditional boilers, heat pumps work most efficiently at lower flow temperatures, typically around 50°C. This required a heat distribution system capable of delivering reliable hot water and heating performance at lower temperatures, without compromising user comfort. 

2. System compatibility: The chosen Heat Interface Unit (HIU) needed to be specifically engineered for low-temperature heat networks to maintain system efficiency. Some conventional HIUs struggle to perform effectively at reduced primary flow temperatures, leading to inefficiencies and poor hot water response. Amber Heating required a unit that could overcome these challenges and integrate seamlessly with a low-temperature heat pump system. 

3. Space constraints: The physical layout of the development posed further limitations. The central plant room was compact and could not accommodate large-scale hot water cylinders or bulky heat distribution equipment. Each holiday home also needed to maximise usable living space, meaning decentralised, compact heating solutions were critical. 

Amber Heating turned to Altecnic, a trusted partner with extensive experience in heating system design. Altecnic supplied SATK22307 Direct HIUs for each apartment/home, which were compact yet highly efficient in transferring heat. The SATK22 is specifically designed for low-temperature heating networks and optimised for use with renewable sources such as heat pumps. It delivers excellent domestic hot water performance even at flow temperatures as low as 50°C, thanks to its highly efficient, responsive plate heat exchanger and innovative control logic.  

Its compact design allowed it to be installed within each individual property, eliminating the need for large hot water storage and freeing up space both centrally and locally. The SATK22 also helped ensure a high return on investment by enabling the system to operate efficiently at low running costs, aligning perfectly with the project's goal of delivering net-zero ready, sustainable homes. 

To enhance the system’s overall efficiency, Altecnic supplied Dirtmag Mini’s – a compact dirt separator and strainer designed to protect the system from debris and improve long-term performance. This helped ensure that the system maintained its efficiency and longevity by preventing blockages and reducing maintenance needs. Incorporating the Dirtmag Mini into the system design also enabled Altecnic to offer an extended warranty on the HIUs.  

The heat pump now operates at a Coefficient of Performance (CoP) of 3.7-3.8, meaning that for every unit of electricity used, nearly four units of heat are generated. This is significantly higher than the seasonal average COP of 2.5-2.8 seen in most typical UK systems.  

In its first year, the system reduced operational heating costs by more than £9,200 compared to a gas equivalent, while cutting CO₂ emissions by more than 64% (from 53,060 kg to just 19,121kg). Over a 20-year lifecycle, the installation is projected to save nearly £250,000 and avoid close to 700,000kg of carbon emissions. Energy consumption was also significantly reduced, dropping from 286,810kWh to 60,381kWh.  

Bob Roddy, Managing Director at Amber Heating, said: “We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, efficient heating solutions, and working with Altecnic on the Copper Beech project was a seamless experience.” 

www.altecnic.co.uk