Ground source heat pumps are a renewable power source which generate heat by using the natural heat in the earth below the ground. They work using piping below the ground through which fluid is circulated. This fluid extracts heat from the ground which is then compressed to heat water that can be used in domestic heating, either radiators or underfloor heating. Ground source heat pumps are preferably partnered with underfloor heating or large radiators as they produce hot water at a slightly lower temperature than typical non-renewable boilers.

Ground source heat pumps need a reasonably large amount of outdoor space to lay down the pipework. Normally a domestic system will need to have 2 trenches around 30-40 metres in length. There is also an option to use a vertical borehole in locations where outdoor space is limited. Ground source heat systems are totally automatic and run silently. Also, they are hidden as almost all of the equipment is underground or inside the building.

Ground source heat pumps use electricity to run, but they are extremely efficient in comparison to other non-renewable heating options. They can even be matched with green electricity generators like solar photovoltaic or wind generators. Ground source heat pumps also take advantage of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, which means the systems can pay for themselves over time as you are paid for the heat that you produce.