Decision details

This project is to reduce the gas demand and subsequently electricity demand (once the grant funded heat pumps are installed) by improving the efficiency of the trench heaters by the retrofitting of 465 fans. This will have the effect of reducing the upfront costs by ensuring the correct size of heat pumps; and the running costs due to better efficiency and convection. This project is a pre-requisite for the grant funded heat pump project. The total estimated cost of materials and labour is c.£133k including labour and materials; PM costs; and contingency. Based on existing consumption and predicted efficiency of the heat pumps with fans installed, the saving that this project is predicted to achieve is c.£7.5k per annum. This means the investment will payback within 20 years. Additionally, it brings the cost of heat pump installation and operation down.

To approve project set-up to the value of £133,000 from the Decarbonisation Programme budget in advance of the grant funded heat pump project.

Not to proceed with the project however this would result in a missed opportunity to improve the energy efficiency and costs and carbon emissions savings for Keynsham Civic Centre and mean that the planned heat pumps would need to circulate a higher temperature of water at a higher electricity cost.