LPG Heating Case Study - Castle Leslie

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Brian Derham, Calor Ireland Regional Manager, has worked alongside the Leslie family throughout the restoration project to recommend energy solutions based on the estate’s specific requirements.

Brian explains:

“The latest area of restoration focused on the Long Gallery Wing of the castle, which was last heated over 100 years ago. The castle needed a heating and cooling solution that could be sympathetic to the preservation of the castle and would be environmentally sensitive, efficient and economical. It was vital to be able to both heat and cool the rooms quickly as there are many functions in this area of the castle.”

Sammy continues: “Originally, the rooms were heated from the floor via underfloor grills and through window boxes positioned in the bay windows. We wanted to install technology that could utilise this historical feature in a modern way and also eliminate the need for radiators. As the rooms are very narrow, radiators would have taken up too much space and made the rooms difficult to furnish.”

SANYO’s Gas Heat Pump provided the ideal solution to meet the castle's needs, as it could be installed using the original system and allowed the architecture and features of the Long Gallery to remain unaffected.

The system uses Calor LPG to power an internal combustion engine which in turn drives a belt driven refrigeration compressor, reducing the electricity demand on the building. Heat gathered from outside is coupled with the recovered waste heat produced from the combustion process to be used by the system resulting in heating efficiencies of over 140%.

In addition, the Gas Heat Pump cooler requires no defrost cycle as with traditional air con units, but provides continuous extremely efficient heating performance in severe winter conditions, even when outside temperatures reach as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The estate has a total of six bulk LPG tanks located throughout the estate for its catering and heating requirements. As with the three tanks serving the Hunting Lodge area of the estate, the new tank serving the SANYO unit has been installed underground to minimize visual impact. All that is visible is a green access cover allowing the ground above the tank to be landscaped.

LPG powered solution

Sammy concludes:

“We use Calor LPG throughout the estate so it was essential that we found an LPG-powered solution for the Long Gallery's heating and cooling. The system is very effective and is extremely responsive whether we need to heat or cool the rooms making it both cost and energy efficient.”

The Benefits at a Glance

• Simultaneous heating and cooling

• Free electricity generated (up to 4kw
  per hour) which can be used to power
  other equipment

• 65° free hot water guaranteed

• Increased efficiency = reduced
  running costs

• Offers ventilation and de-humidification

• ‘Free’ heat from environment is
  captured and redistributed internally

• Reduced CO2 and NOx emissions

• Heating efficiencies of over 140%

• Optional water chiller can be fitted

• 100% heating performance in severe
  winter conditions

• 10,000 run hours between servicing – 3.5 years on average

• Possible Government tax incentives

• Product qualifies for the Enhanced Capital
  Allowance