Cairnsmore Stable Cottage, a single storied ex smithy, beautifully converted and owner-managed ticks all the right boxes and has one extra selling point, a ground sourced, environmentally friendly heating system for hot water and under-floor central heating.
Powered by a NIBE F1245 Heat Pump and sourced from a single 115mm borehole extending 100m the system, desinged by NIBE Energy Systems of Chesterfield and installed by local company CoolHeat and Energy Systems of Dumfries, supplies all the heating needs of the cottage althought an immersion heater is incorporated into the heat pump in case of shortfall at times of exceptional demand. The solar energy stored in the granite bedrock which lays just 2m beneath the house at temperatures between 4 and 12 degrees Centigrade acts as the initial heat source. This heat is transferred to the brine circulating in collector pipes within the borehole and passed up to the F1245 pump. There it meets a closed system containing a refrigerent that will turn gas at a very low temperature and this is compressed under high pressure to vastly increase the temperature and a condenser is then used to transfer the heat into the house's hot water system returning the refrigerant to a liquid state ready to repeat the cycle.
The NIBE system is extremely efficient and, as well as providing instant hot water and effective central heating from a renewable source, it also cuts carbon emissions drastically.
In the case of Cairnsmore Stable Cottage, it offers holidaymakers a cosy ambience and unlimited hot baths even in the coldest weather and could even be modified for air conditioning should the Scottish West Coast weather justify it. For the owners it provides a method of keeping fuel bills to an absolute minimum with savings of up to 80% compared with other energy sources with an environmentally friendly marketing edge.
Information on Cairnsmore Stable Cottage an be found at www.cairnsmorestablecottage.co.uk