A derelict building in the Welsh Countryside has been transformed into an energy efficient inn, after being fitted with the latest air source heat pump technology from Danfoss Ltd. The historic building in Anglesey, North Wales was restored by owners Leigh Faulkner and Mari Jones and is now The Black Lion Inn; with bar, restaurant and luxury bed and breakfast accommodation making the Inn popular with tourists and locals alike.
As the building had stood derelict for over six years, there were no existing building services, so a cost-effective and efficient means of heating the property was required in order to transform the building into a commercially viable business. Leigh and Mari were also keen to achieve a sensitive restoration of the building and one which respected their rural surroundings by keeping carbon emissions to a minimum.
Local installer Menai Heating recommended a 16kW DHP-AQ heat pump as the most efficient and cost-effective means of meeting the business’ heating and hot water requirements. The DHP-AQ provides heat to The Black Lion via underfloor heating downstairs and radiators upstairs, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere in the inn and hot water is provided by a solar thermal system.
Mari Jones said: “We considered various different options but the air source heat pump was the most efficient and environmentally-friendly way of meeting our heating and hot water requirements. We decided on this particular air source heat pump because of its reputation for being the best on the market, which was backed up by the fact that it is Menai Heating’s heat pump of choice.”
Mari added: “It was important to us that we worked with a reputable installer who had years of experience in the renewable energy sector. Menai Heating were able to provide us with excellent advice and their expertise meant we were able to identify a commercially viable solution that met our requirements.”
Chris Dale, Director of Danfoss Ltd. said: “Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular with local businesses as a cost-effective and sustainable way of heating premises and keeping carbon emissions to a minimum. The DHP-AQ has been designed to work well in refurbished buildings and it is great to see how the owners and customers of the Inn are benefitting from the warmth and comfort provided by the heat pump.”
The owners of The Black Lion Inn will also benefit from market-leading seasonal performance, as the DHP-AQ operates at temperatures as low as -20°C. The pump achieves this via a unique system which constantly controls and optimisesthree key parameters in the product: airflow (efficient variable speed EC fan), the refrigerant circuit (electronic expansion valve) and heat distribution (OPTI technology).
