The simple answer to the question can you use radiators with an air source heat pump is yes!

Radiators need to be sized for the flow temperatures your heat pump will be set to. The lower this set point, the more efficient your heat pump will be, and therefore the cheaper to run. The disadvantage of lower flow temperatures is, however, that the lower the water temperature, the more radiating surface area you need to emit the same amount of heat.

So if you currently have a oil fired boiler powering your heating system, with flow temperatures around 80C, and you exchange that boiler for a heat pump with flow temperatures of,  say 50C, you will need radiators double the size, or double panel radiators where you currently have single panel radiators, or two radiators in a room where you currently have one. If you set your heat pump to have even lower flow temperatures the radiator size will increase accordingly.

You will hear many people referring to over-sizing the radiators for heat pumps. I prefer to use the more appropriate term, right-sizing the radiators. All your heating engineer, or radiator supplier, will need to know, is the heat output you require from the radiator and the flow and return temperature to determine the size of radiator(s) you need to provide the amount of heat output you require.

If the radiator is sized correctly it will not matter what type it is, panel, decorative or skirting etc. they will provide the heat you require.

You will often hear that underfloor heating should be the only type of heat emitter you consider when using heat pumps. The fact that underfloor system can work very well with flow temperatures as low as 35C do make them an ideal partner for heat pumps. If, however, you have an old property it may be impractical to install an underfloor heating system, and in many cases correctly sized radiators are the only practical option. 

The other question people often ask if swapping out an oil boiler for a heat pump is – “Can I use my existing radiators”? This is not such an easy question to answer!

Your existing radiators can be used, but as explained above they might be too small, in which case you might need to add additional radiators into the system. Your heating engineer will also need to ensure that your system has been thoroughly cleaned, to make sure that suspended particles in the system do not clog up the filter they will install; to protect the heat exchanger in your heat pump from getting blocked (a very expensive item to unblock).

Of course every installation is different and my advice above is somewhat generic. The best advice of all is, call in an expert to survey your installation and they will let you know the best options open to you.

First published on the YouGen blog by John Lightfoot. John is chairman of the UK’s Federation of Environmental Trade Association Export Club, chairman of HEVAC’s (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Association) Fan Coil Group, Vice chair of the Yorkshire & Humber Microgeneration Partnership and chairman of the Heat Pump Association’s Domestic Heating Group.

For more information on heat pumps and renewable energy, please visit the YouGen website.

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Exclusive accommodation for one or two people in a peaceful and secluded country cottage in the heart of the Scottish Border hills. The comfortable ensuite double bedroom, with views over the hills, features organic cotton linen and complimentary toiletries. The guest sitting room has a TV, DVDs, music and a wood fire. Food is prepared with seasonally available organic and home grown produce, following Slow Food Movement principles. Served in your own private dining room, breakfast is plentiful and evening meals can be provided on request. The extensive garden is ideal for relaxing and watching the wildlife. Hartleap is a tranquil retreat with personal attention from your hosts, who aim to make your stay a real pleasure. We have umbrellas, boots, wellies, outdoor jackets and maps available for use during your stay. There is under cover storage for bikes and for a small extra charge your bike clothes can be washed. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2934.htm

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June 27 – July 2, 2011 with David W. Orr, Stephan Mayer & Rob Hopkins.

Human history has entered “the long emergency” driven by climate destabilisation, the end of cheap fossil fuels, economic uncertainty, inequality, and increasing political turmoil. Governments virtually everywhere seem incapable of responses that are appropriate to the scale of the challenge. What’s to be done?

That question, of course, has no single answer. Responses to the long emergency will depend on varying situations and circumstances, different blends of culture and ecology, and local capacities for creativity and adaptability. But this course will focus on what communities can do to create maximum resilience and sustainability in a time of rapid change and instability.

For more details or to book a place on this course, please go to: http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/the-road-ahead-building-community-in-the-long-emergency

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

March 28 – April 8, 2011

Changing the way we live and work on the planet is vital, and to do that we need a whole new set of skills to enable us to act effectively – and urgently. Understanding Ecoliteracy will help students to appreciate and act with a greater ecological awareness in both local and global situations.

Teachers include:

Fritjof Capra (by videolink), Satish Kumar, Gustavo Esteva (by videolink), Stephan Harding, Philip Franses, Julie Richardson, Mark Burton, Jon Rae, Terry Irwin (by videolink), Antonia Spencer, Bethan Stagg, Anne Miller, Hal Gilmore, Emily Ryan (course facilitator)

For more details or to book a place on this course, please visit our website: http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/ecoliteracy-first-principles-for-radical-change

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Nice & Easy Does It

Intraslim literally flies off the shelves here and understandably so. By suppressing your appetite, food cravings diminish and you simply do not eat as much. How does it work? With a unique marriage of herbs and supplements that synergise with the body’s natural chemistry they break down those calories and boost energy levels. A synch. There’s a lovely 5% off Intraslim this week.

Maxislim works in much the same way but with the addition of ‘super-ingredient’ Sida Cordifolia Complex which contains exact ratios of Sida Cordifolia, Guarana and White Willow Bark to trigger fat loss. Sida Cordifolia Complex is also ideal as a Pre-Workout boost. Go for it! With 15% off just this week, what’s not to like?

If you need to detox alongside your hectic daily routine (school run, work, family life), the 

CLEANSE 10-Day Body Blitz Box

for Detox by t3 therapy is a one-stop-shop to cleansing the liver, reducing bloating and stimulating cell renewal. Instead of fasting and expecting the liver to do all the hard work, your system is supported with a safe cocktail of Vitamin B12, pro-biotic supplements (Acidophilus) and herbal flower essences (Milk Thistle, dandelion, peppermint, boldo and artichoke) in handy daily dosage pots, a carry case and t3 nutritional advice leaflet. This is one of my favourites as the dosage pots do all the hard work – no mixing, no measuring, no thinking. It’s a great starter kit before moving on to more hard-core detox programmes, or for those who simply aren’t sure what they need but know they need to feel lighter and brighter! Save an instant 5% on the RRP this week.

Madal Bal

The Detox Queens Forever Rule

For those who prefer a more intense body and system overhaul, there’s the ever-popular Lemon Detox. Valued by celebs such as Beyonce (losing 22lbs in 14 days!) this enduring detox programme is wholly natural with tons of yummy ingredients (lemon, maple syrup..) and is so simple to follow. Purchase the 1 Litre tin of the Lemon Detox and get FREE 50g of Caynenne pepper powder.

The Madal Bal Lemon Detox Diet Book by Dr K A Beyer for only £4.79 !!! (usual price £5.99) This 128 page book reveals The Lemon Detox Diet Rejuvenation Sensation as a ten-day holistic naturopathic journey to better health. A perfect accompaniment to the detox programme.

Again, we stock a wonderful and wholly natural product (to combat all those chemical nasties from the party season). Apibal Freeze-cracked Bee Pollen capsules perfectly compliment the conclusion of any detox programme as a way of rebalancing one’s constitution. Active-plus micronised Pollen and Perga Jelly Royale are particularly of benefit to men and women over the age of 40.

Aloe Vera Colax

Tea & Sympathy

Tea drinkers will do well to back up their detox with a warming, rich brew of metabolism-boosting

Pe’ur Tea

Sipped by the ever-slender Victoria Beckham and known in China for almost 2000 years as “wonder tea,” the caffeine increases body function burning calories whilst polyphenols aid digestion. Each teabag makes two cups equivalent to 42 cups in each box!

Pills & Thrills

If you simply want to pop a pill for under a fiver, Aloe Vera Colax Colon Cleanse   promotes digestive regularity and optimum health for the gut. Taken in conjunction with your normal diet, it reintroduces any lost ‘good’ bacteria back into the intestines. This is one of our best sellers.

Is coffee your poison? If you’re like us, a fully paid-up member of the coffee nation, we’re sitting on some samples of GREEN COFFEE. A sachet of this supercharged beverage contains 6% to 10% of chlorogenic acid, a natural plant compound that acts as a slimming and health promoting substance. One cup every morning before breakfast is all you need.

ethicalonestopshop is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

“You Are Pure Potential” – Martin de Maat Magnet

YES, that’s US – all of us. We have the potential* to change things – loads of things. The thing we’re talking about here is changing behaviour and challenging our seemingly out-of-control disposable culture.

There was a time, long ago when people bought things to last and then reused them. But then a myth arrived on the scene, which made us all believe that reusing is somehow bad for us or out-of-date, and that it is better to buy new each time.

Reuse in the broadest sense means any activity that lengthens the life of an item.

Reuse is nothing new. What is new is the need to reuse.

Reuse can often be more effective than recycling. Once an item has been made at great cost to the pocket and the earth – doesn’t it make sense that it is used until it is rendered useless?

You might think that a reusable bottle or bag can’t make that much difference in the grand scheme of things. BUT… remember that we have the potential to change things – it is part of us.

*POTENTIAL existing in possibility: capable of development into actuality.
www.onyabags.co.uk

www.reusablebottle.co.uk

Onya Bags Ltd is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Racquets organic farm is in a lovely location overlooking the Black Mountains and Hay on Wye. The River Wye separates our land from Hay on Wye and our river bank is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We have a small flock of chickens in the apple and walnut orchard. The woodland is ideal for wild camping. Our farm is supporting a community allotment project, Hayfield Garden, which is run by volunteers and operates using Permaculture principles. The garden has seen great progress from the start in April 2010 and we look forward to developing the project even further in 2011. A wide range of produce is available to buy directly from the community garden – beetroot, spinach, potatoes and much more. Hay on Wye is lucky to have retained many local services associated with small market towns, such as high class butchers, artisan bakers, local and organic greengrocers. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2933.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Not only are electric bikes simple and easy to ride, they are also a lot of fun. They allow people to significantly increase their range and tackle difficult hills with reduced effort, reduced cost, and reduced damage to the environment. They also help you increase your physical health, as you’ll probably end up using an electric bike more often than a conventional one and contrary to popular belief, you do still need to pedal!

With so many benefits to both the individual and to society, it’s clear to see why Governments such as in France and Italy have provided incentives to encourage more people onto them. In the UK, electric bikes are included in the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme where buyers can save up to 50% off the purchase price. Ask your dealer for more details.

The problem with those new to electric bikes is where to start finding one that suits his/her needs. With so many options out there and with prices ranging from GBP500 to over GBP2,000, what should you look for when buying an electric bicycle?

Spencer Ivy Electric Bicycles, based in London, UK, have put together a handy pocket-sized Electric Bike Buyer’s Guide with the assistance of the Light Electric Vehicle Association and PRESTO, an EU programme designed to promote the use of everyday cycling. This guide will help those new to electric bicycles make a more informed purchasing decision.

It answers common questions such as:

- Do you need a re-generative braking motor?
- To Throttle or Not To Throttle?
- Does cheap mean cheerful?
- What kind of battery do I need?
- What kind of weight is good for an electric bike?

You can request the free Electric Bike Buyer’s Guide here at Electric bike Buyer’s Guide

Spencer Ivy Electric Bicycles is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Gecco Interiors are thrilled to launch the latest in Camira’s sustainable uphosltery fabric range – Craggan. A rugged 97% wool fabric reminiscent of Scottish moorlands with a splash of bright accent colour that relects the brightly coloured flora found in the barren landscape. The addition of 3% viscose brings an inherent fire retardancy that prevents overuse of nasty chemicals. The fabric is 140cm wide and comes in 8 different shades costing just £33.50/m.

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Ethical spending is up by a staggering 58% according to reports from the Co-operative bank over the last decade. A decade ago the ethical market measured just £13.5bn but has expanded to £36bn by December 2010! (Co-operative Banks annual ethical consumerism report Dec. 2010)

Although the ethical sector remains a small piece of the total consumption pie, some areas such as Fairtrade are changing the way in which we shop. The Fairtrade label has become a common sight in all supermarkets and covers a diverse range of products from the expected coffee to chocolate products and cotton. In 1999 the Fairtrade label accounted for £22m in sales but has grown to an amazing £635m and is expected to break £1bn this year.

Ethical spending on our homes has also increased from £1.4bn in 1999 to £7bn by December 2010. This covers everything from rechargeable batteries to energy efficient boilers and reflects the growth in consumer’s willingness to look at the environmental impact of their purchase.

Chief Executive of the Co-Operative Financial Services is reserved in his conclusion however, stating “there is still a long way to go if we are all going to adopt the low-carbon lifestyle needed to avoid cataclysmic climate change”

Perhaps £36bn is a drop in the ocean, but we agree that it is a good place to start and will keep driving forward to drive home the ethical message. After all, the report suggests that over the past year half of the adults in the UK have made a purchase based “primarily on ethical grounds”. We think that is something to celebrate!

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more