Rangemoor, the long-established supplier and installer of traditional stoves, cookers and flues, has entered into a supply agreement with Sanyo Air Conditioners to supply the manufacturer’s range of award-winning low carbon energy products.

The Devonshire company is setting up a new green energy division called Energy Specialists Ltd to promote and install the award-winning Sanyo’s ECO CO₂ heat pump heating system.

The joint venture, with backers including well-known industry figure Martin Hook, will be based at Rangemoor’s head-office at Winkleigh, Devon. The company will train and appoint a network of installers to install and service the Sanyo equipment in the South West, Northern Ireland and Channel Islands.

The Sanyo ECO CO₂ recently won a top award in a national competition for its exceptional efficiency and performance, and its ability to operate in the most extreme winter conditions.

Andrew Baker, managing director of Rangemoor, said: “The sharp rises in the cost of oil has had a major impact on the economics of heating homes in the countryside off mains gas.

“The Sanyo ECO CO₂ system is a great solution as it runs on electricity, and protects people from future oil price shocks. It’s very reliable and one of the few heat pumps able to perform in really low temperatures.”

He says a demonstration model installed at the company’s premises continued to perform impeccably throughout the recent harsh winter, “despite the site being covered in a sheet of ice for two weeks!” A previous system, from another manufacturer, had failed in less harsh winter conditions previously, he reports.

The new division has already sold a number of the Sanyo units in the South West, and reports keen interest from people who learn of the savings that can be achieved from neighbours who have installed the system.

Martin Hook said: “I have experience of many of the heat pumps on the market today, and the Sanyo ECO unit is head and shoulders above conventional systems – in terms of both efficiency and performance.

“Due to the characteristics of carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, it provides direct hot water at a sufficiently high temperature, without the need for an expensive electric booster heater, as required by some standard systems. This, plus its ability to keep performing in the worst sub-zero conditions, sets it apart.”

He added: “Following a number of highly successful installations, we are confident that once word spreads of the savings that can be achieved, people will want to switch from oil to the Sanyo system.”

Graham Wright, head of Sanyo’s heating division, said: “We are delighted at the launch by Rangemoor of Energy Specialists and the strong belief it demonstrates in the Sanyo product. The new venture brings together a wealth of experience in heat pump technology, specialist installer training and knowledge of the needs of the market. We believe it is a winning formula.”

The company will also supply Sanyo’s HFC-based heat pump system for use in applications not requiring the exceptional energy performance of ECO CO₂.

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