Leading heat pump manufacturer Dimplex has welcomed the publication of an amendment to the technical guidance on the Code for Sustainable Homes by the Department of Communities and Local Government, recognising the energy efficiency and carbon saving benefits of heat pumps.

In a statement issued as an addendum to the Code’s technical guidance, CLG has acknowledged that the April 2008 document contained “a number of references which inadvertently suggested that changes had been made in the Code relating to compliance with the energy performance requirement.” In fact, there is no change from the guidance of October 2007 in the way that air source heat pumps can be used as part of a solution for sections Ene 1 (DER calculation) and Ene 7 (calculation for additional low-zero carbon credits). Plus, there is not currently (and never has been) any requirement in the Code to justify the choice of fuel specified, reveals the company’s press release.

Commenting on the revised guidance Chris Davis, head of renewables at Dimplex says: “We are pleased that CLG has issued this clarification statement, as a number of developers have already recognised that heat pumps will play a major role in achieving the carbon emission reductions required by the Code.” “It is crucial that Government departments and their technical advisors present a joined up approach to renewable energy technologies. CLG’s Code technical guidance is now consistent with the Government’s wider microgeneration policies, for example the fact that air and ground source heat pumps are included within the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.”