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Case Study: GROUND-REACH - Reaching the Kyoto targets by means of a wide introduction of ground coupled heat pumps (GCHP) in the built environment

Summary

The GROUND-REACH project targets ground coupled heat pumps (GCHPs) for heating and cooling of houses in Europe. It is implemented by a consortium of 21 European organisations. Over a period of three years (2006-2008), it will: (a) identify present status and future potential of GCHPs towards reducing CO₂ emissions and primary energy demand, (b) compile best practice case studies from all over EU, (c) analyse potential contribution of GCHPs to the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings, (d) define measures to overcome market barriers and set up a strategic promotion plan for long term market penetration, and (e) launch a large scale promotion campaign addressing the awareness and attitudes of key professional groups through a variety of effective promotion tools (such as the International conference and exhibition, the project website, 18 national or regional meetings, posters and brochures, publications to the public, technical and commercial press, emails, newsletter and the European GCHPs Committee).

Results

The GROUND-REACH project, through the reports on the EU market for ground coupled heat pumps (present status, future potential, contribution towards EU policy and directives), the publications about best practices and guidelines for local/regional authorities and key professional groups, conference, meetings, website, brochure and other promotional tools, is expected to effectively assist EU policy towards both short and long term market penetration of ground coupled heat pumps as it provides:

better understanding of ground coupled heat pumps merits and benefits and their importance towards Community policy objectives in relation to Kyoto targets and the buildings performance directive.
increased awareness and improved knowledge and perception of the ground coupled heat pumps technology among key European professional groups for short term market penetration.
identification of barriers and strategic dissemination plan for long term market penetration.

Project results until the end of August 2007, include the items presented below.

The GROUND-REACH poster with the benefits of GCHPs has been printed in 15 European languages and is being distributed in every opportunity.

The project web site has been online since June 2006. It includes a lot of useful information on ground coupled heat pumps, including the Best Practice Database which already comprises 22 case studies from 7 EU member States. More case studies are being added by project partners.

The project website is very well received. Statistics show a continuous increase of page requests from 2.211 in quarter II/2006 to 23.158 in II/2007. The news section, best practice portal, partner information and publications gained highest interest.

The GCHPs European Committee has been officially established within 2006 with the mission to coordinate the efforts of EHPA and EGEC towards promoting GCHPs, and commenced its activities in early 2007.

Following agreement and close cooperation with the relevant project officers from EACI, the workshop with the Commission officers was successfully held in Brussels on 27 April 2007.

The first 8 (out of 18) project meetings with key professional groups were successfully organised in Watford, Vienna, Orleans, Milan, Sofia, Warsaw, Setubal, and Gleisdorf. During the meetings the status in Europe, as well as the merits and benefits of GCHPs were presented. A wide publicity has been given to project meetings and to GCHPs technology with articles in national newspapers (e.g. Le-Monte of France and Kathimerini of Greece), radio and TV conferences (e.g. in Bulgaria), other publications and the first project press release.

Following agreement with the international organising Committee, the project conference will be held as a part of the 9th IEA (Internation Energy Agency) heat pumps conference (www.hpc2008.org), in Zurich in May 23 2008.

The first 4 issues of the project quarterly newsletter have been published. More issues will be made available every three months during the course of the project.

Furthermore, the following reports have been prepared:

"Space conditioning in the residential sector in Europe"
"Market status for ground source heat pumps within the Europe"
"The Ground-Reach model to determine the change of environmental impact due to replacements of heating systems on the European market"
"Inventory of European legislation on Ground Coupled Heat Pumps (GCHPs)"
"Barriers to GSHPs market penetration"

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