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As with many grand or stately homes in the UK, the original heating systems of Belton House in Grantham and Swan House in Boston were rather antiquated and inefficient. But the National Trust, who owns both of these Lincolnshire properties, have recently completed green energy makeovers for both buildings.
Belton House now has an advanced environmental control system, having had much of its redundant pipework removed. The lower ground, upper ground and first floors benefit from a state of the art underfloor heating system which uses water to control the temperature of the house. Because of the value of Belton House’s contents, a leak detection system was also fitted. The new heating system created 15 heating zones across the house. Swan House in Boston, built in 1877, was the second National Trust property in Lincolnshire to have its heating system updated recently. The project resulted in substantial reductions in heating costs for the building, to the degree that it has been shortlisted for the Sustainable Project of the Year prize in the National Heating and Ventilating Review Awards. Because of its Grade 2 Listed status, Swan House has single glazed windows which could not be replaced, resulting in high heating costs. But a new plant room with four new communal gas boilers, updated radiators, solar panels on the roof, and the installation of secondary glazing, has meant big reductions in heating costs.
