A Ground Source Heating Pump system takes low temperature energy from the ground and upgrades it to a higher, more useful temperature. When designed correctly it can provide an energy efficient, low carbon form of space heating. Typically for every 1 KWh of electric energy used to operate the heat pump the resulting useful heat output is 3 to 4 KWh. The cost of running a ground source heat pump when designed correctly can be much lower than the cost of a gas or oil boiler.

Due to the low running temperatures of heat pump systems, air source heating systems are particullary suited to new build dwellings or renovations where the level of insulation is comparable. Underfloor floor heating is the most suitable heat emitting system to operate with the air source system although correctly designed radiators can also be used.

A typical installation would consist of the collector circuit (the pipes in the ground, down bore holes or in a lake), the internal unit (the heat pump), comparable to the size of a large boiler and an internal buffer tank (water storage cylinder).