The standard supply for a new house seems to be circa 18KVA single-phase. I have a client who needs to make application for a supply for a new build house at 400m2 with the only certain information being that an air source heat pump is to be used for heating. The client simply does not know what the electrical loading might be. The house is only coming out of the foundations but the DNO supply may take many months as the house is in a relatively remote rural location, thus loading details are required before the DNO will consider progressing the proposal. It is a big house, but that is what it is, just a big house. I am inclined to advise a standard supply but 3-phase as with a large AS heat pump, maybe shower, cooking and perhaps an EV or two, 18KVA wouldn't be long being gobbled up. As we move towards a higher reliance on electric as a power source for some heavy current-using equipment, it might be that 18KVA is no longer a realistic standard supply for even the smaller property.
How thermally efficient is this house going to be? If it's something approaching PassivHaus it might only need 2 or 3kW to keep warm even on the coldest days - which probably wouldn't be so much of a worry. Even something that only meets current building regs should be a lot easier to heat that something of the same size from the 1970s or earlier.
How thermally efficient is this house going to be? If it's something approaching PassivHaus it might only need 2 or 3kW to keep warm even on the coldest days - which probably wouldn't be so much of a worry. Even something that only meets current building regs should be a lot easier to heat that something of the same size from the 1970s or earlier.
