A NATIONAL Trust property is set to save 30,000 litres of oil a year as it switches to a ‘pioneering’ ground source heat pump.

The project at Kingston Lacy is one of the conservation charity’s biggest to date.

The renewable heating system replaces the property’s ‘unreliable and oil-hungry’ boilers and is the first high-temperature ground source system installed by the National Trust.

Almost 6,000m of underground pipes will warm the 17th-century mansion and courtyard buildings.

Bournemouth Echo: The 17th century house has an extensive art collection

The new pump will also improve the conservation of the building and its collection, which includes works by Titian, Velazquez and Rubens.

Owen Griffith, lead renewable heating project manager for the National Trust, said: “Even in the most historically significant settings like Kingston Lacy, it’s possible to integrate these modern technologies while maintaining the utmost care for the building and the grounds.

“Not only will the heat pump reduce the property’s dependency on fossil fuels, but it’ll create a safer environment and improve conditions for the amazing collection items here. There are so many advantages.

“Magnificent buildings like these have been around for centuries, but their heating systems have evolved - from open fires to coal boilers and then oil boilers, with many energy innovations along the way. This is simply the next step in Kingston Lacy’s history and preservation.”

Bournemouth Echo: The heat pump will save 30,000 litres of oil.

Dr Elena Greer, curator at Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne, added: “We’re proud to house one of the National Trust’s most significant holdings of fine art, including an internationally renowned collection of Old Master paintings. The new heat pump means we can more easily maintain the optimum environmental conditions for their display, ensuring that they can be enjoyed by generations of visitors long into the future.”

Owen concluded: “Most of our visitors won’t notice the low-carbon energy systems working hard behind the scenes – and we’re proud of that. We want our renewable technologies to complement the fabric of the setting. That has been a guiding principle from the start.”

The project is part funded by Low Carbon Dorset, as a part of the European Regional Development Fund.