A PIONEERING new form of household heating has been installed in three council properties in Jim Lane in Marsh.

And the energy-efficient heat pumps will be just the job for bringing bills down, officials reckon.

Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing has fitted each property with a pump that is able to absorb heat even from very cool air outside the house. The heat is then transferred into a water circuit.

Heat pumps have been available for many years, but new compressor technology can provide much higher efficiency levels.

Clr Andrew Cooper, Kirklees Council's Cabinet member for housing, said: "This is a great example of where environmental policies and saving money come together.

"For every unit of electricity used, four times that amount will be produced in heat."

The air source heat pumps are supplied by Marstairs, a company based in Brighouse.

Clr Cooper said: "This is an ideal way of providing affordable heating for homes that are not connected to the mains gas network."