Ground source heat pumps are "very well" suited for new builds, according to the author of the Housebuilder's Bible.

Speaking at the Grand Designs live show in Birmingham, Mark Brinkley said that ground source heat pumps generated three times more energy than they require to run.

Ground source heat pumps consist of pipes laid under ground. As a liquid is pumped around the pipes it picks up heat which then circulates around a home to warm it.

Mr Brinkley said: "The clever thing about ground source heat pumps is the gearing effect they get in pulling most of the heat out of the garden.

"For every unit of power you put in, you get three units of heat out."

However, he noted that while the technology was very useful when building new houses, it was not particularly useful in renovation as most houses do not have garden space to install the pipes.

According to the Freedonia Group, demand for ground source heat pumps overtook warm air furnaces in the US in 2006.