5 reasons why we need to make getting a heat pump easier
Why should you get a heat pump? They’re better for the environment, more efficient and will cut your energy bills compared to a gas boiler. But, as our CEO discovered, getting a heat pump installed in your home is no easy task. Here’s what she learned along the way, along with her recommendations to make it easier for consumers to get a heat pump.
I moved into my central-London flat in November 2020 and immediately saw that my gas boiler was on its last legs. However, I was unwilling to just purchase a new boiler and lock into another fossil fuel system for about 15 years! I wanted a heat pump.
Three years later, I’ve reached the end of my journey and the answer is no, I can’t have a heat pump, at least for now. I’m hopeful that as technology and regulation improve that answer will change. But the experience of trying to get one has taught me a LOT about how we need to make it easier for anyone (and everyone) to get one. Please join me on my journey as I share what I’ve learned…
1. Heat pumps are better for the environment
I’m not going to be able to add anything new to the information that is already out there on the environmental benefits of heat pumps and there are many brilliant people who have written extensively about the comparisons between different heating systems. Jan Rosenow of the Regulatory Assistance Project is a self-described “Energy Transitions Optimist” and my go-to for all things heat pump analysis and here is a great report from 2021 which pulls together the science and policy. Justin Rowlatt of the BBC also has a great short explainer (and also a longer full programme if you want to dive deeper) on how heat pumps work.
Essentially heat pumps are better for the environment, more efficient and will cut your energy bills, compared to gas boilers! And recently there has been a swathe of announcements making heat pumps as cheap as a new gas boiler, or even cheaper!
Recommendation 1: The government needs to do more to ensure the general public understands that heat pumps will save them money compared to gas boilers.
2. Heat pumps help us meet local net zero commitments
I live in an area of London which declared a climate emergency in June 2019. However, I heard from several neighbours in my block that they had been denied permission to get a heat pump. Surely any council having declared a climate emergency would be only delighted for their residents to get a heat pump?
Sadly not, and though I never got as far as being turned down myself (read on for why), I did engage in a back-and-forth with Islington Council which was not promising, and they definitely did not try to work with me to figure out how I could get a heat pump. Separately, I am also not allowed to form a community group to install solar panels on the roof of my estate. So much for that climate emergency.
Recommendation 2: We need to ensure that Councils are equipped to understand the necessity of heat pumps and to work with their residents to ensure both the Council and residents can achieve their climate goals.
Myself and Opportunity Green’s Chief Security Officer enjoying some sun on the too-small-for-a-heat-pump-balcony earlier in the year.
3. We need more heat pump installers
When I thought I might be able to get a heat pump I didn’t know where to start so just googled “get a heat pump” and ended up on the government's website to “check if a heat pump would be suitable for my home” and it was, huzzah! However, what I have learned since is that while a heat pump would be very suitable to heat my home, that doesn’t mean it is suitable to be installed…
So next I had to find a potential installer. Luckily the government linked to a site that listed certified installers. However, there were only 10 installers in the entire country who would install an air source heat pump in London under the government grant. Eeeek.
So obviously I tried all 10. I heard back from…three. And one of them tried his best to dissuade me from a heat pump (“do you know how expensive and difficult the process is?”). Another told me that I was unsuitable for a heat pump (“flats are too difficult”) and the third seemed enthusiastic at first but then went cold. However, I later discovered that there are many more heat pump installers who do the government grant but either aren’t listed on the site at all, or are listed but not for the government grant. I genuinely don’t know why that is but it is another thing that needs to be fixed.
Luckily, I came across Aira who couldn’t have been nicer or more responsive (I would recommend if you are thinking of a heat pump!). They genuinely try their best to get everyone who wants a heat pump, a heat pump. Sadly, when they came to survey my flat it was found not to be possible under current rules.
Recommendation 3: There needs to be a more centralised system to help consumers find installers and there needs to be more installers so that those who want a heat pump can get one.
4. Consumers are being expected to do all the research
I’m a climate change expert with a first in law and in economics but I was frequently asked questions in this process that I literally had no idea what the answer was or even how to find out the answers. I had to do a LOT of research to understand what type of heat pump I needed and was also expected to have the measurements of my entire flat to hand, including details on insulation, capacity of radiators, etc.
If I was simply replacing my boiler (which I’m sadly having to do now I can’t get a heat pump), no one asks any questions other than how many bedrooms you have. While I can appreciate that for an air source heat pump you do need some outside space, the consumer should not be expected to be the expert.
Recommendation 4: One Stop Shops for home energy decarbonisation should be rolled out across the UK and EU (the EU is already doing this but does need to speed up). These are places where people can go to get information on all home energy improvements and financing from experts in just one place. #JustWhatINeeded!
5. There’s too much hype and misinformation about “hydrogen-ready boilers”
Ultimately, I was told that while a heat pump would fit on my balcony, there wouldn’t be enough clearance space around it in case it leaked to comply with current regulations. However, the heat pump installer did think that in three to five years the technology and regulation would probably both be better and allow me to get a heat pump. In the meantime, unfortunately I’ll just have to get a new boiler.
But one thing I am NOT going to do is get a hydrogen-read boiler. I’ve written before about what a waste of hydrogen it is to use it for home heating. Hydrogen-ready boilers are nothing but greenwash. In fact, the CMA has recently launched a greenwashing investigation into Worcester Bosch for their advertisement of ‘hydrogen-ready’ boilers, following an industry-wide investigation into the issue over the summer.
The limited hydrogen we have should go to sectors where there really are no other alternatives like aviation and shipping (also chemicals, steel and fertilisers have a good call on the limited supplies!).
Recommendation 5: Don’t waste valuable, and limited, hydrogen for home heating.
Do you live in a flat and managed to get a heat pump? Or have you also been turned down for a heat pump, let me know, my new favourite thing is heat pump-chat!
Finally, all those recommendations in one place:
The government needs to do more to ensure the general public understands that heat pumps will save them money compared to gas boilers.
We need to ensure that Councils are equipped to understand the necessity of heat pumps and to work with their residents to ensure both the Council and residents can achieve their climate goals.
There needs to be a more centralised system to help consumers find installers and there needs to be more installers so that those who want a heat pump can get one.
One Stop Shops for home energy decarbonisation should be rolled out across the UK and EU (the EU is already doing this but does need to speed up). These are places where people can go to get information on all home energy improvements and financing from experts in just one place. #JustWhatINeeded!
Don’t waste valuable, and limited, hydrogen for home heating.
