A new study by a University of Glasgow-led research centre has found that the UK housing sector is lagging over 30 per cent behind neighbouring countries when it comes to the adoption of heat pumps.
Heat pumps have been sold by the government as a key part of the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide cost savings for households, with the private rental sector often cited as a part of the housing stock which should fit the devices.
The new study, carried out by the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence, says the UK's residential sector accounts for 16 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, with space and water heating being the predominant sources of energy consumption and emissions.
However it says the adoption of heat pumps - a key renewable source for space and water heating - is hindered by several barriers in the UK compared to countries such as Denmark and Sweden, including higher capital costs compared to conventional heating systems, mis-targeted deployment, and competing economic interests.
But with the UK committed to achieving a net-zero target by 2050, the residential sector's mitigation is crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the report insists.
Dr Sohail Ahmad, lead author of the study, comments: "The findings have important policy implications, especially in terms of enhancing financial incentives, increasing demonstrator projects, and targeting the right segments of households who are potential innovators and early adopters.”
Professor Ken Gibb, Director of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence, adds: “Our new study reinforces the fact that the UK residential sector must scale up the take-up of air source heat pumps if we are to achieve long term net-zero targets.”
Identifying that appropriate knowledge and awareness about heat pumps are crucial for their adoption, the study suggests attracting consumers through financial incentives and reducing the imbalance in levies on electricity and gas bills to drive demand.
The study calls for greater coherence in policies and regulations to incentivise manufacturers and installers, address stakeholders' concerns, and provide end-users with a positive experience of heat pumps.
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We are not 30% behind other countries, we are 30% less gullible.
The fact that most of the installers of this “revolutionary” tech wouldn’t have it in their own home tells you everything you need to know.
Total waste of time, money and having extensive building work in your house to enlarge existing radiators to keep warm. New build, heavily insulated house well away from neighbours absolutely fine, your money your choice. In Victorian houses as useful as smart meters.
I did ti g up ring up regarding these things and was told that - if u r thinking of having one do not do it to save money. They are more expensive. For the environment erm yes but they are still not as clean as they make out. And if you have one it’s recommended that you install solar panels because although your Gas Bill vanishes. Your electric bill -SKY ROCKETS!! So have at least 6/8 ( 4 bed house ). The prices for one were - 15-18k. Solar panels on top of that.
So For time being I did not have one I stalled.
This university seems to be an Orwelian type institution, look at the titles.. Heat pumps are reverse fridges. They are very inefficient at low air temperatures, however electricity is a lot cheaper on the continent. We have massive hydrocarbon resources and they are not being exploited due to politicians being completely cuckoo.
More smoke and mirrors…. No thanks, I will let the early adopters take the hit and when the dust has settled… see where we are.
Heat pumps are the biggest red herring in the climate agenda, a gap filler until the next gen of scalable carbon reduction comes on line. My money is still on hydogen boilers , no CO2 produced when burnt, which government wants to see properly come on line by 2030. In time it will be the same switch over to piped natural gas we take for granted today, but will probably take until 2040 ish before it becomes mainstream, networking of the gas supply to residential neighbourhoods is due to start by 2026. In the meantime they cant have us doing nothing, ergo the heat pump agenda.
I'm not opposed to low energy renewables in the right situations but I do struggle with the idea of retro fitting air source heat pumps.
If they are any good why aren't they already being fitted in new builds as standard?
As a retro fit even relatively modern houses don't have sufficient underfloor or wall insulation for low temperature heat sources to work in a convenient way. People are used to the speed a conventional gas central heating system with standard size radiators will heat a building. Low temperature heat sources require a whole different approach. It needs to be set to a much smaller temperature variation and effectively on for much longer periods. It doesn't necessarily cost anywhere near as much per hour to run as a gas boiler (depending on the price per kWh of gas and electricity) but it will need to run for more hours. A bit like a heat pump tumble drier costs a fraction of a conventional one to dry a load of washing but takes much longer.
I can't see how the general public are going to be convinced to retro fit such an expensive system when it is highly questionable it would work in older buildings. Especially if they expect it to be as responsive and controllable as every source of heating they have ever previously encountered. I still have a gas boiler but had underfloor heating fitted last autumn, so it runs at a lower temperature than standard radiators. It's definitely been a steep learning curve and I was very glad of my gas fire and electric throws a few times. I'd left it on a holiday setting at 16 degrees while I was away last week and had forgotten to switch it back onto its normal programme before I got home. It took nearly 9 hours to bring the temperature up to 19 degrees in the lounge. My house was built in 2004.
Instead of grants it may be more effective if the installation of any major systems that lead towards Net Zero were fully tax deductable. Heat pumps, solar panels, wind turbines, etc.
Solar panels are by far my preferred option. Even at this time of year my new systems are producing significantly more electricity than the houses are using. So far this month my small 3.16kw array has produced 293kWh while the 4 person household consumption has been 246kWh. The larger 5.8kw array has produced 525kWh while that 5 person household has consumed 335kWh. Seeing a miniscule electric bill and an export payment is surely something people would be more likely to engage with than trying to cope with slow, unresponsive heating systems.
Becasue they arent any good. They are too big to retro fit to most properties, are pretty unattractive, cumbersome and noisy for those that have the space, are really expensive and are useless in cold winters where there is no heat to extract.
Matthew - I was trying not to be completely negative but in reality only 2 of my 18 properties would be even vaguely suitable for an air source heat pump. The others are all either flats or terraced houses where the noise would be too intrusive even if we could find the space to put one and for the flats got freeholder consent. Consent would be unlikely due to the noise and loss of communal space.
Wasnt my thought at all Jo, I agree with you.
If the government are so keen on these things why aren't they part of a building control requirement for all new builds ?
Matthew- I don’t think you are correct in that AS heat pumps do work in cold weather up to -10 or sone -25. Noise too not as loud as you think. But agree with u size and a LIT of properties esp flats will not be able to install them.
Not cold weather Dave, cold winters - big difference and whilst they "operate" at the temps you describe, they dont produce the fireside, kick off the slippers warmth you get from burning gas.
Get everyone on electric , then pull the plug .... quite literally
Like it George 😁🤣
George Dawes, that's what smart meters are for.
They installed a new water meter , supposedly smart
Fortunately the not so smart installers forgot the smart bit so it's like the old one , thankfully , just upside down so virtually impossible to read
They actually wanted to charge me a couple of hundred quid to add all the smart crap..
I'm still on the old council tax banding water charges and at the old rate that the property was before I built my house 33 yrs ago, don't tell anyone, tenants go rushing out to have a meter fitted because the water companies tell them it'll be cheaper, which of course it's not, mugs
I am a retired heat pump technicia. I would not have one in my home in the UK, but they are fine here in Cyprus. due to the mor accommodating climate. Also in the UK , installing a heat pump can degrade your EPC as you are switching from gas to electricity even if it is a heat pump and it loses you points. Rules is rules.
Glasgow university is the home of CaCHE, the Woke, Lefty Anti-landlord Biased pseudo-Housing academia assassins.
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