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Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about making our homes warmer in a way that’s better for the planet. One of the big ideas was to change from using old-style boilers to something called heat pumps. But, things haven’t been going as smoothly as hoped. Here’s what’s happening.
The plan was to swap boilers for heat pumps, like boilers that burn gas or oil. Heat pumps are cool because they take warmth from the air or ground outside and use it to heat our homes. They’re like fridges, but in reverse. This change was part of a bigger goal to help our planet by reducing harmful stuff that goes into the air, which boilers can make a lot of.
The Government wants to install 600,000 energy-efficient, low-carbon pumps annually by 2028 and up to 1.6 million annually by 2035.
Recently, through the boiler upgrade scheme, 18,900 were installed between May and December last year, well under the 50,000 expected by that point.
NAO said more data was required to assist people to assess whether the change was worth it.
| According To NAO Chief Gareth Davies, “Government needs to engage every household to achieve its objective to decarbonise home heating as part of the transition to net zero.” |
“The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) progress in making households aware and encouraging them to switch to low-carbon alternatives has been slower than expected.”
Today the Government is announcing £75 million for free energy efficiency upgrades, such as heat pumps and double-glazing in homes.
| Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said, “the initiative will help low-income homeowners save up to £400 a year on their energy bills and will support jobs for over 1,300 people working on making homes better and more ECO-friendly.” |
Many people are finding it tricky to understand how heat pumps work and if they’re the right choice for their home. There’s been a lot of back and forth, and not everyone is getting the information they need to make a decision.
Heat pumps are expensive to buy and install in homes. Even though they can save money on bills over a long time, the upfront cost is a big hurdle for many families.
Government and companies involved are trying to make things clearer and work on ways to help with the costs. They’re talking about better ways to explain how heat pumps work and why they’re a good choice for the environment and our wallets in the long run.
What Can You Do? If you’re thinking about how you can help the planet from your home, it’s a good idea to start learning about swap boilers for heat pumps and other energy-saving technologies. Talk to experts, ask lots of questions, and see if there are any programs in your area that might help with the costs.
