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The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
The heat pump guide … everything you need to know
Record numbers of heat pumps were installed in the UK in 2024, according to the Heat Pump Association. At just under 100,000, the figure is well below the government's ambitious aim of 600,000 a year by 2028 but is at least edging in the right direction. Even so, it's clear that many more people will need to make the switch from gas boilers to the more carbon-friendly heat pumps if the UK is to meet its net zero goals. The heating and cooling of homes and commercial buildings accounts for 26% of global energy-related emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. In the UK, the National Audit Office reported last year that heating 28m homes created 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. So it's probably time for many more of us to understand the steps we can take to lower the carbon footprint of our homes. Heat pumps take heat from outside, make it warmer, and transfer it into a building to provide heating and hot water. Depending on the type, pumps can extract heat from the air, ground or water. They can also work in reverse, absorbing heat from a building to cool it down. It may seem counterintuitive, but at the heart of a heat pump is a refrigerant that flows constantly through the system. The process starts with the refrigerant in liquid form absorbing heat from outside. As its temperature rises, the refrigerant turns into a gas (it's like water evaporating at 100C – but with a refrigerant it happens at far lower temperatures, even subzero). The gas flows to a compressor where its temperature is increased because, put simply, the compression means the molecules have less space so they collide more, releasing heat. It's this higher level of heat that is transferred from the refrigerant gas to a building's heating system – warming water for radiators and the hot water tank. Having given up its heat, the gas is decompressed, and turns back to liquid, allowing the cycle to begin over again. Crucially, this also works efficiently in harsh Nordic climates like Sweden, where heat pump manufacturer NIBE is based and the systems are commonplace. Here are the three main types of heat pump on offer: Air source heat pumpThis is the most common form of domestic heat pump in the UK and, as the name suggests, it uses outdoor air to start the 'refrigeration cycle'. The external workings are contained in a box about the size of two wheelie bins, while inside the property a hot water cylinder is needed. Ground source heat pumpThis is the subterranean version, which makes use of underground heat. Pipes are laid under, say, a lawn or in boreholes and a liquid (mainly a mixture of water and antifreeze) is circulated through them to absorb the heat. The heat is transferred into the building where the heat pump raises the temperature for heating and hot water. Ground source heat pumps are more efficient than air-source pumps but can cost more to install. Exhaust air heat pumpThe third type is the exhaust air heat pump, a ventilation system which is growing in popularity, especially with people living in flats, as they don't require an outdoor unit or ground work, just a simple vent in the wall. Here, the heat pump uses waste heat that it draws in from inside the house, extracting the energy to heat radiators or underfloor heating, as well as a hot-water cylinder. The cold, stale air is then exhausted out of the building through the vent, so the system provides heating, hot water and ventilation, and improves air quality by preventing the build-up of condensation. How long do they last?With regular servicing and maintenance, heat pumps will last, on average, for 15 to 20 years. The switch to heat pumps is mainly focused around decarbonisation, the climate crisis and the drive to net zero. But it could also significantly help reduce air pollution. A study published by the University of York found that gas boilers were responsible for 72% of the nitrogen oxides in central London between 2021 and 2023. Rather than running on fossil fuels such as gas, heat pumps use electricity, which, while currently more expensive than gas, can use more sustainable sources – particularly as more wind and solar farms are being built. Heat pumps also use energy more efficiently than gas and oil boilers, and can be up to six times more energy efficient, in the case of the latest NIBE ground source heat pump. To truly enjoy the benefits of a heat pump, it's essential that you get the right one for your home and that it's properly installed by experts. The website, for example, has a step-by-step guide to heat pump installation, setting out all the considerations. Pretty high on the list will be cost – and it's worth knowing that depending where in the UK you live there are grants available, including £7,500 towards an air and ground source heat pump in England and Wales through the boiler upgrade scheme. In Scotland, the government is offering a home energy grant of up to £7,500, plus an additional £7,500 available as an optional interest-free loan. Another benefit is that no VAT is charged on heat pumps in the UK. You'll need your property to be well insulated and, as heat pumps typically operate at lower temperatures than gas boilers, you might need to increase the size of your radiators so they emit sufficient heat. All houses will need a heat loss survey and inspection of their systems before the heat pump is installed. Michael Dungworth, head of technical at NIBE, says: 'The first thing to consider when planning an installation is finding an MCS-certified installer, who can decide on the best solution that would be right for your property.' The company has been making renewable energy solutions since 1952, and has been at the forefront of heat pump technology, producing ever more efficient units, and innovations such as the exhaust air heat pump, most recently with cooling capabilities. 'At NIBE, our products build on decades of research and development,' says Rick Clarke, product manager at NIBE. 'Our units are highly efficient with low running costs, so they contribute towards a sustainable environment.' NIBE has also recently been awarded Quiet Mark certification for its core product range. 'This highlights our commitment to delivering exceptional indoor climate systems, with minimal disruption to home life,' he says. So whether you want to do your bit for the environment by reducing your carbon footprint, or potentially lower your energy bills, a heat pump could be the solution for you. NIBE combines smart technology with renewable energy to produce energy-efficient solutions for heating your home. Take a look at its full range of heat pumps
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
All you need to know as households offered grants to save on energy bills
The move is part of the Warm Homes Plan, designed to make homes greener, cheaper to run and easier to heat Millions of families could soon have more affordable ways to heat their homes—thanks to new government proposals aimed at cutting bills and slashing carbon emissions. Under the plans, households will get more choice over how to upgrade their heating systems, with new options like air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries being considered for government grants. The move is part of the Warm Homes Plan, designed to make homes greener, cheaper to run and easier to heat—while also boosting British industry and jobs. Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 'Our Warm Homes Plan will mean lower bills and warmer homes for millions of families – helping drive better living standards as part of the Plan for Change. Following a record-breaking month for applications to our Boiler Upgrade Scheme, we are now proposing to give working families more choice and flexibility to pick the low-carbon upgrades that work best for them. And on top of this, we are investing over £4 million in Copeland to continue building a homegrown heat pump industry and training up the army of skilled workers we need to achieve this.' The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which helps with the cost of installing green heating systems, saw a record 4,028 applications in March—an 88% rise on the same month last year. Families can get up to £7,500 off a heat pump, which could save them around £100 a year on energy bills when paired with smart tariffs. As demand rises, ministers have launched a consultation to expand the scheme—potentially including technologies like heat batteries and offering new ways to pay, such as installments or monthly leasing deals, similar to car finance. Meanwhile, the government says it is ramping up efforts to train a 'Clean Power Army' of workers to carry out home retrofits. Up to 18,000 new trainees will be supported to install heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and heat networks. A major boost is also coming to UK manufacturing, with £4.6 million invested in Copeland, Northern Ireland, to expand production of key heat pump parts—helping to cut reliance on foreign gas and protect households from price shocks. The investment is backed by Copeland itself and will, ministers say, help fuel economic growth and support green jobs of the future. Industry leaders have welcomed the moves. Charlotte Lee, CEO of the Heat Pump Association, said: 'Following a record year for UK heat pump sales in 2024, we warmly welcome today's announcements which will continue to support growth in the sector and increased deployment of clean heating.' Chris O'Shea, boss of Centrica, which owns British Gas, said: 'We are delighted with the government's proposals to expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme… We can't wait to add more to our Clean Power Army.' The announcement comes as ministers make a final call for tenants and landlords to have their say on raising energy efficiency standards in private rental homes. Proposals would see all rental properties brought up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by 2030—up from the current EPC E standard. It could lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty, the government claims. Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, welcomed the plans: 'Britain has a huge opportunity to create thousands of good jobs as part of our energy transition... It's good to see backing for training that will get anyone, no matter if they're school leavers or career changers, into these high-impact jobs.'
