New polling from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has found that
the majority of the public (62%) would not feel at all confident explaining how
heat pump technology works.
In addition, less than half (42%) of consumers have heard of the
Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme which is specifically designed to
incentivise the uptake of heat pumps.
The findings come as BRE publishes a new report, Decarbonising Heat in
Britain’s Buildings, which calls on government to go further in its support to
transition households to clean heat.
While the UK has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, some 88% of homes
in the UK are still heated by natural gas (1). Heating our buildings accounts
for nearly a quarter (23%) of the UK’s total greenhouse gases and decarbonising
heat will be crucial to achieving net zero.
BRE’s research finds that, based on currently available technology, heat
pumps are the best option to transition households away from fossil fuels and
onto clean energy. Heat pumps can be most affordably installed and operated in
well-insulated buildings. The reduced heat demand in insulated buildings can be
readily met by the steady, lower temperature heat that heat pumps most
efficiently provide.
However, BRE’s research also reveals that there remain significant barriers
to take-up of this technology, and the UK is far behind comparable European
countries in the development of its heat pump market. A lack of public
awareness, slow momentum on energy efficiency changes, and limited investment
in the market are the key factors contributing to the slow take-up of heat
pumps.
Whilst the UK Government has launched a public awareness campaign to
encourage UK households to cut their energy use, BRE is calling on the
Government to do more including extending its campaign to include information
on heat pumps specifically. Improving public understanding of how low carbon
heating technologies work will go a long way towards increasing consumer
take-up and helping people make the transition to clean energy.
BRE is continuing to call on the UK Government to build on the progress
already made in this area and implement a national retrofit strategy including
the acceleration of the roll-out of insulation. This is an immediate and
cost-efficient solution to help reduce energy demand in homes and buildings.
Greater investment and a further policy push in the UK heat pump market will
be vital to bringing down costs for consumers and encouraging widespread
adoption of the technology. BRE recommends that the Government introduces
subsidies for early adopters of heat pumps to stimulate the provider market and
drive the mass adoption needed to reduce costs.
Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of BRE, said: “Improving consumer awareness of
heat pumps will help to boost demand over the long-term and, ultimately, bring
the UK closer to its net zero target.
“Whilst this awareness programme continues, we would also like to see
government implement a national retrofit strategy that will improve the energy
efficiency of the UK’s housing stock by further accelerating the roll-out of
measures such as insulation.
“Our latest polling shows that there is a clear knowledge gap around the
benefits of heat pumps which needs to be addressed if we are to deliver
meaningful, lasting change and decarbonise the UK’s inefficient buildings.
Neither the Government nor the public can afford to waste this opportunity – and
keeping up current momentum in this area will be vital.”
