There has been a lot in the news recently about the UK becoming carbon neutral by 2050, with the delayed COP26 meeting due to take place in less then 12 months time. A major factor to climate change is in the way we heat our properties, and the Government’s Climate Change Committee proposes new measures which could be introduced to move away from fossil fuels. One significant recommendation is new gas connections being phased out by the mid 2030s.
There is already a ban in place for 2025 for new builds, meaning that any new build house or development will not be able to install a fossil fuel boiler, and instead will have to install a low carbon technology, such as a Ground Source Heat Pump or Air Source Heat Pump. This is obviously great for new build properties, but what about the existing housing stock, which makes up the majority of the UK housing stock?
If you currently have a fossil fuel boiler and it comes to needing replacing come the mid 2030’s you might not be able to replace it with a like-for-like boiler. You would have to install a low carbon heating system instead. If you are looking to make the change sooner please Contact Us to see how a heat pump can benefit you and your home.
Net-Zero Goal
The CCC (Climate Change Committee) carried out research in 2020 which showed that gas and oil boilers currently make up t0 more than 90% of the UK heating stock. Below is a number of ways by which the Government aim to decrease this percentage:
Increase the volume of heat pump installations from 30,000 a year to 600,000 a year by 2028
Phase out all installations of gas boilers by mid 2030s
Ensure all new build homes from 2025 are zero-carbon ready
Gas Boilers Phased Out, Heat Pumps Phased In
Current gas boilers are around 90% efficient when burning fuel to convert energy. The issue there is though, they are burning fuel which creates carbon dioxide which adds on to the effect of climate change. Heating in fact accounts for the highest proportion of UK household carbon emissions.
By mid 2030s you might not be able to replace your boiler with a new boiler, instead it will be a low carbon source, such as a heat pump. Heat pumps work by absorbing stored heat, in the ground or air, and transferring that to create useful heat for your homes heating and hot water. They run off electricity, which is becoming increasingly created by renewable sources such as wind and solar farms.
Heat Pump Government Grants
Renewable Heat Incenitve (RHI)
Introduced in 2011, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) provides the property owner with quarterly payments over a 7 year period for the amount of Renewable Heat their heat pump produces. In most cases you will get the money back that you spent on the equipment over that period, whilst benefitting from reduced running costs at the same time.
The Domestic RHI is active for new applications till March 2022, at which point it will be replaced by a Clean Heat Grant to support the installation costs. The Installer of the equipment must be MCS Accredited, or working under our MCS Umbrella Scheme, to ensure you comply.
Green Homes Grant (GHG)
Introduced in September 2020, the Green Homes Grant (GHG) was launched to help support the upfront cost to improve the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock. This can be used towards the likes of improving insulation levels, improving glazing, through to having a heat pump installed.
The Green Homes Grant is also available till March 2022 after a recent 1 year extension. The Installer of the heat pump MUST be MCS Accredited and TrustMark registered to ensure you comply.
Want to Make the Switch to Heat Pump Technology Sooner?
Get in touch with Alto Energy today if you want to install a heat pump into your property. Whether you’re building a new home, converting a barn, or wanting to update your existing heating system, we will have a solution for you. Contact Us below!