PHAM FEB22:Layout 1 01/02/2022 14:05 Page 1
FEBRUARY 2022 | VOLUME 60 | ISSUE 1
phamnews.co.uk
Consumers express reluctance to abandon their gas boilers Two recent surveys have suggested that there is widespread resistance amongst UK homeowners to switching their existing heating systems to low carbon alternatives At a time when many consumers are expressing concern about rising energy costs, two recent opinion polls have highlighted that public opinion could be a major obstacle to the government’s plans to encourage investment in low carbon heating technologies, such as heat pumps. In a survey of Daily Express readers, carried out in January this year, ˢ˞% of respondents said that they would not ditch their gas boilers to switch to a new heating technology. Nearly ˜˞˙˙ readers took part in the survey, with one commenting that they would rather change their MP than their gas central heating
Heat pump standards to be split in two MCS – The Microgeneration Certification Scheme – has announced plans to make fundamental changes to its Heat Pump Standard. The existing Heat Pump Standard (MIS ˜˙˙˞) will be split into two standards: one for Heat Pump Design (MIS ˜˙˙˞-D) and
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system, and another quoted as saying: “It is all very well installing heat pumps in new, highly insulated homes. However, the cost is prohibitive to do the same in older properties which form the majority of housing stock. It is a non-starter for the majority of house owners.” A separate YouGov poll conducted on behalf of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA)
suggests that less than ˜% of ˚˟˙˙ residents in ˚ˡ North of England ‘Red Wall’ constituencies would be willing to invest in the installation of a heat pump. When asked, how much, if at all, they would be willing to pay to have low carbon heating systems installed in their homes, excluding ‘don’t knows’, ˞ˠ% said they were not prepared to pay anything, with ˡ˝% saying up to £˚˙˙˙. Less than ˜% were willing to pay the amounts currently expected to fit a heat pump. “Voters are angry about high energy bills, but they are also clearly dismissive of future government plans around low carbon heating in their homes,” says Mike Foster, chief executive of the EUA. “It is crystal clear that voters currently on the gas grid want to stay connected to gas. They don’t want to be disconnected from mains gas and forced into an electric-only option. This should make Ministers sit up and listen.” Commenting on the challenge
facing the government in getting homeowners to embrace alternative forms of heating, Mike Thornton, CEO of the Energy Saving Trust, says: “In the UK, we face a unique challenge in decarbonising our household heating. While many countries have been installing heat pumps for decades, here in the UK we seem to love our gas boilers. They have long been the default option for most homes – ˡ˞% of UK households are gas-heated – and people are understandably reluctant to move away from what they know. “Heat pumps are a proven technology for heating homes with incredible efficiency. Unfortunately, consumers and installers are currently caught in a catch-˛˛ situation – interested homeowners struggle to find trained heat pump installers, while installers struggle to find enough customers. Installers can’t scale up without a strong customer base, but the demand won’t be there if there aren’t readily available installers to turn to.”
the other to cover Heat Pump Installation (MIS ˜˙˙˞-I). The national standards body for renewables says that it intends the new standards to make the market more accessible, giving installers the opportunity to either focus on heat pump design or heat pump installation as per their skillsets. The split will also facilitate the predicted increase in contractors who can install heat pumps and work alongside independent heat pump designers. The new standards are set to come into force on ˚st April and
follow the closure of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive on ˜˚st March. Compliance certificates were required as part of the DRHI but they will no longer be required. The new standards will not affect existing heat pump contractors, as by default, they L]P NP]_TʭPO QZ] MZ_S SPL_ [`X[ design and installation. The certifications will carry over until their next certification surveillance assessment, when installers can choose to be NP]_TʭPO QZ] OP^TRY TY^_LWWL_TZY or both.
Ian Rippin, chief executive of 8.> ^Ld^% ɭ?SP OTaP]^TʭNL_TZY of the new Heat Pump Standards will enable the industry to deliver the best service for customers and accommodate contractors who wish to streamline their skillset. “Our change reflects the market. It is a move in the right direction as we look to encourage more installers into low-carbon heating and, in turn, increase the adoption of heat pumps in UK homes and non-domestic buildings.”
Inside this issue Talent Show Installations to be proud of See page 12
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