Reframing the heat pump debate, a roadmap for Government
A new WPI Strategy report for HomeServe UK finds that the government needs to re-frame the debate around heat pumps to increase take-up among the public.
Key findings from our research:
Heat pumps could save Britons money: In most cases, households can save between £376 to £482 annually on energy bills due to lower running costs and tailored tariffs for heat pumps.
House value could be boosted: Installing a heat pump is estimated to increase the price of a home by around 2.4%.
The upfront cost is still seen as the biggest barrier to take-up of heat pumps among homeowners according to new polling by Opinium on behalf of WPI Strategy.
People don’t really understand heat pumps yet: Despite the clear, broader benefits of heat pump adoption, recent polling indicates that the general public is not well aware of the technology, with one in four having never heard of a heat pump.
Gabriele Montesi, Interim CEO EMEA, HomeServe said:
“Heat pumps can lower energy bills and boost the value of your home. They also contribute to the UK’s plans to decarbonise its inefficient housing stock. The challenge is selling these benefits in a way that encourages homeowners to switch out their gas boilers.
“As this report makes clear, we need to reframe the discussion over heat pumps. At the moment the conversation is less about what a heat pump can do for the homeowner and instead is on what the homeowner should be doing to help the UK meet its net zero target.
“Without a change in emphasis towards the cost benefits of upgrading, the government will struggle to meet its heat pump installation target.”
Rebecca Sweeney, Business Leader, Homes, Energy Systems Catapult, said:
"Our work at the Catapult shows that if we want to increase demand for non-gas boiler heating, industry needs to offer things consumers better understand and care about; comfort, aesthetics, cost, disruption - as well as environmental benefits. Novel consumer offers like heat as a service have huge potential to smooth the journey to low carbon heating for consumers – and brilliant to see this new work underlining its potential."
Holly Brazier Tope, Head of Politics, Green Alliance, said:
“It is well evidenced that heat pump rollout will have enormous benefits for our environment and is integral for reaching our net zero ambitions. Today's report by WPI Strategy for HomeServe is very welcome in emphasising the consumer benefits of heat pumps, from bringing down household bills through to increasing the value of a home. This framing of the debate is a necessary one for government to achieve its aims, and we are keen to support this overdue conversation.”
