Heat pump systems are energy efficient alternatives to traditional central heating systems and air conditioners. They are three times more efficient than gas boilers. To meet the UK’s climate change targets, the government intends to install 600,000 heat pumps annually within five years and the “Boiler Upgrade Scheme” grants households £5,000 to help switch from a gas boiler to a heat pump.
In February, the scheme was criticised by the Lords Climate Change Committee, which said that the scheme take-up is so low, the national target for green heating is unlikely to be met. Currently, only 50,000 heat pumps are installed annually.
Baroness Parminter, Chair of the committee, said that it is critical that the government boosts public awareness of the scheme. In Autumn 2022, government research showed that 80% of people did not know what a heat pump was.
The government has introduced a marketing campaign to increase public awareness and other options will be considered to ensure the climate change targets will be met.
May 26th, 2023
