Heat Pumps Today

10 Max Halliwell, Vice Chairman of the Heat Pump Association asks how much do you know about heat pumps? The Truth About Heat Pumps Along with the financial and environmental benefits heat pumps have to offer, the roll out of the low carbon heating system is instrumental to the delivery of the UK’s net zero carbon target. But, as we shift away from the fossil fuel heating systems people are familiar with, there is still much to be done to raise awareness of the alternatives. The good news is, that this understanding is already rising. With a survey by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that 57% of people were aware of Air Source heat pumps (ASHP) in 2020 compared to just 30% in 2019. Yet the extent of awareness is still perhaps below where it needs to be, with just 4% of respondents in the more recent survey claiming to know a lot about ASHP, whilst 19% know a little and 34% are aware of them but don’t really know what they are. The remaining 43% haven’t ever heard of them at all. Briti sh public are ‘tuned in ’ The British public have never bee n more tuned into the climate debate, with a separate BEIS survey showing that 87% August | September 2021 H P A of respondents had heard of net zero, and nearly 83% concerned about climate change. But, without an adequate understanding of heat pumps and how they work, even the more environmentally conscious household may struggle to know where to start when it comes to making their homes more environmentally friendly. As part of our plans at the Heat Pump Association (HPA), to support the deployment of heat pumps in line with the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan, we are committed to providing installers with the training they need to not only install heat pumps but to also offer households the right advice on the system to install in their home. This is vital when we consider that 90% of people surveyed by BEIS found their heating installer to be a fairly or very helpful source of information. Deemed by the Climate Change Committee as key workers on the low carbon transition, low carbon heating installers will not just play an essential role in meeting demand for heat pumps as it continues to rise, but to stimulating more demand through their interaction with consumers. Installers must be trained in heat pumps so that they can pass the information on. Dispelling the myths As the industry steps up to address the shortage of heat pump installers through training, it is also important that we do all we can to dispel some of the myths surrounding the technology. There is a common misconception for example that ASHPs are noisy in operation, when a modern heat pump is in fact no noisier than a refrigerator; or that they can only work with underfloor heating. In reality, they may operate more efficiently with underfloor heating, but are compatible with larger radiators, which – due to the larger surface area – give out heat at lower temperatures over a longer period of time. It’s also vital, particularly with the Government’s 600,000 heat pump deployment target just years away, that the technology is recognised as a solution for all types of homes; while the Future Homes Standard will see heat pumps as the primary heating system in new builds from 2025, the right type of heat pump can be selected to suit all property types – be it a terraced house, high-rise flat, or traditional farmhouse – regardless of how old the building is. The technology can also perform efficiently all year round, even during the colder winter months. As people begin to recognise and understand the impact their fossil fuel heating systems have on the carbon emissions, it is essential that the benefits and capabilities of heat pumps are accurately communicated so that households across the country can make informed decisions around the way they heat their home. T. 01895 259346 E. info@blygolduk.com W. Blygolduk .co.uk • Doubles the life of your coils • R duces your Energy Bills • Reduces the wear & tear on your units • Reduces M intenance Costs • Reduces Call Outs • Reduces the need for early replacement Anti-Corrosion Coatings for Fin Coil Heat Exchangers U N I T E D K I N G D O M U N I T E D K I N G D O M U N I T E D K I N G D O M 2021 10th DIARY DATE 20/10/2021 ENTER BY 21/08/2021 BOOK PLACES 28/08/2021 ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN! Sponsored supported by ior-logo-2017 vector file for printing v2.pdf 1 08/02/2018 12:32 M B S MODERNBUILDING SERVICES JOIN THE ENERGY REVOLUTION WWW.NIBE.CO.UK/NIBE-PRO-INSTALLERS