Katy King

Air-to-air heat pumps: a low-carbon solution for UK homes A2A heat pumps can provide homeowners with an additional option for decarbonising home heating

February is a great time to talk about… air conditioning. Otherwise known as air to air heat pumps, which can heat as well as cool your home, very efficiently.

We have a big new report out today on how suitable air to air heat pumps are for British homes. The answer: quite a lot!

You're absolutely right it's the top barrier for heat pump adoption - we were more covering the frictions when you've already decided to get one

New: 10 policy changes to make getting a heat pump easier
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/10-thin...

@acjsissons.bsky.social @chrisbaraniuk.com @helenczerski.bsky.social @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org @janrosenow.bsky.social @duncanrobinson.bsky.social @dharavyas.bsky.social @betatalk.bsky.social

There are better ways to lower the cost of energy for households than a simple VAT cut @madgabes.bsky.social outlined recently - hopefully the Chancellor will tomorrow look to reduce electricity bills along lines of the tax-free measures @nestauk.bsky.social proposed www.nesta.org.uk/report/tax-f...

🙏This would be very welcome. Fingers crossed for tomorrow

The response to this story has been wonderful! Thanks to everyone who has read and shared it.

And thanks also to all new subscribers!!

Tax-free electricity A proposal to remove most taxes on electricity to reduce bills and promote clean heating

The Treasury is widely reported to be considering cutting energy bills, perhaps via a VAT cut. What's the best way to do this?
We think the answer is to remove the taxes from electricity bills. Here is Nesta's proposal out for Tax-free Electricity:

@nestauk.bsky.social

I’ve successfully claimed £2,000 from Halifax for my heat pump install 🥳

To be eligible for the Green Living Reward the install has to be within 1 year of getting a mortgage/refixing.

You also need to have a current account with Halifax.

#heatpump #heatpumps

New pictures!

Today we're excited to be launching the first images from our new resource of engaging, accessible and real-life images of heat pumps across the UK, free for non-profit, editorial and educational use.

Find out more and view the images:
www.climatevisuals.org/heatpumps/

Yes!

Thanks! I used CL Signs in Stockwell who aren’t specialists but have done a few heat pumps before. They did it in situ after the install. I’ve been told wrapping is fine for Vaillants but not spray painting.

✨Heat pump wrap ✨Before and after ✨

I just got my Vaillant heat pump wrapped in grey.

Do you prefer it before or after?

#heatpumps

@joalsop.bsky.social is the queen of modulating gas boilers! It would be awesome if boilers could be changed by the engineer when doing servicing.

Understanding how flats are heated in England and Wales Decarbonising flats requires a nuanced, multifaceted approach with distinct strategies based on their heating fuel types

🏢 How are flats heated in England and Wales? 🏦

🔥 45% of 11+ storey flats use communal heating, at least half relying on fossil fuels

🏡 75% of low-rise flats (1-3 storeys) use fossil-fuel heating

⚡ 60% of high-rise flats use electricity for individual heating

www.nesta.org.uk/project-upda...

How to make electricity cheaper Reforming the levies on energy bills

Well, electricity levies and heat pumps are in the news this morning…
… and we have a brand new Nesta report out on levy reform.

We’ve looked closely at all the options, and this is what we think the best approach is…
www.nesta.org.uk/report/how-t...

Only 1630 more comments to go.... 😆

Your trusted source of information on heat pumps Learn about the future of home heating with Get a Heat Pump: offering independent information, tools and guidance for homeowners.

🏡 In partnership with The MCS Foundation, we've designed a website to help consumers transition to a heat pump, with free, impartial tools and guidance.

Homeowners can find out how much a heat pump might cost, the best type for their home, and find an installer: www.getaheatpump.org.uk

Today, the 1 metre ruling requiring a minimum of 1 metre between a heat pump & property boundaries has been lifted for homes in England, meaning thousands of homeowners can make the first step to getting one.

🔖 Our new explainer outlines the planning process for getting a heat pump: bit.ly/4mAIDo0

Planning change makes heat pump installations easier for homes The rule requiring planning permission if a heat pump is within 1m of a neighbours property has been removed.

Today is the day! The heat pump 1m rule finally gets lifted. Getting my own heat pump installed later this year (planning no longer required!) 🥳

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

One year on, Visit a Heat Pump sees over 1,600 visitors Our research has shown visits make a clear difference to people’s attitudes, knowledge and confidence on heat pumps

🔥 1,600 heat pump visits in one year
🔥 Over 900 hosts signed up
🔥 47 installers registered

www.nesta.org.uk/blog/one-yea...
@codrinacretu.bsky.social @alasdair.co @madgabes.bsky.social @kieranran.bsky.social @markobroin.bsky.social

4 meters!!

Do you know of a conservation areas in the UK that allow heat pumps fronting a highway?

We'd love any examples! Thanks in advance 🙏

Warm Homes Plan and heat pumps There has been widespread coverage in national media following the launch of the Warm Homes Plan by DESNZ. The Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and deliver warmer, cleaner...

Perhaps a better link to share with the details: mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/21/w...

Unless you can move the heat pump to be further from your neighbour’s nearest window, these changes are unlikely to help you I’m afraid.

🔥 Heat pump 1m rule comes to an end on 29th May! 🥳

Here is the statutory instrument: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/56...

@joalsop.bsky.social @betatalk.bsky.social @thesuburbanpirate.bsky.social @acjsissons.bsky.social @annieleymarie.bsky.social @carbonbrief.org @chrisbaraniuk.com

🔥 Heat pump 1m rule comes to an end on 29th May! 🥳

Here is the statutory instrument: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/56...

Families to get more choice over home upgrades Proposals to give families greater choice when upgrading their home's heating as well as plans to create up to 18,000 training places for green jobs

New heat pump consultation out today on UK Government grants:

- Extend to Air to Air & heat batteries

Options being considered to help spread the installation cost of a heat pump include:

- Hire purchase
- Hire purchase “plus”
- Leasing, like leasing a car

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London, study shows - elemental A new study has revealed that gas boilers used for heating are now identified as the primary contributor for NOx emissions in London.

Eeek >> Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London elementallondon.show/news/gas-boi...

🔥 Do we need to mandate the open protocol that all boilers and controls have to work with? 🔥

DESNZ consultation says boilers & controls just need to be compatible with 1 open protocol - so some will be incompatible with each other?

I suggest OpenTherm as the mandated open protocol. Am I wrong?

@nicola.qeng-ho.org might have a view on the lowest you can set combi boiler tap water, as she worked on the Cambridge Architectural Research report that recommended 42 degrees

Hi! If you have a combi boiler (no hot water tank) you can set the flow temp for radiators as low as you want.

For tap water setting 42c is lowest you are advised to go

Let us know how you get on!