Feature
One key difference between heat pumps and traditional forms of heating is that they operate most efficiently at lower flow temperatures, and some energy efficient buildings will already accommodate lower temperature heat. For older
building before a heat pump can be effectively deployed. This means, by focusing holistically on energy performance of
the building
buildings, there may be a need to upgrade heat and
best practice design, facilities managers
emitters, like radiators, and reduce heat can
minimise heat losses as well as optimise loss
from the supply.
Finally, the primary barrier to heat pump retrofit is often the high up-front costs of the technology. However, many building types have a compelling financial case for heat pump investment when considering the overall lifetime cost. For example, office buildings that currently utilise electric chillers for cooling can benefit from passive cooling via reversible heat pump systems to achieve large fuel bill savings.
These factors together been made for give us air source insight into why the Carbon Trust heat pumps from April 2014 to report January found that there are a low number of
heat pump installations in existing buildings in London. In fact, across the UK, only around 20,000 units are being installed on average per year and in London, only 304 domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) applications had
2020 - the lowest What Needs To Be Done So More Of Us Can Benefit?
Firstly, ongoing technological development is crucial to further advance the pace at which facilities managers, installers or building owners can be given the ultimate flexibility they need to invest in and install heat pumps. For example, we are already seeing many examples of innovations that
are three times quieter than previous models, virtually
across the industry, including products that offer sound levels eliminating the
challenges around planning restrictions.
Education is also key to ensure that the benefits of heat pumps are well understood and recognised by builders, planners and contractors alike. As well as energy efficiency, heat pumps can be applied to nearly any application – sometimes requiring only small adjustments – and there are long-term cost savings associated with installing a more efficient form of heating. Lastly, the higher up-front costs of the technology relative to alternatives such as gas boilers or standard electric systems, needs to be offset by policy, strategies and higher levels of subsidy to make the financial case for heat pumps more compelling.
To conclude, in 2021 I would like to see more decisive regulatory and fiscal frameworks to support the installation of heat pumps and other energy efficient solutions at the scale we need. While it is important to realise that there are many other aspects that contribute to the energy efficiency of buildings, if we are to meet the UK’s ambitions to be net zero by 2050 and London’s target to be carbon neutral by 2030, thought leaders, industry, government and local authorities need to come together to ensure the heat pump supply chain is innovative, efficient and readily supported across the UK.
¹:
https://www.carbonbrief.org/city-of-london-tops-uk-carbon-footprint-list
²:
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-introduces-programme-to-update-london-homes ³:
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/heat-pump-retrofit-in-london-v2.pdf
of any UK region.
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