PHAM NEWS | JULY/AUGUST 2026 HeatingControls 25


Unlocking the value of low-carbon homes


A growing market for low-carbon technologies is creating new opportunities for installers, but unlocking real savings and long-term customer value depends on integrated controls, training and system compatibility, argues Gav Murray, home heating director at Hive.


I


t’s a signifi cant time for heating professionals. Building standards are getting stricter, energy prices remain volatile and


homeowners across the UK are responding. Many are investing in smart thermostats, heat pumps, better insulation, solar panels and battery storage to take more control of their energy bills. This is real market


momentum. But many customers are buying technology without a clear plan for getting the best from it. They have the equipment, but don’t always see the performance it could deliver. That creates a genuine opportunity for installers who understand what’s happening.


Performance gap Energy-effi cient homes generate huge amounts of data, from internal temperatures and outdoor conditions to occupancy patterns, solar generation and battery status. Without intelligent controls to interpret and act on that data, systems don’t work together. That is where performance gets lost. Take a realistic scenario.


A homeowner eligible for a BUS grant invests £6,000 in a heat pump, adds £5,000 of insulation upgrades and installs £12,000 of solar panels. But without controls managing the interaction between those systems, the heat pump does not know when solar is generating. The battery charges and discharges without taking peak pricing windows into account. The result is a customer who has spent a substantial amount of money but is not seeing the savings they expected. This is the constraint that


matters. Customers are ready to invest, but the systems they are buying will only deliver results if overall performance is properly managed.


Installer’s role Installers are already highly infl uential in the decision- making process. When customers upgrade heating systems, consider solar or plan retrofi t work, they listen


closely to the professional advising them. That means installers have a major role in determining whether customers get value from their investments or become frustrated by underperforming technology. Heating professionals who


Gav Murray Home heating director at Hive


integrate intelligent controls into their off er are not simply competing on price. They are competing on value. A heat pump that runs more effi ciently because its controls are optimising performance is easier for customers to justify. A landlord who can see real- time savings data and energy use is more likely to return to the installer who made that possible. That is what builds loyalty, trust and repeat business. The market is signalling this


There is real market momentum but many customers are buying technology without a clear plan for getting the best from it


clearly. Building regulations are tightening, and technology alone will not meet the performance standards customers and regulators increasingly expect. Modern controls are becoming part of the equation. At the same time, customers increasingly want visibility and control across their energy setup, and they are willing to pay for systems that deliver it.


Systems integration The real opportunity sits in integration. When a smart thermostat can communicate with a heat pump, connect with solar panels and battery storage, and adapt in real time to weather forecasts and occupancy patterns, genuine performance can be unlocked. But many installers are not


yet positioned to deliver this easily. Systems do not always integrate smoothly across diff erent manufacturers. Training is fragmented. Support can be diffi cult to access when something goes wrong on site. That creates friction: complex installations, customer confusion and repeat callouts that cost time and money. Take a practical example. An


installer fi ts a heat pump from one manufacturer, adds solar from another and then tries to layer on controls that do not communicate properly with either system. The customer ends up with expensive equipment that does not work as intended. The installer has to make multiple visits to resolve compatibility issues. The customer becomes frustrated, and the installer’s reputation can take a hit.


Next steps Manufacturers have a responsibility here. Comprehensive training, practical tools and reliable technical support are not nice- to-haves. They are essential if installers are going to confi dently off er integrated solutions. We launched the Hive


Installers who invest in understanding integrated systems now will be in high demand


Installer Club to address exactly this. It provides step-by-step installation guidance, training materials, how-to videos and priority technical support when installers are on a job. The aim is simple: faster, more


reliable installations, while helping installers build genuine expertise in smart heating controls and connected systems. But this is not a single-brand


challenge. The entire installer base needs consistent, practical support across the industry. That is also why we have developed Works With Hive to help diff erent technologies communicate through a single platform, reducing the compatibility headaches that slow installers down and frustrate customers.


Market window Building regulations will increasingly make heating controls part of the standard. But the real opportunity is now, in the next two years, before capacity tightens further and costs rise. Installers who invest in


understanding integrated systems now will be in high demand well beyond 2028. Customers are ready to invest, but they want results. There is a real skills gap in the market, and heating professionals who can confi dently specify and install controls that deliver performance will be best placed to win contracts and build sustainable businesses. Homes built and upgraded


today will stand for decades. Their effi ciency will depend on the systems controlling them. Without modern controls, even the best hardware can underperform. With them, installers can deliver genuine comfort, real savings and measurable sustainability. That is what customers remember and recommend. The question is not whether


controls matter. It is whether installers are positioning themselves as the professionals who can get them right. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/726/60


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