PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026 18 Energy Matters New research backs heat pump power


Research by Bellway and The University of Salford has shown that air source heat pumps can work four times as efficiently as gas boilers in new homes. The findings will inform how the housebuilding industry moves towards the Future Homes Standard. A full-size three-bedroom


Ignorance of EPCs stops upgrades


UK homeowners are delaying energy-efficiency improvements because of uncertainty over their homes’ energy performance and the benefits of upgrades, according to research from energy comparison experts at Uswitch.


A survey of 1,500 homeowners


found 43% are delaying or considering delaying improvements. One in five (20%) have already postponed work, while a further 23% are considering doing so.


The findings suggest confusion over energy-efficiency ratings could be discouraging investment


in measures such as insulation and renewable technologies. More than a third (36%) incorrectly believe energy costs affect an EPC rating, while 16% think the number of bedrooms is a factor and 15% believe property value is considered. In fact, EPC ratings are based on a property’s energy use and heat loss. Respondents correctly identified insulation quality (56%), heating system efficiency (49%) and renewable technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels (37%) as factors affecting an EPC rating. The research also found uncertainty over the relationship between EPC ratings and energy bills. While 53% said ratings have at least some impact on costs, 21% believed they have little or no effect and 25% were unsure. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/35


Suppressed solar demand


More than half (56%) of UK households without solar would consider installing it, but upfront costs and uncertainty over trusted advice are holding many back, research from Switch Together suggests. A survey


of more than 2,300 energy consumers across England and Wales found 52% cited upfront costs as the biggest barrier, while 38% were not convinced the long-term savings would justify the investment. Trust is also an issue, with a quarter of existing solar owners saying


they nearly abandoned installation because they were unsure who to trust. More than half (56%) want greater financial subsidies for solar, while 54% support increased investment in community renewable energy projects. Rising bills are also affecting households without renewable energy, with 65% saying higher energy costs are affecting their day-to-day lives. George Frost, UK head at Switch Together, comments: “The demand is there, but many are still stuck at the final hurdle, put off by upfront costs or unsure who to trust.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/37


The benefits of waste water heat recovery


Housing associations and local authorities are being urged to consider shower waste water heat recovery (WWHR) in planned maintenance and retrofit programmes to improve efficiency and reduce energy bills. Showersave says the technology should be considered alongside measures such as solar PV, insulation and low-carbon heating. WWHR is recognised in the government’s notional dwelling specification for the Future Homes Standard but remains underused in social housing refurbishment. The technology recovers heat from used shower water to pre-heat incoming cold water, reducing hot water energy demand by up to 50% and potentially saving households


up to £200 a year. With no moving parts and minimal maintenance requirements, the systems operate automatically without relying on resident behaviour or weather conditions. They can also support low-carbon heating systems, including air source heat pumps, by reducing hot water demand. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/40


home built to Future Homes Standard specifications was tested in the university’s Energy House 2.0 climate chamber (pictured) under different weather conditions. At a typical winter temperature


of 5°C, the ASHP produced 4.71 units of heat for every unit of energy used. Heating costs were between £1.19 and £1.84 a day, based on Ofgem’s price cap from July to September 2025. The research found the system


was most efficient when operated at a low temperature throughout the day, with heating increased in the morning and evening. At -5°C,


How to spread the cost of renewables


With the aim of helping UK householders to spread the cost of greener home upgrades, Hive has announced a partnership with Zopa, a digital banking business. Customers can now apply for a personal loan from Zopa directly through the Hive website to finance Hive eco-tech such as solar and battery installations. By enabling financing through


Zopa, eligible Hive customers now have the option to spread the cost of installing eco-tech across up to seven years, giving them greater flexibility and confidence when upgrading their homes. Customers can get a personalised loan quote in three minutes with no impact on their credit score, with most customers


it produced 2.98 units of heat per unit of energy. Gas boilers are typically around


90% efficient, producing up to 0.9 units of heat per unit of energy. The testing focused on air


source heat pumps. There are no directly comparable cost figures for gas boilers as these are designed for on/off operation and ASHPs should be left on constantly.


A further research project is


underway to explore whether fan coils can provide more efficient heating than radiators, and also how effectively ASHPs can cool homes in summertime. The report findings will be


published in full with the aim of helping the wider industry, and especially SME builders, to prepare for the Future Homes Standard. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/36


Live tariffs by postcode


Levelise has launched a free tool providing live UK electricity tariff data by postcode. The Levelise Lookup shows current unit rates, standing charges and fixed, variable and time-of-use tariffs, including their charging periods. The tool is designed for those


accessing their money in under two hours once their loan has been approved. The loans range from £1,000 to £50,000, with a representative APR of 8.9%, with final rates personalised to each customer’s individual circumstances. Zopa will provide the regulated lending product and manage the finance journey, including quote, application, credit assessment, loan disbursal and servicing. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/38


using technologies such as solar panels, batteries and EV chargers, where the choice of tariff can affect potential savings. Steve Day, product director at Levelise, says: “The right tariff can make or break the economics of a home battery system. We built the Tariff Scanner so that anyone can quickly see what rates are actually available at their address, with no barriers and no guesswork – just accurate information to make good energy decisions.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/39


Demand-side flexibility


Energy-efficiency upgrades in social housing could provide benefits beyond warmer, cheaper-to-run homes by helping manage electricity demand, according to Project SNUG. The project is testing how measures such as insulation, solar panels and other low-carbon technologies can provide energy flexibility by changing when homes use electricity. The latest phase will trial upgrades


across up to 300 homes in Norwich and Hammersmith & Fulham, monitoring their impact on energy use and peak demand. The results will be compared with existing models to assess how much flexibility can be reliably achieved and whether this could reduce the need for costly grid upgrades. The project team will also work with social housing providers to identify barriers to participation and develop an online toolkit to help landlords engage with flexibility markets.


Luca Grella, head of innovation at UK


Power Networks, says: “The findings will help us understand how upgrades in social housing can reduce demand at peak times and support a smarter, more efficient energy system that works for everyone.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/926/41


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