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Charity Nesta launches new website enabling users to book visits to other nearby households where heat pumps have already been installed before making a purchasing decision
Householders interested in buying a heat pump can now sign up to a service launching today that enables them to visit another home nearby that already has a heat pump installed, offering them the chance to learn more about the technology by seeing it in action.
Launched today by Nesta, the VisitAHeatPump.com website enables householders to book visits in their local area to 'host' homes that have signed up to show-off their heat pumps to those potentially interested in making the switch to electric heating systems.
The innovation charity said 150 heat pump owners had already signed up as hosts across the UK, covering locations in Falkirk, Bristol, London, central Scotland, and East Anglia.
Previous research by Nesta found that among heat pump owners, more than 80 per cent said they were as satisfied or more satisfied with the technology compared to their previous heating system.
But only around 250,000 home heat pumps have been installed to date in the UK, and the charity said there remained a lack of awareness and understanding about the technology amongst the wider public, with few people having seen the technology work in practice.
Katy King, director of sustainable future at Nesta, said she hoped the new Visit a Heat Pump service would help to convince more householders of the benefits of switching away from fossil fuel heating to an electric-powered, low carbon heat pump.
"Changing the way we heat our homes is one of the most meaningful things we can do to cut carbon emissions," she said. "Many homeowners are keen to make green improvements but don't get the opportunity to see how low-carbon technologies, such as heat pumps, work in action.
"Our new service makes it easier for prospective heat pump owners to visit a heat pump near them and ask an actual heat pump user any questions they might have. We hope that if more people can see heat pumps in real-life settings, then more people will have confidence that a heat pump is the right fit to heat their home."
The vast majority of homes across the UK are heated by fossil gas boilers, all of which need to retired and replaced with greener alternatives if the country is to meet its legally-binding net zero targets,
The government is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028 and last autumn increased the grants available through its Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The number of heat pump installations has increased sharply following the uplift in grants, but last year's installation rate still stood at under 40,000 units, fuelling fears the target for 2028 could be missed.
The government also recently delayed by a year the implementation of its Clean Heat Market Mechanism policy, which is set to require boilermakers to manufacture a minimum number of heat pumps or face potential fines for non-compliance.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, welcomed the launch of the new Visit a Heat Pump service today, which he said could help support better informed decisions around heating options for householders.
"We already know that heat pumps are three times more efficient than gas boilers and demand is soaring, with applications to our Boiler Upgrade Scheme up 75 per cent on last February," he said. "This fantastic new service will help families work out whether a heat pump is right for them, and we'll continue supporting households to make the switch with our £7,500 grant."
Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy, said he hoped Nesta's initiative would help combat misinformation around heat pumps.
"Heat pumps are about four times more efficient than old-fashioned gas boilers - and with Octopus' smart tariffs, they are cheaper to run too," he said. "Survey after survey shows owners prefer them to their old gas boilers, but the UK is still way behind other countries in adoption due to misinformation campaigns.
"Initiatives like Nesta's 'Visit a Heat Pump' help to break down the myths, allowing potential buyers to learn about them from people who know best - those who already have them and love them."
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