• Heat pumps efficiently transfer heat from air or ground to homes, with 300-500% efficiency compared to gas boilers.
  • Government incentives, like the UK’s £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, make heat pumps more affordable than traditional gas boilers.
  • With their high efficiency and emissions reduction, heat pumps are considered vital for the future decarbonisation of homes.

Cutting home emissions with efficient heat pumps

The UK government announced that the nation’s homes accounted for 20% of the country’s emissions in 2022. As electric vehicles, renewable energy, and sustainable living become worldwide talking points, our homes must enter the conversation.

More and more households are switching to clean heating systems like air and ground source heat pumps. With the UK’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offering a £7,500 grant, installing a heat pump is now the most affordable it’s ever been. In some cases, the total cost can be lower than installing a traditional gas boiler.

But what exactly is a heat pump? 

These highly efficient electric devices pull heat from the air or ground and transfer it into your home. Traditional gas boilers have an efficiency rating of around 90%. Heat pumps blow them out of the water with an efficiency rating of 300-500%. That means for every unit of electricity they use, they can produce around three units of heat. An old gas boiler can barely produce one-for-one. That leads to much lower running costs in the long run.

Even when temperatures drop below freezing, they remain efficient. Reports suggest that they begin to lose efficiency at around -15°C (5°F), which shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for the vast majority of the world.

While the initial cost of a heat pump can range from £6,500 to £11,500, competitive deals and government grants make them a smart investment. The investment is especially prudent when you consider the overall lower energy costs. 

If you’re considering making the switch, you’ll need to check if your home is suitable. This includes ensuring you have enough space for the pump and water cylinder. Check out our guide here to see if your home is currently suitable. 

With over triple the efficiency of their gas counterparts, heat pumps are the next step towards widespread decarbonisation.