Government ‘must do more to tackle barriers to green home heating’

The government must do more to tackle costs and other barriers that discourage consumers from switching to heat pumps, Which? has said.

The Which? annual sustainability tracker found a range of barriers are deterring households from buying heat pumps, including costs, low awareness and insufficient information about heat pumps.

The Which? survey, now in its third year of tracking consumer attitudes to sustainability, found 71 per cent of those homeowners who knew what heat pumps were said they were too expensive for them to install. This figure has remained static, despite the government significantly increasing the grant available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in 2023.

The median price for installing an air source heat pump is just under £13,000, according to data collected from installers under the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). With a grant, the overall cost can be lowered by £7,500. The average cost of installing a standard combi boiler is £2,597 based on all models on Which?’s website. The cost of installing a heat pump varies based on the heat source and any additional changes that are required to the heating system and insulation.

Which? found ownership and awareness of heat pumps remains relatively low. Just two per cent of homeowners own a heat pump, and just over half of homeowners are aware of what they are. Of those, 54 per cent said they would not consider installing one.

Heat pump ownership is rising, but from a low base. From January to July 2024, more than 30,000 heat pumps were installed in homes and small businesses across the UK, which is a 45 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to MCS, an organisation that sets and maintains standards for certification of low carbon heating systems and installers.

Encouragingly, younger homeowners are considerably more likely than older ones to have installed a heat pump or be seriously considering making the switch.

Among those who do not have a heat pump installed, 18 to 34 year-olds are three times more likely to definitely consider installing one (15 per cent compared to five per cent of over 55 year-olds).

In the recent budget, the government allocated £3.4 billion to the Warm Homes Plan, including £1.8bn to support fuel poverty schemes.

Which? is now calling on the government to support consumers in the transition from gas and oil heating to electrified heating, such as heat pumps. It said the Warm Homes Plan must include measures to support consumers with the high upfront costs of installing a heat pump, through new financial products that make the transition more affordable, as well as direct support for low income families.

The government should also raise awareness among consumers and ensure they have access to good quality information and advice, while improving access to reliable and qualified installers by setting a date for the mandatory certification of installers.