Improving the energy efficiency of England’s housing stock is essential if the UK is to meet its net zero commitments …
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Climate change, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability
What does Electricity Market Reform mean for Scotland?
Dr Nicholas Harrington examines the UK government's recent consultation on electricity market reform, the options that are still under consideration such as zonal pricing, and the impact those reform options might have on consumers. This blog is reposted from the...
Heat Pump Deployment and the Electricity-to-Gas Price Ratio
One of the primary barriers to the adoption of heat pumps across the United Kingdom is the UK’s unfavourable Electricity-to-Gas Price Ratio (EtGPR). Because electricity is a lot more expensive than gas, people worry that it may not be cost-effective to switch out...
ELECTRICITY AND THE DECARBONISATION AGENDA
The following piece was originally published in Inside Housing. — Given the UK’s decarbonisation agenda is essentially an electrification strategy, we need to have a serious conversation about the price and supply of electricity in the UK. It is clear to all...
Will boosting the bus grant boost heat pump installations?
Dr Nicholas Harrington suggests that increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant by 50% may not have a substantial impact on heat pump installations in the UK, as research suggests that the upfront and ongoing costs associated with heat pump adoption still create...
Are tenants and home-buyers looking for heat pumps?
The issue holding back the widespread installation of heat pumps across the UK may not be consumer sentiment. It is a well-known adage that location takes precedence when looking for a new home. After that, people tend to prioritise architectural features, finishes,...
France versus the UK: the great heat pump contest
We ought to relinquish the implicit assumption that UK housing stock is so similar to that of our European neighbours that it does not warrant attention when it comes to the question of decarbonising our heating – and, in particular, when it comes to the widespread...
Forgotten residents: considering the impact of retrofit on biodiversity
In her latest blog, Prof Aimee Ambrose highlights the overlooked consequences of retrofitting on the biodiversity that relies on existing buildings for survival, urging for a more comprehensive approach to sustainability that considers both carbon reduction and the...
The great heat pump mystery: where’s the COP?
Of all possible barriers that might impede the adoption of heat pumps in the United Kingdom, performance receives less attention across the literature than might otherwise be expected. If one was to review a decade’s worth of UK heat pump studies, the...
Heat pumps in the UK: state of the conversation
In recent years, heat pumps have dominated the heating-decarbonisation conversation, in no small part due to Boris Johnson’s enthusiastic championing of the technology in late 2021. If homes in the United Kingdom could transition from gas to electric heating...