Learn about options to decarbonise your heating source
Low carbon heating
Installing a low carbon heating source is another way of reducing emissions from your home. Rather than burning a fuel like oil or gas, low carbon heating generates heat through renewable methods.
Heat pumps are one form of low carbon heating. Whilst they need electricity to run, they do produce more energy as heat than they use through electricity. When you have this together with a renewable electricity system, you could power your heating and power completely renewably.
Heat pumps work by taking air from outdoors. This is then transferred into fluid and compressed until it's hot enough to provide heating through a radiator system.
Advantages of air source heat pumps:
- highly efficient
- can receive payment through the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive.
- low maintenance
- long service life
- summer cooling options available with some models
Disadvantages of air source heat pumps:
- may also need to invest in new radiators.
- need outdoor space for installation.
- may not be as efficient in older properties.
- initial cost
Other low carbon heat options can include:
- ground source heat pumps
- solar thermal
- biomass boilers
Helping you heat your home
The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (DRHI) is a government scheme to incentivise homeowners to consider and switch to renewable heating sources.
Through this scheme homeowners are paid by the government every quarter over a 7-year period for the renewable heat generated. Find out more on the Ofgem website
In October 2021 the government announced a new low carbon heating grant scheme, whereby from April 2022, homeowners can apply for £5,000 grant towards installation of low carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps to replace old gas boilers.
The aim of these grants is to make choosing to install heat pumps cost similar to installing traditional gas boilers. Heat pumps cost between £6,000 and £18,000 depending on the size of your property.