Our response to the Climate Change Committee’s heat pump report

Commenting on the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations to scale up the roll out of heat pumps, Mike Thornton, chief executive of Energy Saving Trust said:

“This report rightly sets out steps to make heat pumps an attractive option for more people through reducing running costs and planning barriers. The UK’s transition away from costly, polluting gas, to low carbon heat has so far been lacking in the UK Government’s initial commitments to improving energy security.

“As the Committee highlights, clear and consistent messaging will be critical for people to engage with net zero. From the services we deliver in Scotland, MCS data shows that installations of air source heat pumps have typically been around 2.5 times higher than England since 2017.

“Here we can see the impact that impartial, tailored advice has when delivered alongside low cost green finance.

“That’s why we’re calling for an energy advice service for England. This, combined with access to low interest loans, will instil confidence in people to switch to low carbon heat.

“This report is clear that the UK can lead a just transition to net zero where no one is left behind”.