Five alternatives to air source heat pumps for homes 

Many green householders who are worried about switching to air source heat pumps will be relieved to know there are five other ways to decarbonising their heating.

The UK government is committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and they have decided that from 2025 no new gas boilers will be put in newly-built homes. However, this ban doesn’t apply to properties built before then and which people live in now.

To encourage residents, ministers have offered a £5000 grant towards the cost of switching and installing air source heat pumps under their Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Despite the government aiming to give out 30,000 vouchers annually, they managed only to distribute 9,888 vouchers between the scheme’s launch in May 2022 and the end of last year.

Their target is also to install 600,000 air source heat pumps a year by 2028. But at present the figure is under 40,000 annually. Heat pumps work the same way as a fridge freezer – absorbing heat from the air outside and compressing it so it reaches a high temperature which then transfers heat around the home.

Midlands energy expert Ron Fox said there were problems as some homes were unsuitable for this technology, plus concerns over poor loft insulation, the price, unwelcome noise, maintenance costs and difficulties in reaching comfortable temperatures in colder weather.

But Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park, said there were five zero emission alternatives to heat pumps and he looks at each of those in turn.

Electric boilers:

Electric boilers offer high levels of efficiency and produce zero emissions in the home. With no requirement for external flues and minimal moving parts, maintenance is a lot easier compared to heat pumps and gas boilers. They are available as a Combi-Boiler, which can be swapped directly with a gas boiler to provide heating and hot water. Installation is relatively straightforward and can be completed in under a day.

Electric radiators:

Modern electric radiators are a far cry from the bulky storage radiators of the 1970s and can be an effective and efficient method to provide your home’s heating. The best electric heaters come with individual thermostats.

Electric water heating:

Keeping your water heating separate from the heating in your home can prove more efficient. Electric water heating systems now no longer need huge water tanks in the loft nor an airing cupboard to enjoy a long hot bath.

In the summer, you can also turn off the system that supplies heating, saving you money on your energy bills.

Infrared radiators:

Infrared heaters work the same way as the sun works. Heat comes from infrared light, warming your skin and clothes and bouncing off other objects in a room to heat the space.

Biomass heating:

A biomass stove burns logs or pellets, plants and even manure for heat and can also be fitted with an additional boiler for hot water, but it is not cheap.

 

If you want further advice on these green alternative solutions for your home, contact Ron on 0845 474 6641.

 

Caption: Providing a choice – there are alternatives to air source heat pumps for householders.