Heating technicians have voiced concerns over the government’s proposals to convert off-grid homes to heat pumps with 87% revealing less than a fifth of the properties they service are currently ready for the technology.
Poor insulation was cited as the biggest barrier, in 72% of cases, followed by the age and condition of the property, and heat emitters, such as radiators, needing replacing.
The survey of 229 OFTEC technicians was in response to the government’s proposals to end the installation of new fossil-fuel oil boilers in homes from 2026. Instead, a heat pump first approach will be adopted for off-gas grid households with over 80% expected to eventually install this technology.
The government is targeting rural off gas households despite concern about their poor energy efficiency. According to BEIS, 65% of oil heated homes are in the lowest EPC Bands E, F or G, and the government has set targets to achieve EPC Band C in as many homes as possible by 2035. However, the cost of upgrading from Band E is £12,300 and, from Bands F and G, £18,900, and this does not include the cost of the heat pump, OFTEC said.
Malcolm Farrow, pictured, head of public affairs at OFTEC, said: “The government is focused on a heat pump solution for off-grid homes but heating technicians working in these properties every day are very clear about the real world challenges with this approach.
“They know it makes little sense to install heat pumps in inefficient buildings and the vast majority of their customers are simply not ready to transition without expensive and disruptive energy efficiency improvements. Combined with an average price of £11,000 for the heat pump itself, rural homeowners are at risk of facing the highest costs and the worst outcomes.”
When asked about an alternative low carbon solution, 72% of technicians said they would prefer the government focused on renewable liquid fuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), for off-grid homes.