UK EPCs desperately need updating. Why are they STILL recommending gas boilers (in 120,000+ properties last year)? And ignoring heat pumps? h/t @twallinjames.bsky.social - ThreadSky

abigaildombey.bsky.social • 65 days ago

UK EPCs desperately need updating.

Why are they STILL recommending gas boilers (in 120,000+ properties last year)?

And ignoring heat pumps?

h/t @twallinjames.bsky.social

Reposted from Jan Rosenow

In 2024, UK EPCs recommended fossil fuel boilers in 120,000+ homes.

Heat pumps recommended? Zero. Zilch. Nada.

We @regassistproj.bsky.social flagged this already in 2019. Gov't working on it, but old rules still rule.

Why EPCs ignore heat pumps foresightmedia.com/historie/swp...

HT James Twallin

Comments

davidwardsays.bsky.social•65 days ago

I believe because cost is a significant driver. Which is fair enough tbh

wanderingdutchman.bsky.social•65 days ago

My 11 kW Octopus / Daikin ASHP system incl rads and cylinder cost me just £500.

davidwardsays.bsky.social•65 days ago

Sure, but every house is different. For a lot of uk houses bills will go up in the long run without wider retrofits. So the EPC is presumably recc a more efficient boiler in the absence of deeper work

robertosfield.bsky.social•65 days ago

A properly set up Heat-Pump will be cheaper to run than a Gas boiler.

Potentially savings are huge once you can start taking advantage of off peak electricity. We fitted heat-pump, batteries, solar panels, got an Ev and costs are 1/3rd of what they were when we had Gas + Diesel car.

davidwardsays.bsky.social•65 days ago

The Energy Sys Catapult study (biggest for UK) found an avg COP of 2.8. So with elec 4x gas that’s a general cost increase for most. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pro HP. But we need to be realistic about costs and the interplay with fabric or we’ll never get mass adoption.

abigaildombey.bsky.social•64 days ago

The catapult study covers older installations. Not only have heat pumps’ technical performance improved since then, but also the knowledge & skills of heating engineers.

Guaranteed SCOPs of 3.5+ are common, SCOPs of 5 are achievable.

And don’t forget boilers aren’t 100% efficient! Prob 85% max.

wanderingdutchman.bsky.social•64 days ago

Energy bills are separate from the initial purchase / installation costs, which have been exaggerated by the media and inflated by profiteering installers.
My ASHP is bigger than most homes will need but after discounts / incentives, grants from GovUK and mortgage company, I paid £500. 🌞

davidwardsays.bsky.social•64 days ago

That’s another issue. How long is this level of govt subsidy sustainable?

wanderingdutchman.bsky.social•64 days ago

Another reason for people to switch now. That subsidy can lead to a substantial drop on gas imports and pollution, which lead to savings on many levels.

econick.bsky.social•65 days ago

Yes, EPCs done under the RdSAP 9.94 rules are rubbish. If a householder retrofits insulation (eg underfloor; or above the rafters) that the assessor can’t see and measure, it’s assumed not to exist. They recommend solar water heating for people with combi boilers - when there’s no water tank!

econick.bsky.social•65 days ago

I think an update of the rules is coming on 15th June …

bedfordterrier.bsky.social•65 days ago

I lost faith in BREEAM for a similar reason. A few years ago we designed a factory heating system which used PIR for infrared heating o/off controls on workstations used appx every 1/2 hour. We lost points for not using gas (uncontrollable for instant heat) despite colossal proven energy savings 🤷‍♂️

bedfordterrier.bsky.social•65 days ago

In the end we fitted neither and gave operating staff coats.

Some schemes are just out dated

jonathanmorris.bsky.social•65 days ago

Can't get an EPC. It seems to not be cost efficient for an assessor to try to assess. So they don't quote (very high thermal performance with older areas that are less so but upgraded.
But if I did get one, I've no doubt a boiler would be recommended: low risk recommendation (low risk for them)

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