Dear journalists, heat pump coverage is rising, but so are misconceptions. I’ve summarized key facts and sources in a @carbonbrief.org article. If you’re covering this topic, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help ensure accuracy! Here's the article: www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18... - ThreadSky

janrosenow.bsky.social • 18 hours ago

Dear journalists,

heat pump coverage is rising, but so are misconceptions. I’ve summarized key facts and sources in a @carbonbrief.org article.

If you’re covering this topic, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help ensure accuracy!

Here's the article:
https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-18-misleading-myths-about-heat-pumps/

Comments

grimace82.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Any idea why heat pumps are so expensive to install in 🇬🇧?

They're dirt cheap to buy & install in 🇦🇺.

pablomart.bsky.social•9 hours ago

I suppose that's because in Australia the most common type of heat pump is air to air, especially ductless units, so the installation is much simpler. The same applies in most of Asia and Latin America

johnaking.bsky.social•9 hours ago

Even so, are they that much more complex? Looks to me like the industry soaking up the subsidy rather than passing it to the customer.

pablomart.bsky.social•9 hours ago

It could be. I suppose economies of scale also matter. Heat pumps are relatively new in the UK. I remember that back in the early 2010s, the cheapest inverter air to air heat pumps here (Uruguay), were around USD500 or more. Now you can find them for less than 350.

johnaking.bsky.social•8 hours ago

(in other words the supplier gets 7500+6000£)

johnaking.bsky.social•8 hours ago

UK gov subsidy is £7500, and installations around my neighborhood are about £6000. That's for putting the HP in your garden, getting rid of the old boiler, connecting up, etc. I'm sure it's not simple, I'm sure the equipment needs to be off good quality. But really? That's US$15000.

suesuzanne.bsky.social•9 hours ago

This is brilliant. I have bookmarked it and will wield the pen of truth whenever I come across fossil-fuel sponsored half-wits who try to scare potential users of ASHPs.

oscarwoofs.bsky.social•9 hours ago

If air-to-air heat pumps – similar to air conditioning units – are an option for flats, would they also be a cheaper solution if say a couple of rooms needed heating?

juliankeeley.bsky.social•17 hours ago

I had a heat pump installed in May 2024 and a gas boiler removed. My electricity bill was less than half of the gas + elec for the previous 12 months. No changes to radiators or insulation. Very pleased.

galloping-gourmet.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Help me with the maths. The heat pump might be 10 kWh. Multiply that by say 20p (cost of electric kWh) x 24 hours. That's £48 a day!! What am I missing?

juliankeeley.bsky.social•9 hours ago

In Jan this year I typically used 50 kWh/day of electricity. My average price is 14p/kWh giving £7/day in the coldest month or £220 in January. I have a battery to store off peak electricity.

juliankeeley.bsky.social•9 hours ago

In Jan 24 I used 4,550 kWh of gas costing £343 plus 233 kWh of elec costing £87. A total of £431. Not quite less than half but the rest of the year is better.

cancienne.bsky.social•12 hours ago

A 10kwh heat pump doesn’t mean it’s cranking out 10kwh of heat all day; that’s how much it *can* generate. For ex, I have a 9kwh air-to-water pump. On a -5C day, it used 4-5kwh/hr to keep my house at 19.5C. So that’s around £1/hr heating on a cold day.

janrosenow.bsky.social•18 hours ago

@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org @leohickman.carbonbrief.org

climatenews.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Might be worth sharing @nickhedley.bsky.social @earthsciinfo.bsky.social @annieleymarie.bsky.social

annieleymarie.bsky.social•16 hours ago

I often mention the lack of good info in the UK on air-to-air heat pumps. I swapped my air-water for air-air & wd have saved much money & trouble if I'd known the facts from the start. Jan writes that "in Norway, Sweden & Finland, heat pumps are the dominant heating technology" - yes, but air-air!

tominyman.bsky.social•15 hours ago

I have geothermal and air-air. Air-water is cheapest option long term for older houses with central heating systems, to replace oil or gas heating (when used to heat circulating water).Geothermal is most expensive as investment, but very convenient for 20 years or more.Only risk is well cools down

annieleymarie.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Yes I fully agree that to replace gas central heating, by far the most common system in the UK, air-water is overall by far the best. But for smaller homes, open plan, flats, extra heating for some rooms, annexes, studios etc, for very well insulated homes, for people out of their homes a lot, as a

annieleymarie.bsky.social•15 hours ago

a first step because they're so much cheaper, etc., they should definitely be considered and yet most people have no idea. Ground-source and water-source heat pumps are great but not available to most households!

annieleymarie.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Also in the US, Canada, Italy etc. Jan mentions that “Air-to-air heat pumps – similar to air con units – are also an option for flats” but doesn’t explain that some also come without an external unit, only 2 holes (+ a tiny 3rd one) onto an external wall (e.g. https://www.powrmatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-Powrmatic-Vision-Range-Trade-Brochure-1.1.pdf).

annieleymarie.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Air-to-air generally are far cheaper & easier to install than air-water, they’re also far more responsive, so unlike air-water you can switch them on/off only as needed. They all do cooling as well + dehumidifying. But they don’t generally heat water (except e.g. https://www.daikin.ie/en_gb/product-group/air-to-air-heat-pumps/multiplus.html)

anonymous780336.bsky.social•14 hours ago

I live in France and have an air-to-air heat pump providing both heat and heat water. It has a external unit. It works fine. Getting out of fossil gazes for homes is very easy. I cannot understand will so many haven't done the move yet.

annieleymarie.bsky.social•15 hours ago

So even though air-water is the best option for most UK homes, air-air have big benefits for a number of situations and it’s a shame that pros/cons are not clearly explained. I'm yet to encounter anyone unhappy with their air-air, unlike air-water for which good design and installation are key.

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