Heat Pumps

I went to the excellent Speen Environmental Action Group presentation on low-carbon home heating the other day. Here are a few quick points for anyone in Haddenham looking to upgrade their home heating to something more environmentally friendly.

• The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which covers pretty much all the cost of a heat pump, but over a period of seven years, is due to end in March, so anyone wanting to take advantage should hurry.

• Its replacement hasn't been confirmed yet, but is likely to be a less generous payment (around £4,000), although paid upfront

• The best way to find an installer is via the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. You should also check the company out thoroughly.

• Those with older houses shouldn't be put off — the idea that you have to completely upgrade your home's insulation is misleading. The issue is more about correctly specifying the system. We should all be doing what we can to insulate anyway though!

• The RHI will require a recent Energy Performance Certificate (less than 24 months old) and the level of payment you receive will depend on your EPC rating. So if you are improving the environmental performance of your home, you should have the EPC done first.

• A heat pump will dramatically cut your carbon footprint, but due to the higher cost of electricity over gas, you should expect your bills to stay more or less the same.