With the UK government already committed to phasing out new petrol and diesel cars to help reach net zero emissions by 2050, there is mounting pressure to speed up the transition to clean heating. The International Energy Agency (IEA) have advised that to reach net zero, no new fossil fuel boilers should be installed from 2025.
In their report, the IEA says there is no place for new coal, oil or gas supplies. Their proposal to ban fossil fuel boilers is one of 400 steps they’ve outlined on the road to net zero and if implemented, it could revolutionize the way they heat their homes.
Hybrid heat pumps
So, what are the alternatives to a gas boiler? Heat pumps - Heat pumps are an electrical, low carbon alternative to gas boilers and other types of boilers. They work by using a refrigerant to absorb the natural heat from the ground, air or water, which is then compressed and used to heat the water in the system. Once the water is heated, it can be used to heat your radiators and to provide hot water.
Once the water is heated, it can be used to heat your radiators and to provide hot water
There are three main types of heat pumps – air source heat pumps (ASHP), ground source heat pumps (GSHP) and hybrid heat pumps. ASHPs are the easiest to install as they can simply sit to the rear or side of a property. GSHPs may require land to be dug up in a garden due to the pipework required, making them potentially more expensive due to installation costs.
Zero carbon emissions
Unlike a traditional boiler, heat pumps don’t require any gas or oil to run. They work using electricity and when combined with electricity from a renewable source – like our 100% green electricity tariffs – they will produce zero carbon emissions.
Electric boilers - An electric boiler works in a similar way to a gas boiler, the main difference being it uses electricity instead of gas to heat the water. As well as being a more planet-friendly option, it’s also smaller in size while being just as efficient. Users can significantly reduce the carbon footprint when coupling an electric boiler with a 100% green electricity tariff, solar panels or another form of renewable energy.
Existing gas boiler
At ScottishPower, they’re developing ASHPs to provide customers with a cleaner way of heating their homes
Solar heating systems - While solar (thermal) heating systems won’t eradicate the use of gas, they could significantly reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Solar heating systems are different from solar panels as they use heat from the sun to warm up the hot water, rather than generate electricity.
Sun collectors are installed on their home’s roof to absorb the heat from the sun and warm water stored in a hot water tank. They can work in conjunction with an existing gas boiler or could work independently, dependent on the amount of sunlight.
Air source heat pumps for their home - At ScottishPower, they’re developing ASHPs to provide customers with a cleaner way of heating their homes.