As 59% of homeowners continue to favour gas heating systems, the construction sector launches Green Home Festival to encourage public adoption of sustainable heating technologies.
Homeowners remain hesitant towards heat pump technology, despite its pivotal role in achieving the nation’s ambitious low-carbon targets, according to a new poll by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).
From a poll of 1,100 adults, only 22% opted for a heat pump for their next home heating system, highlighting considerable public resistance towards transitioning to the more sustainable heating alternative. The majority continued to favour gas heating systems (59%), followed by electric (11%) and oil boilers (8%).
Public resistance to heat pumps can be attributed mainly to the perceived complexity of the technology and an insufficient understanding of its long-term benefits over conventional systems. Additionally, the considerable upfront costs and the possible requirement for home modifications act as further deterrents, intensifying public hesitation.
The poll findings follow the recent announcement by Home Energy Scotland that funding for solar PV and energy storage systems will only now be available as part of a package with a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters.
Commenting on the results, Fiona Hodgson, SNIPEF Chief Executive, said, “While these findings highlight the challenges we face, they also emphasise the need for further action.
“As industry leaders, we need to address the misconceptions around heat pumps and do more to help households understand the environmental and financial benefits they offer.
“The Construction Industry Collective Voice’s (CICV) Green Home Festival is one part of the solution, showcasing a range of green living options and technologies, such as heat pumps, to help homeowners take the necessary steps towards a sustainable future.”
The Green Home Festival 2023 takes place from the 14th to the 18th of August and is the latest initiative launched by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) and is part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The festival will contain a variety of shows, which are free to attend and will be hosted at the offices of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at 10 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh.
The festival’s main aim is to engage the public and businesses in the global challenge, offering demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help everyone reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient. Full information on showtimes and tickets can be found at www.greenhomefestival.co.uk.
About SNIPEF
The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) is the leading trade association for the plumbing and heating profession, representing over 750 member businesses across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Guided by its vision of ‘Enabling Professionalism,’ SNIPEF is dedicated to advancing the profession through comprehensive skills development, supporting over 1,000 plumbing apprentices annually, and upskilling the existing workforce.
This commitment underscores SNIPEF’s aim to support growth, competitiveness, and sustainability in the profession, reinforcing its belief that professionalism drives excellence in plumbing and heating.
About the polling
The polling of 1,100 adults was conducted via Twitter in July.
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