Switching to sustainability: Lucy’s journey to a warmer home with a heat pump
Lucy and her husband Adrian, installed an air source heat pump in their Norwich home in June 2023. Find out why Lucy made the switch to low-carbon heating, how she found the perfect heat pump for their Victorian terraced home, and the benefits she’s experienced since.
WHY MAKE THE SWITCH?
Lucy decided to swap out her gas boiler for a heat pump for three key reasons: to enjoy a warmer home, lower her energy bills, and reduce her environmental impact.
“Our Victorian terraced house was chilly and expensive to heat. Rising energy costs meant that our gas and electricity bills had doubled in two years from £1,895 in 2020 to an eye-watering £3,272 in 2022,” Lucy said.
Rising energy costs and the desire to do her bit for the planet motivated Lucy to look at more cost-effective and sustainable heating solutions for their home.
“My research showed that an air source heat pump would offer the biggest environmental impact and energy savings for the investment, especially when factoring in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant,” Lucy explained.
FINDING THE PERFECT HEAT PUMP
Lucy began her search by using the ‘Find a contractor’ tool on the MCS website to find certified heat pump installers near her.
“I wanted an installer that was competent, trustworthy, and registered to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) so I could claim my grant discount”, Lucy said.
The BUS, which is available to homes and small businesses in England and Wales, provides £7,500 towards the installation of a heat pump and requires it to be MCS certified. You can find out more about the BUS here.
MCS contractors install renewable technologies to MCS product and installation standards, which define how small-scale renewable technologies, like heat pumps, are tested, designed, and installed. They ensure that renewable technologies and their installations are efficient, safe, reliable, and installed to the highest quality, which is key to giving everyone confidence in home-grown energy.
Lucy got a range of quotes from MCS certified contractors, but ultimately decided to go with certified contractor, Heat Different.
The team at Heat Different carried out a home survey to determine the most suitable heat pump for Lucy’s Victorian, terraced, three-storey home. They recommended a Viessmann Vitocal 222-A 16kW air source heat pump because of its high efficiency and streamlined design. It is capable of heating a three-storey, five-bedroom home and also takes up 60% less space than comparable models, making it a perfect match for terraced properties like Lucy’s.
BENEFITS OF LIVING WITH A HEAT PUMP
Lucy is thrilled with her new heat pump installation, which has transformed her home’s heating system.
“I absolutely love my heat pump because it keeps our home a lovely stable temperature, not too hot, not too cold. We’ve also got a whole cupboard back for extra storage, no boiler noise in the house, and no plume of steam outside either!” she shared.
Outside their house, Lucy said the heat pump is quieter than an extractor fan. She said she is also proud to be emitting less carbon and saving money on their energy bills.
As well as the heat pump, Lucy installed six solar panels and a 5kWh battery storage system. As a result of the technologies, Lucy and her husband’s November energy bill saw a 25% decrease compared to the previous year. “Not only are we saving money, but our emissions from heating have been cut by more than half, which is an even bigger win,” she added.
LUCY'S 'MEET AND HEAT' MORNINGS
Lucy’s experience with her heat pump sparked curiosity in her community.
“Since getting our heat pump, I’ve had half a dozen neighbours and friends visit just to see it. I’ve found that people are really interested and keen to find out more. I’m even planning a ‘Meet and Heat’ morning with tea and cake so my neighbours can learn more about the benefits of heat pumps,” she said.
Lucy believes that installing a heat pump has likely increased the value of her home. She encourages anyone considering a switch to low-carbon heating to take the leap.
“I would recommend anyone thinking about transitioning to low-carbon heating to go for it!” Lucy said.
If you’re interested in heating your home with a heat pump, you can find an MCS certified, contractor using the ‘Find a Contractor’ tool on the MCS website here. There are also various grants and incentives available to make the switch to renewable energy more affordable, such as the BUS, though eligibility may depend on your location and the type of technology you intend to install.
Click here to see the full list of grants and incentives that you could be eligible for.