In the letter, written by Tom Coverdale, Head of Design at Ebac, the company highlights the need for increased support and public awareness to ensure the success of heat pump initiatives, widely touted as a solution to reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels and achieving its net zero ambitions.
While applauding Miliband’s commitment to making heat pumps more affordable and viable for the British public, Tom stresses that ‘more needs to be done’. Highlighting ‘issues hindering adoption’ the letter calls for action to ‘streamline processes for the public to access funding, dispel myths around the technology and educate the public about the benefits of making the switch from the traditional gas boiler’.
In the letter Tom highlights two key areas he suggests require urgent attention: “The shortage of qualified engineers participating in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)” and the “substantial bureaucratic challenges associated with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), particularly for sole traders and small businesses”.
The BUS, launched to support homeowners with the installation of ASHPs, aims to reduce the installation cost by providing grants of up to £7,500. However, the letter suggests that the requirement for installers to be MCS accredited before being able to support the BUS has proven to be a significant barrier, particularly for smaller businesses. Last December, the previous government announced £1.5 billion in additional funding for the BUS extension over three years. Up to the end of February, there have been 35,741 applications, and the scheme has paid close to £127 million in vouchers to customers.
Communication strategy needed
Despite the schemes growing success, Tom suggests that: “Public knowledge of the BUS and the advantages of ASHPs remains low, highlighting the need for more effective communication strategies to reach the public.
“A comprehensive Government campaign is essential to raise awareness about the benefits of transitioning to less polluting heating systems.”
Owned by a Foundation, County-Durham-based Ebac is committed to sustainability and local employment, providing high-quality jobs in the North East.
Image of Tom Coverdale provided by Ebac.