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Polling has shown that heat and energy efficiency at scale.
households are open to The next five years are critical for heat
decarbonisation.
cleaner, greener ways to heat There is already a lot of valuable
their homes in the future, evidence to build on. Wales and
but they are still in the dark Scotland are developing ambitious
about the potential of smarter, heat and energy efficiency plans. There
are also ongoing and planned trials of
greener heating solutions and low carbon heat around the UK, and
do not access the independent pilots of new service models that could
advice that can help them make low carbon heat more attractive
to households. The UK has also already
make better decisions for their successfully managed one planned
homes and the planet changeover of its heating fuel, during
the switchover from town gas to natural
gas in the 70s and more recently in
areas such as the Isle of Man, although
this did not involve extensive appliance
switchover which the transition to low
carbon heat will likely require.
The public need to be engaged, informed
and supported through independent energy
advice, high standards of installations and
consumer protection
The transition to low carbon heat
requires changes to the vast majority of
homes, and therefore must be supported
by a strong public engagement and
high quality protections, standards and
advice services.
The first step to ensuring public
consent for the transition to low carbon
heat is making the public aware of
it and the reason it is required, and
how low carbon heat can have wider
societal benefits. There must be an
extensive awareness raising strategy
during the early 2020s, capitalising on
momentum built up around the recent
net zero legislation and forthcoming
COP26, that is complemented by
regional awareness campaigns timed
that households are open to cleaner, home heating systems. This inquiry to precede a region’s switchover to
greener ways to heat their homes in represents the culmination of three low carbon heat. Awareness can be
the future, but they are still in the dark years of research underpinning the raised through conventional public
about the potential of smarter, greener Future Gas Series, drawing evidence information campaigns such as those
heating solutions and do not access the from over 100 different organisations used in the analogue to digital television
independent advice that can help them through nearly 20 events in Parliament switchover, but policy signals like dates
make better decisions for their homes and 70 interviews with experts. for phasing out high carbon heating
and the planet. There are many potential systems, high profile pilots of low carbon
benefits from low carbon heating - Key messages for policy- heat and targeted incentives are also
implementing a green heat plan can opportunities to raise the profile of this
improve air quality in cities, boost makers in decarbonising heat issue. Aside from government, there are
green jobs, help consumers stay warm The next five years are critical in deciding important roles for media, politicians,
and slash their energy bills. But these the future of heat in the UK but innovation is NGOs, businesses and community
benefits can only be unlocked if the costs already helping to build momentum groups to increase awareness.
of a transition to low carbon heat are To meet even our previous target of
shared fairly across society, the public an 80 per cent reduction in emissions A central delivery body can coordinate and
are engaged with why such a transition by 2050 – let alone our new net zero manage a transition to low carbon heat and
is taking place, and households have target – it is estimated that existing enable regional leadership
strong protections during the switchover. homes will need to switch to low carbon Regional heat planning could prove a
Part 3 of Carbon Connect’s Future heating at a rate of 20,000 every week powerful way to drive change across the
Gas Series brought together experts to between 2025 and 2050. There is UK energy system, allowing for area-
discuss the challenges and opportunities urgent need for action in the 2020s to specific pathways that are developed
for households of decarbonising our kick-start the deployment of low carbon and delivered by the people who live

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