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researched and written by members
of HHIC, the Hot Water Association
(HWA), and the Manufacturers
Association of Radiators and Convectors
(MARC). It seeks to clarify what the
challenges are, as well as what is
required for them to be overcome.
Stewart Clements, Director of the
HHIC, said: “A mix of low carbon
technology along with low temperature
heating systems will be required to meet
the government’s target of net zero by
2050. As most replacement heating
appliances are due to a distressed
purchase, there is a tendency for the rest
of the system to be forgotten.
“Homeowners need support to
ensure they can plan and upgrade
their heating and hot water systems.
This will ultimately come down to
government initiatives, which is where
the whitepaper aims to provide a
framework for formulating new policy.”

This challenge is only made
more difficult by the UK’s
disparate housing stock,
dominated by older properties
using mains gas as the main
heat generation source

KEY FINDINGS
Transitioning homes to low carbon
heating and hot water systems is a
complex process and will require a
range of different solutions, according
to the whitepaper.
This challenge is only made more
difficult by the UK’s disparate housing
stock, dominated by older properties
using mains gas as the main heat
generation source. These homes are
also more likely to have insufficient
levels of insulation when compared to
new-build homes and there is a high
chance the original installed heating
system was designed around high
temperature primary circulation with a
lower degree of control.
Switching to low temperature heating
will raise efficiency and reduce carbon
emissions, but also support the use of
he Heating and Hotwater However, many of the different heating key future technologies like heat pumps
Industry Council’s (HHIC) systems that circulate heat and hot and hydrogen boilers. Designing for
latest whitepaper urges the water in properties are not currently such systems from new is relatively
government to consider the appropriate for these emerging straightforward, but considerable work
T suitability of current UK technologies, nor are they adequately is needed to prepare legacy building
domestic heating systems to facilitate covered by strategy and policy work. stock for a net zero economy.
the transition to net zero. Outlining where improvements
Retrofitting homes with low carbon need to be made and how different THE CHALLENGE OF NEWER HOMES
technologies, like heat pumps and domestic systems can be aligned with the Even more recent builds pose problems.
hydrogen boilers, will be key to meeting country’s long-term goals, the whitepaper Since the late 1980s there has been a
the UK’s net zero targets, says HHIC. entitled Heating up to Net Zero has been move towards the use of combination

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