Net Zero Watch slams Government’s ‘desperate’ and ‘unethical’ heat pump proposals
By Paul Homewood
London, 31 August – Campaign group Net Zero Watch has ridiculed the Government’s decision to remove consumer protections relating to the installation of heat pumps in homes.
Faced with a widespread consumer boycott of the technology, ministers are hoping that they can kickstart a heating revolution by removing the requirement that properties be adequately insulated before gas boilers are removed.
Net Zero Watch director Andrew Montford said:
"The insulation requirement was put in place to ensure heat pumps were only installed where they were likely to work. Removing a key consumer protection is hardly going to help the Government’s cause."
Mr Montford points to a recent study of heat pump economics, which shows that, even in a well-insulated property, most heat pump installations do not give lower bills, let alone justifying the substantial capital costs. This is because electricity is four times the price of gas.
Mr Montford said:
"The contradictions in Government policy are becoming clear. Renewables are incompatible with heat pumps because they make electricity so much more expensive than gas. In their desperation to persuade consumers to switch anyway, ministers are proposing steps that would be foolish, are arguably unethical, and would certainly be counterproductive. This is a brand of fanaticism as dangerous as Mr Khan’s ULEZ obsession."
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
Great comments by Mr Montford.
What a complete and utter shower of rubbish this Government, and all Governments going back to 1997 have been in regard to energy policy. They have “kicked the can down the road” and we are all paying for their mismanagement now.
Get Michael Mann to do the statistics, on his track record, an igloo would be a suitable building for a heat pump!
Brilliant analysis. Heat pumps should be relegated to moderate climes where electricity is cheap; neither are present in the UK. But, will the Green religion crowd accept these facts–and “listen to the Science”–or will the author of this paper get the full Bell, Book and Candle treatment from the High Priests of Green?
“the electricity:gas price ratio… is currently around 4.”
But, but, but Mr. Miliband says “The price of solar and wind energy is nine times less than that of gas.” He wouldn’t lie, would he?
https://labourlist.org/2022/09/lets-protect-the-people-and-the-planet-milibands-speech-to-conference/
The people need protecting from politicians and other control freaks.
He is too stupid to know the truth in the first place.
The entire “climate” and “net zero” hysterics are unethical
It is incumbent on we, who understand energy, electrical systems and equipment, that we educate as many as possible on the sheer engineering & financial incompetence of these nut zero trinkets (heat pump or battery car)
The negatives of heat pumps are many, but not widely known to, or understood by the general masses – the peddlers of heat pumps, including Govt, will target these people with deceit, dodgy data and sheer fraud to get heat pumps into homes
My quick reference of heat pump truths are:
1. Very expensive to buy, install & maintain
2. Rads & pipework need upgrading – again very expensive
3. You may also need very expensive under floor heating to support the HPs
4. They are noisy in operation and emit LF vibrations
5. They will need to run 24/7 in winter when electricity is likely most expensive
6. Below 5degC their efficiency drops drastically
7. Unlike a gas boiler there is no instant heat, it will take 24hours to get tepid
8. Legionnaires disease risk increases due to water system aerosols (shower) lower temp (a gas boiler kills it at 60degC)
9. Increased risk of black mould in your house due to damp cold
10. You will be colder, poorer and unhealthier
“deceit, dodgy data, and sheer fraud….” But how do you really feel? Great comment, well stated. I had a professor back in university that made the statement, “We must all defend The Enlightenment.” I agreed with him then, and I agree with your comment now. We must all defend rational thought in our approach to the energy problem. But given the Marxist, total control the politicians are seeking the future looks grim.
Great comment, but you are preaching to the Choir as you mentioned. The Greens are zealots; religious fanatics if you would allow. Education of this lot is a fool’s errand. One never debates, rationalizes, reasons, or argues with children, fools, drunks or Greens–they are all hopelessly unreachable.
As Energywise shows so clearly, the present UK housing stock is totally unsuited to heat pumps. The ideal home for heat pumps would use ducted air as high temperatures are not wanted in these. It is useless, and even dangerous, for heating water. At our present house building rate, it will take about 50 years for heat pumps to make any impact. Madness rules.
The new net zero minister is already spouting the nonsense about cheaper bills with renewables. Just another script reader of civil service claptrap, so far at least.
I am concerned now about the judgement of some of the GB News commentators who have described Sushi’s Bimbo as being ‘intelligent’. To a moron, a lot of people must look ‘intelligent’.
Like when you think you know it all, F=ma is WRONG, but you never studied further & long enough to know otherwise, yet you still hammer on as though it is correct 100% : that is the mentality of those zealots. So! I’ve taken the opportunity of winding up a couple, advertising locally and on Soshul Meedya. They claim that they can get our Family FREE Efficient Heating via AirtoAir heatpumps, Insulation and Solar Panels, All on behalf of the Scottish Gubbermint to meet THEIR targets. “because we burn Coal, wood & OIL” in an ‘auld hoose’ with 3ft thick walls and roof insulation. Hmmm we’ll see….. and who is going to pay for the electricity…. the Income from the Solar Panels? In your Dreams.
I made a video on the Tom Nelson about Net Zero. Basically, there is no climate emergency, and the government’s absurd energy policy will lead to power cuts.
Climate and Energy Misinformation.
Ralph
I am always surprised at how little accurate data there is available on domestic energy consumption. For example how much energy is used for water heating?
Those with heat only boilers and hot water storage tanks are likely to have their system set to heat the tankful at least once a day. The tank typically holds 120L of water, if at an ambient 18°C taken up to 60°C it will require at least 6.5kWh to heat (120kg x 42° x 4.2kj/kg/°C ÷ 3.6) from a 92% efficient boiler and assuming no heat losses. Do that 365 days a year ( and most such homes actually do) and just one daily tankful of safe hot water requires 2,400kWh per annum – think about a family of 4/5 and they would likely double that useage. Then you also need to add water heated to run cold fill only washing machines and dishwashers.
Now bear in mind the heat pump will also require a hot water storage tank and then compare it to a gas (or oil fired) combi boiler.
Many people (like me) prefer to shower these days. A combi boiler completely seperates the functions of space heating and hot water supply. Combis vary from max hot water rating of 24kW for smaller ones up to 42kW for the largest – the latter capable of running 2 showers simultaneously. Assuming a 5 minute runtime per shower from a typical 24kW unit uses just 2kW ( I average just on 3 minutes but don’t really have long flowing locks to wash any more!) so it is clearly hugely more economic to run a combi than any fueled hot water storage system.
On just hot water alone, replacing a modern combi boiler with a heat pump is insane.
Error: ” a 5 minute runtime per shower from a typical 24kW unit uses just 2kWh” …..Must stop dropping my aitches!
With the CH off the main gas use is for heating the hot water tank and I record 2 cu ft a week on that. I see a slight variance depending on the weather as the water sits in the attic tank before being drawn down into the hot water cylinder. So with our ‘boiling’ summer it has required more heating.
How do they plan to power all this nonsense…. thinking they can run all this on a dysfunctional grid using renewables is insanity…. they should be called replaceables since they have to be replaced every 15 years with massive environmental impact…. just follow the money