"A lot of my friends have said they're not sure about heat pumps," says Woodward. "But the technology and satisfaction has improved a lot levels, even in old homes, are high. I thought it was worth the risk."
Her experience chimes with a report by the thinktank Nesta last year that found satisfaction levels for heat pump users in Victorian or older properties were 83%, challenging the idea that the heating technology is only suited to those in newer homes.
Woodward's 1880 two-bedroom end of terrace house, which had been awarded an EPC F rating, previously relied on a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) combination boiler. During the winter, Woodward used to get through a £75 gas bottle every 10 days, on top of monthly electricity costs of about £100 at this time last year. "The costs of heating were astronomical even for the most minimal amount," she says.
The nurse qualified for the Eco 4 Flex grant due to having a household income below £31,000 and living in a property with an EPC rating of D or lower. Her home needed a fair amount of insulation work, with all the external walls internally insulated, pipes and radiators replaced, and the loft insulation improved, a process she describes as "very invasive" but worthwhile.
"I'm overall paying less, the house is consistently warm and much greener," Woodward said.
"I absolutely love the system. The house is warmer to an actually incomparable degree." Woodward only completed her heat pump installation in autumn 2023 but is already seeing savings.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 08, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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