Polling from parliament comes in the wake of a 2% increase in the cost of domestic power, announced by Ofgem this week.
According to new research conducted by Savanta on behalf of heat pump giant Aira, almost half [48%] of British MPs agree levies should be removed from electricity services in order to mean heat pumps more affordable. Around the same number also say heat pumps and solar panels are going to be essential for the UK’s residential built environment to meet current targets.
The survey includes responses from 111 cross-party members, to ascertain their attitudes towards energy taxation and understanding of schemes and support options to help energy transition for homeowners and tenants. Just 36% of MPs included in the research said they had ‘little-to-no’ understanding of how the Boiler Upgrade Scheme worked in practice.
In terms of other approaches to reducing household emissions, 71% of MPs believe home insulation and then installation of double or triple glazed windows [54%] were the most effective ways to bring down household emissions. These were both significantly higher than the proportion advocating replacing old gas boilers and switching to solar or heat pump sources [49%].
‘We wanted to find out how MPs see the future of our homes; how they think we can make them cleaner, warmer, and more affordable to run,’ said Matt Isherwood, Aira UK Service Operations Directory. ‘This report shows us three things: that a strong number of MPs support heat pumps and cheaper electricity prices; that many politicians understand the role heat pumps play in reducing household carbon emissions; and that more needs to be done to educate policymakers and constituents, especially in relation to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme — the government’s flagship heat pump policy.’
Yesterday, UK energy regulator Ofgem announced it would increase the domestic price cap by 2% this October, a slightly higher percentage than had been expected. The average household bill will therefore rise by £35 per year.
Image: Arthur Lambillotte / Unsplash
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