A scheme to encourage UK households to upgrade their gas boilers to heat pumps and other low-carbon alternatives is failing to deliver after suffering a “disappointingly low” take-up, a parliamentary report has said.
People don't want them. And whose fault is that, exactly?
The committee said that public awareness of low-carbon heating systems was “very limited” and promotion of the scheme had been “inadequate”. It also blamed a shortage of heat pump installers and “insufficient independent advice for homeowners” for the lack of take-up.
Yes, of course, it's the fault of the people, and the government. Not the fault of the people driving this, oh, dear me, no! If they were just told more about it, of course they'd agree to the upheaval and the expense and the after-installation problems...
Lady Parminter, chair of the environment and climate change committee, said: “The transition to low-carbon heat is fundamental in the path to net zero, given that 17% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from our homes.
“The government must quickly address the barriers we have identified to a successful take-up of the boiler upgrade scheme in order to help grow the take up of low-carbon heating systems. It is vital they do so if we are going to meet our net zero ambitions.”
And if people still don't want them? We know what comes after the carrot, don't we?
What comes after the carrot?
ReplyDeleteThe noose I believe. The assault on living standards, freedom etc etc has reached the stage where the end results are becoming increasingly clear to what are euphemistically referred to as "ordinary" people.
The don't want all this green marxism and trying to force it will in effect be like stalin's collectivisation. Do the powerpoint nazis, totally bereft of even the remotest clue as to how the real world works or the slightest acknowledgment of real people's lives imagine this will all happen by decree?
The known drawbacks of heat pumps are withheld from potential customers. "Just sign here, love and large heating bills become a thing of the past" is the customary closing pitch from hungry salesmen.
ReplyDeleteIron out the main problems and I might seriously consider buying a system. At the moment, they don't work well below 4 degrees C and can create noise nuisance. Neighbours may eventually find that low humming intolerable. The pumps freeze or overheat leaving owners with very costly repairs.
Please define this "Climate Emergency".
ReplyDeleteNo one does.
I suspect that heat pumps are a good idea, but only in properties built or modified to suit them.
ReplyDeleteUntil such time as the once-Great Britain has an electrical supply system adequate to support car charging, heat pumps and all other sorts of 21st century blahblah I'd prefer to cook on gas and heat my house with oil, gas or (heresy) wood.
Fifty-ish years ago I was in the Royal Festival Hall with my father and he told me that it was heated with heat from the Thames which must have been water-sourced heat pumps.
"Given that 17% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from our homes"
ReplyDeleteThe UK's contribution to world CO2 levels is less than 2%, so the old saying "10% (or even 17%) of bugger all is still bugger all" is appropriate. And even if you do worry about the odd 0.34%, CO2 IS NOT the major "Greenhouse" gas - that award goes to water vapour...
83% of carbon emissions are not related to domestic heating. Why not look in that area for savings?
ReplyDeleteWe'd all be a lot better of if the current bunch of numpties posing as politicians curtailed the hot air they continually spout. That would significantly reduce CO2. Win-win.
ReplyDelete"It is vital they do so if we are going to meet our net zero ambitions.” That pre-supposes that any 'net zero ambition' is a valid one, one which has been amply demonstrated as necessary and which is compatible with the needs and wishes of the population.
ReplyDeleteA valuable net zero ambition for Britain is froth, it's a fantasy, a myth, it would have less impact on any climate change than a fart in a sewage farm.
We didn't have any gas boilers or motor cars when the last Ice Age ended due to climate change, it certainly didn't need heat-pumps to help it, funny that?
"The assault on living standards, freedom etc etc has reached the stage where the end results are becoming increasingly clear to what are euphemistically referred to as "ordinary" people."
ReplyDeleteBut what are they prepared to DO about it?
"Iron out the main problems and I might seriously consider buying a system. At the moment, they don't work well below 4 degrees C and can create noise nuisance. "
We are insane to be pushing a system that's not as efficient simply because of cllimate woo.
"The UK's contribution to world CO2 levels is less than 2%, so the old saying "10% (or even 17%) of bugger all is still bugger all" is appropriate. "
Spot on!
"That pre-supposes that any 'net zero ambition' is a valid one, one which has been amply demonstrated as necessary and which is compatible with the needs and wishes of the population."
Indeed!