Andy Burnham said at PMQs that he's asked ministers to look at removing the gas standing charge. And it's pretty rare to be able to say this in matters of policy influence...but I *think* this is a direct result of @mashley.bsky.social's idea. Full write up here: www.nesta.org.uk/feature/ener...

Energy affordability options: abolish the gas standing charge

The case for abolishing the gas standing charge.

nesta.org.uk

Is net zero the main reason electricity bills have risen? No, it's still rising gas costs. We ran the numbers on how energy bills have changed in real terms in the last 6 years for Carbon Brief... www.carbonbrief.org/revealed-exp...

Earlier this year, E3G released a big report with the Department of War Studies at Kings College which showed that our dependence on gas is a major national security risk. Cutting heat pumps to fund defence is like not paying for a flu jab so you can buy lemsip. It makes no sense.

Why this events summer can act as a catalyst for electrification - and what the Government should do

Labour Climate and Environment Forum@lcefuk.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Energy prices are rising and the government faces a choice: subsidise bills to relieve consumer pressure or use the moment as a catalyst to deliver change in our energy system. Nesta's Katy King writes for LCEF. @nestauk.bsky.social lcef.co.uk/blog/from-cr...

If you want to see whether heat pumps work for yourself, check out www.visitaheatpump.com to find a home with a heat pump near you

Visit a heat pump

Visit a heat pump near you in real life. See it in action and get your questions answered by heat pump owners.

visitaheatpump.com

Nadine Dorries has some important* information about heat pumps…

February is a great time to talk about… air conditioning. Otherwise known as air to air heat pumps, which can heat as well as cool your home, very efficiently. We have a big new report out today on how suitable air to air heat pumps are for British homes. The answer: quite a lot!

Air-to-air heat pumps: a low-carbon solution for UK homes

A2A heat pumps can provide homeowners with an additional option for decarbonising home heating

nesta.org.uk

New: 10 policy changes to make getting a heat pump easier www.nesta.org.uk/blog/10-thin... @acjsissons.bsky.social @chrisbaraniuk.com @helenczerski.bsky.social @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org @janrosenow.bsky.social @duncanrobinson.bsky.social @dharavyas.bsky.social @betatalk.bsky.social

There are better ways to lower the cost of energy for households than a simple VAT cut @madgabes.bsky.social outlined recently - hopefully the Chancellor will tomorrow look to reduce electricity bills along lines of the tax-free measures @nestauk.bsky.social proposed www.nesta.org.uk/report/tax-f...

Tax-free electricity

A proposal to remove most taxes on electricity to reduce bills and promote clean heating

nesta.org.uk

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 11mo ago

Rachel Reeves decides against cutting VAT on energy bills in Budget on.ft.com/3Xifliv

🙏This would be very welcome. Fingers crossed for tomorrow

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 11mo ago

Rachel Reeves decides against cutting VAT on energy bills in Budget on.ft.com/3Xifliv

The response to this story has been wonderful! Thanks to everyone who has read and shared it. And thanks also to all new subscribers!!

Chris Baraniuk@chrisbaraniuk.com · 12mo ago

NEW: I wrote about British churches installing heat pumps, in some cases in 1,000-year-old buildings! Decarbonisation may not be easy, but many view it as an act of faith. This is a special feature to mark The Reengineer’s first anniversary! Spread the word! 🥳 www.thereengineer.pro/p/let-there-...

The Treasury is widely reported to be considering cutting energy bills, perhaps via a VAT cut. What's the best way to do this? We think the answer is to remove the taxes from electricity bills. Here is Nesta's proposal out for Tax-free Electricity: @nestauk.bsky.social

Tax-free electricity

A proposal to remove most taxes on electricity to reduce bills and promote clean heating

nesta.org.uk

I’ve successfully claimed £2,000 from Halifax for my heat pump install 🥳 To be eligible for the Green Living Reward the install has to be within 1 year of getting a mortgage/refixing. You also need to have a current account with Halifax. #heatpump #heatpumps

New pictures! Today we're excited to be launching the first images from our new resource of engaging, accessible and real-life images of heat pumps across the UK, free for non-profit, editorial and educational use. Find out more and view the images: www.climatevisuals.org/heatpumps/

✨Heat pump wrap ✨Before and after ✨ I just got my Vaillant heat pump wrapped in grey. Do you prefer it before or after? #heatpumps

🏢 How are flats heated in England and Wales? 🏦 🔥 45% of 11+ storey flats use communal heating, at least half relying on fossil fuels 🏡 75% of low-rise flats (1-3 storeys) use fossil-fuel heating ⚡ 60% of high-rise flats use electricity for individual heating www.nesta.org.uk/project-upda...

Understanding how flats are heated in England and Wales

Decarbonising flats requires a nuanced, multifaceted approach with distinct strategies based on their heating fuel types

nesta.org.uk

Well, electricity levies and heat pumps are in the news this morning… … and we have a brand new Nesta report out on levy reform. We’ve looked closely at all the options, and this is what we think the best approach is… www.nesta.org.uk/report/how-t...

How to make electricity cheaper

Reforming the levies on energy bills

nesta.org.uk

🏡 In partnership with The MCS Foundation, we've designed a website to help consumers transition to a heat pump, with free, impartial tools and guidance. Homeowners can find out how much a heat pump might cost, the best type for their home, and find an installer: www.getaheatpump.org.uk

Your trusted source of information on heat pumps

Learn about the future of home heating with Get a Heat Pump: offering independent information, tools and guidance for homeowners.

getaheatpump.org.uk

Today, the 1 metre ruling requiring a minimum of 1 metre between a heat pump & property boundaries has been lifted for homes in England, meaning thousands of homeowners can make the first step to getting one. 🔖 Our new explainer outlines the planning process for getting a heat pump: bit.ly/4mAIDo0

Today is the day! The heat pump 1m rule finally gets lifted. Getting my own heat pump installed later this year (planning no longer required!) 🥳 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Planning change makes heat pump installations easier for homes

The rule requiring planning permission if a heat pump is within 1m of a neighbours property has been removed.

bbc.co.uk

🔥 1,600 heat pump visits in one year 🔥 Over 900 hosts signed up 🔥 47 installers registered www.nesta.org.uk/blog/one-yea... @codrinacretu.bsky.social @alasdair.co @madgabes.bsky.social @kieranran.bsky.social @markobroin.bsky.social

One year on, Visit a Heat Pump sees over 1,600 visitors

Our research has shown visits make a clear difference to people’s attitudes, knowledge and confidence on heat pumps

nesta.org.uk

Do you know of a conservation areas in the UK that allow heat pumps fronting a highway? We'd love any examples! Thanks in advance 🙏

🔥 Heat pump 1m rule comes to an end on 29th May! 🥳 Here is the statutory instrument: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/56... @joalsop.bsky.social @betatalk.bsky.social @thesuburbanpirate.bsky.social @acjsissons.bsky.social @annieleymarie.bsky.social @carbonbrief.org @chrisbaraniuk.com

🔥 Heat pump 1m rule comes to an end on 29th May! 🥳 Here is the statutory instrument: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/56...

New heat pump consultation out today on UK Government grants: - Extend to Air to Air & heat batteries Options being considered to help spread the installation cost of a heat pump include: - Hire purchase - Hire purchase “plus” - Leasing, like leasing a car www.gov.uk/government/n...

Families to get more choice over home upgrades

Proposals to give families greater choice when upgrading their home's heating as well as plans to create up to 18,000 training places for green jobs

gov.uk

Eeek >> Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London elementallondon.show/news/gas-boi...

Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London, study shows - elemental

A new study has revealed that gas boilers used for heating are now identified as the primary contributor for NOx emissions in London.

elementallondon.show

🔥 Do we need to mandate the open protocol that all boilers and controls have to work with? 🔥 DESNZ consultation says boilers & controls just need to be compatible with 1 open protocol - so some will be incompatible with each other? I suggest OpenTherm as the mandated open protocol. Am I wrong?

NEW: Helen Jeffrey was excited to have a heat pump installed after moving home - but something wasn't right. It was costing her far more than expected. So she decided to investigate. And soon met an internet stranger who was able to help. MY LATEST: www.thereengineer.pro/p/an-interne...

‘An internet stranger helped solve my heat pump puzzle’

Gadgets can monitor heat pumps and reveal their workings

thereengineer.pro

Great new piece on heat pump monitoring and optimisation from @chrisbaraniuk.com open.substack.com/pub/thereeng... Cameo from heat pump Bsky aficionado @acjsissons.bsky.social

‘An internet stranger helped solve my heat pump puzzle’

Gadgets can monitor heat pumps and reveal their workings

open.substack.com

Did you turn down your boiler flow temp and save energy & money? We’re looking for a case study Top marks if you can access your energy data from before and after Thank you!