Instead of imported gas, we can use recovered heat or clean heat from locally generated electricity, coupled with insulation improvements, to make our homes and buildings healthier, more comfortable and cheaper to run. There are a wide range of approaches, from city district heating schemes to individual households switching to low-carbon heating systems.
Find out how low carbon heating schemes are already working in the UK by reading or listening to a couple of our inspiring examples. If you are already doing something in this space, then jump here if you want to do something bigger.
Inspiration read
Landmark district heat network
Large scale, water source heat pump
Delivered in partnership by West Dunbartonshire Council and Vital Energi, the Queens Quay water source heat pump is a groundbreaking project which, at 5.3MW, is the first large-scale scheme of its type in the UK. The innovative system takes take heat from the River Clyde and use it to heat local homes and businesses. Water, air and ground source heat pumps are amongst the most exciting energy technologies available today and are set to become a much bigger part of the UK’s energy mix, as they combine reliability with higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The landmark project is live and delivering low-carbon heat to surrounding premises and, when the final phase is completed, the energy centre will serve almost 2,600 buildings.
Heating homes for less
Homes connected to the heat network have lower energy bills compared to similar properties using traditional heating technologies and fossil-fuel gas. Every connected home is fitted with a smart metering system so residents only pay for the energy they use. And because the heat comes from energy recovered from the River Clyde, prices are much less affected by price rises in the global energy market.
Nature-led design
It is essential to understand fully the river source used in water source heat pump schemes – variations in water temperature, flow rates and wildlife – and to design a scheme that reflects the characteristics of the river and its ecosystem. For the Queens Quay project, the water source is a tidal, saltwater river which is under the protection of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and has a range of both plant and aquatic life. The success of this scheme demonstrates how a large-scale project that was influenced in its design by nature can operate in harmony with the local environment.
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Inspiration listen
Do Something Bigger
In this, the first episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast series, Do Something Bigger, we introduce our year-long campaign: 25 Big Local Actions in 2025.
Do something bigger
Do you want to benefit from clean heating systems and do something bigger? Past experience in the UK shows that rapidly transforming heating for buildings and homes is entirely feasible. The shifts from coal fires to central heating and from town gas to natural gas in the 1960s and 70s, and the switch from traditional to condensing boilers from 2005 onwards, show how prevailing heating schemes and technologies can change for the better and how quickly we can move towards a cleaner, more affordable new normal.
Support the development of clean heat networks
Heat networks are an important part of the UK’s low-carbon heating mix but, as large infrastructure projects, they need wider private and public support in order to get built. Almost all heat network projects to date have been supported by public funding, made available to qualifying organisations in England and Wales by the Government through the Heat Networks Development Unit (HNDU), Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) in England, Heat Network Fund in Scotland and the Heat Networks Investment Pipeline (HNIP). See: DESNZ (2024) Heat Networks Delivery Unit, BEIS (2020) Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP): overview and how to apply, DESNZ (2024) Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF): guidance on how to apply, and Government of Scotland (2024) Scotland’s Heat Network Fund: application guidance.
Build future-proof new homes
With ambitious housebuilding plans by government, the Future Homes Standard (due to be introduced in 2025) will ensure new builds in England use low-carbon heating, have high fabric efficiency and are ‘zero-carbon ready’ (meaning that they should require no further retrofit to reach net zero emissions once the grid is fully decarbonised). This green heating standard should be implemented without delay, with the support of everyone within the industry and more widely by local communities who deserve more comfortable and cheaper-to-run homes.
Retrofit homes with low carbon heating
Get a group of homeowners together in your community and explore the resources available to you. There are at least 11 current or legacy delivery schemes for home upgrades. Ofgem: Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (Domestic RHI) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS); Environment Agency: Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM); Salix Investment: Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG); Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management: Green Heat Networks Fund (GHNF) and Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP). Over time, the Government could definitely consolidate these schemes to make it easier for providers to deliver and for households to navigate. For now, find the best scheme and also see if you can negotiate better rates as a group, with providers and with building suppliers.
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Generate energy locally
Use decentralised energy
Renewable Energy
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