London, UK - The research and innovation foundation Nesta has responded to the Warm Homes Plan, which was published by the UK government today.

In the new blog, Andrew Sissons, deputy director of sustainable future, said:

“On the whole, the new Warm Homes Plan rises to the challenge. It will increase investment into upgrading homes to £15 billion over five years. It reflects the development in technologies for heating homes by prioritising electric technologies - solar, batteries and heat pumps - over fabric insulation. And it recognises the need for more coordinated delivery mechanisms, creating the Warm Homes Agency.

“That said, there are two challenges that the plan leaves unresolved. First, it does not further reduce the high cost of electricity relative to gas, which makes clean, electric heating more expensive. Second, it is not clear that the policies it sets out go fast enough to meet the UK’s climate commitments, either the near term carbon budgets or the longer term commitment to net zero by 2050.

“While these challenges will require further work, the Warm Homes Plan is a step forward for home heating.”

Nesta has also published new analysis showing that the Warm Homes Plan could save a typical household that invests in home upgrades £1,000 on its energy bill. The analysis finds that households that get a heat pump, solar panels and a battery could see their yearly bill from April fall from around £1,670 to around £670 under the changes.

Through its Visit a Heat Pump service, Nesta regularly speaks to people with set-ups that include heat pumps, batteries and solar panels.

These include Nicolas, a Derbyshire-based EV and energy YouTuber who was initially hesitant about turning his home green. Nervous about installing a heat pump with a newborn incoming - fearing the 20m-distant unit would leave the house cold - he's now enjoying consistent warmth, paired with solar panels and batteries for big bill savings and reliable comfort, even in Derbyshire winters.

Meanwhile, Alex, an ‘eco landlord’ is also reaping the benefits of the green tech in his student home that he rents out. He thinks that more student landlords should make the switch, especially as it removes a common tension point between students and landlords and ‘fair usage of bills’.

Notes to editors

1. Nesta has other case studies available of people who have heat pumps, solar and batteries installed, who can talk about their experience. Examples include:

• Mat, London, terraced property: Mat has an annual utility bill of £17 for his family home in central London. He installed solar panels, a home battery system and an air source heat pump, as well as balcony solar. He says he might be one of the first true “zero bills” homes in the UK.
• Joe, Devizes, detached property: Joe offsets the costs of his green home by running it at the cheaper tariffs whilst keeping the house toasty in winter. He is keen to show people how solar, battery and heat pump are a winning combination in a busy family of 4. He has some hints and tips to help people’s battery work in a way that can offset their peak usage.
• Henrique, Luton, terraced property: He decided to install a heat pump as part of his commitment to creating a greener home, complementing his existing solar panels and EV charger. When there is cold weather, Henrique wears a t-shirt and shorts in his home, as the temperature is warm and cosy. He said it is a triple win: “Saving the planet, saving money and being comfortable at home.”
• Artem, London, semi-detached property: Artem believes in decarbonising his residential energy consumption and being asthmatic, improving comfort and air-quality inside his home. He says it is the most comfortable he has ever been at home and not having gas burning in the house was a huge relief on the symptoms of asthma.
• Graham, London, detached property: Graham’s large home is 3,000 square feet with 6 bedrooms. He was shocked at how much CO2 his house was emitting and tracked this figure during the renovations to see how much the heat pump, solar and battery reduced it. He found it tricky to find an installer due to the size of his home and the solar panels. Now he says the house is a constant 20 degrees and he has hot water all the time.

1. For more information on the analysis or to speak to one of the experts involved or case studies listed, please contact Kieran Lowe, Media Manager, on 020 7438 2576 or via [email protected].

About Nesta
Nesta is a research and innovation foundation that designs, tests and scales solutions for the biggest challenges of our time.

Driven by a vision to improve the lives of millions of people, our focus up to 2030 is on three missions: breaking the link between family background and life chances, halving obesity and cutting household carbon emissions.

We work with partners to develop high-potential solutions and test them as they evolve, drawing on expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, data science, behavioural science and design.

Once confident in the effectiveness of a solution, we take it to scale. We create national policy proposals, develop consumer-facing products and services, build and spin out commercial ventures and harness the power of the arts.

We work with two specialised units: BIT applies a deep understanding of human behaviour to help clients achieve their goals. Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society. Find out more at nesta.org.uk