Recommendations for exploring clean heat schemes
This activity helped to define the elements of area-based low-carbon heat schemes and the agency required for households. It leaves a number of options to explore and those delivering area-based schemes may want to consider variables within their offers. These options are outlined in the table below.
| Area of exploration | Possible actions to explore |
|---|---|
| Installer selection: explore a trustworthy, flexible approach |
Test whether providing a vetted shortlist of installers, with clear quality criteria and council endorsement, increases trust and willingness to participate. Explore if including ratings, reviews, or neighbour recommendations helps people feel more confident in coordinated options. See whether offering the freedom to choose your own installer reduces scepticism and improves perceptions of fairness. Assess the impact of neighbour-to-neighbour comparisons on installer trust and decision comfort. |
| Technology: explore balancing expert recommendations with personal relevance |
Test if tailored recommendations that consider property type and household needs make people feel more comfortable deferring to expert input. Explore whether a short explanation of why a specific technology was suggested improves clarity and trust. Assess if having an accessible way to ask questions or request changes improves perception of control and responsiveness. Gauge whether showing visual placement options early helps reduce pushback or concern about suitability. |
| Installation period: explore prioritising installation flexibility while highlighting collective benefits |
Test whether offering individual scheduling windows, rather than fixed dates, increases comfort and likelihood to opt in. Explore if optional group incentives (eg, discounts or faster timelines) create a positive view of coordination without reducing agency. Evaluate whether giving people space to flag personal needs (eg, don’t work in this room) builds trust in the install experience. |
| Finance: explore designing finance options around personal circumstances |
Test whether offering a range of flexible finance pathways (eg, grants, pay-over-time, upfront) makes the scheme feel more accessible to households in different financial situations. Explore whether transparent information about finance providers (eg, who they are, risks) improves trust and reduces hesitation. |
| Explore how other households play a role in building trust across the scheme |
Test if involving early adopters or local champions improves understanding and trust in the scheme. Explore whether creating spaces for informal conversation (online or in-person) increases confidence and uptake. See if featuring real resident stories and quotes helps shift sceptical or uncertain perceptions. Assess whether having visible local examples (eg, open homes, shared testimonials) makes the process feel more relatable and doable. |
