About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

Our mission is to reduce home carbon emissions in the UK by 30% by 2030.

The challenge

Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is critical to addressing global warming and creating a healthier planet - now and for future generations.

In the UK, the vast majority of homes are heated with systems using carbon-emitting fossil fuels such as oil and gas, meaning that home heating accounts for around 14% of carbon emissions.

But we don’t have to rely on gas or oil to heat our homes. The solution exists in tried and tested low-carbon heating systems - such as heat pumps - which are proven, effective technologies, suitable for the vast majority of UK homes. 

We face a big challenge in increasing the rollout of low-carbon heating - from making it more affordable and attractive to increasing the numbers of skilled installers - but the benefits will be for everyone: and with the right policies in place, low-carbon heating can reduce energy bills and address fuel poverty, as well as addressing global warming. 

Reducing the emissions from household heating is one practical action that we can all  make a significant impact on protecting our planet.

Our goal

By 2030, the UK will have reduced household carbon emissions by 30%. We will do this by:

  • making low-carbon heating more appealing and affordable to consumers
  • helping to grow the low-carbon heating workforce 
  • making it easier to get a heat pump 
  • creating ways to switch to low-carbon heating at scale
  • ensuring everyone can be part of the low-carbon heating transition. 

Work

Read the latest work and thinking from our mission

Projects

The latest on our research, challenges and practical programmes