Recent modelling shows that domestic peak heat demand in UK is almost 50% lower than widely cited values

A recent article on the Cell Press website provides valuable insight into the impact of 100% electrification of domestic heat in the UK. Decarbonising heat in particular is often perceived as a daunting task since natural gas serves between 60 and 80% of the domestic heat sector in countries like the UK. While there has … Continue reading Recent modelling shows that domestic peak heat demand in UK is almost 50% lower than widely cited values →

Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

This weekend sees the first of three sessions of the European Citizens' Energy Efficiency Panel in Brussels with 150 European citizens discussing how energy may be used in the EU and how the energy system should change. Participants are focusing on different aspects of energy efficiency that consumers might encounter at home, in communities or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024 →

New development in Ottawa-Gatineau using industrial waste to keep their homes warm

Following the growing popularity of waste heating in Europe, more Canadian firms are trying to reuse energy. Emily Chung writes on the CBC News website about a new development in the Ottawa region. How industrial waste is keeping these Ottawa-area buildings warm Residents of a new development in Ottawa-Gatineau are using industrial waste to … Continue reading New development in Ottawa-Gatineau using industrial waste to keep their homes warm →

Heat pump sales falling in Europe, risking €7 billion in investments

Despite a strong start, sales of heat pumps have shrunk over the course of 2023, new data from the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) shows. After a good first quarter, second and third quarter sales of space and hot water heat pumps are down in Europe. In many countries, sales are also lower than in … Continue reading Heat pump sales falling in Europe, risking €7 billion in investments →

Heat pumps as a service offered in Britain by Swedish company

Aira, which offers subscription service at no upfront cost, has sights set on UK’s growing heat pump market. Jillian Ambrose discusses latest developments in an article on the Guardian website. Swedish ‘Spotify of heat pumps’ hopes to reach more UK homes Britain’s plan to wean homes off fossil fuels has had a tepid start, … Continue reading Heat pumps as a service offered in Britain by Swedish company →

Only through confronting our complex relationship with heat — by accepting the inherent dangers of more heat — that we can hope to seriously pursue real action on fossil fuel emissions

Jennifer Ellen Good, Associate Professor Communication, Popular Culture and Film at Brock University in Canada analyses our complex relationship with heat in an article on The Conversation website. She argues that the reckless pursuit of heat (among other comforts) through the burning of fossil fuels has turned heat from a source of life to a … Continue reading Only through confronting our complex relationship with heat — by accepting the inherent dangers of more heat — that we can hope to seriously pursue real action on fossil fuel emissions →

New Joint Research Centre report on role of heat pumps in our energy transition

Replacing about a third of EU’s 86 million residential fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps could cut those households’ final energy consumption by 36% and their CO2 emissions by 28%. Heating of buildings accounts for almost 40% of final energy consumption and 36% of energy-related GHG emissions in the EU. Within these, residential buildings account … Continue reading New Joint Research Centre report on role of heat pumps in our energy transition →

Germany’s three-party coalition government agrees on changes in transition to phase out oil and gas in its heating strategy

The latest policy rift within Germany's three-party coalition government appears to have been resolved with a compromise deal. This time it was over planned changes to laws on heating. The coalition hopes to put the law before the Bundestag this week and to secure its passage before the summer break begins in July. An article on the Deutsche … Continue reading Germany’s three-party coalition government agrees on changes in transition to phase out oil and gas in its heating strategy →

Is hydrogen a realistic option for home heating?

Ran Boydell, Associate Professor in Sustainable Development at Heriot-Watt University, in an article on The Conversation website, argues against hydrogen being used for home heating. What are your views? Replacing methane with hydrogen to heat homes is a bad idea – here’s why Hydrogen is an energy-rich gas, which releases no carbon emissions when … Continue reading Is hydrogen a realistic option for home heating? →

Fossil fuels still dominate the German heating market

A new heating report in Germany shows that oil and gas boilers continue to dominate the heating market. Heat pump sales, however, have increased more than 50%. According to the German heat pump association (BWP), the report “clearly shows that the incentives to switch heating systems to renewable technologies are not yet sufficient.” The heat … Continue reading Fossil fuels still dominate the German heating market →