Samsung has shared the results of a study that revealed that the UK might be nearing a tipping point on attitudes towards low-carbon heating solutions such as heat pumps.
According to the research, 78% of heating industry professionals said demand for heat pumps had increased in the last five years, with seven out of ten professionals now seeing heat pumps as a more viable solution versus a few years ago.
Samsung spoke to 200 UK heating industry professionals, from gas engineers to plumbers, on their changing attitudes to heat pumps in the last two years, with 66% citing energy efficiency as the most important consideration for their customers when installing a heating system. Only 23% of current heating industry professionals are already fully trained to be an air source heat pump (ASHP) installer and nearly three in five (57%) are not considering training at all.
61% of those polled attributed the skills gap in low-carbon and energy-efficient technology to a lack of understanding about the future potential for heat pumps. 59% said they are waiting for more accessible training and education to support the workforce, indicating that despite demand increasing, there are still difficulties turning this demand into reality.
Scott Young, Training Manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, commented:
Our research clearly shows that there are real concerns in the heating industry about the lack of suitable training options available in low carbon tech. That’s why at Samsung, we have recently overhauled our training curriculum to encourage installers to upskill. Through webinars, e-learning modules and offering training for formal industry qualifications we are committed to providing a suite of learning options which are flexible and fit around the busy schedules of installers.
Around three quarters of respondents (76%) think that the government could be doing more in terms of legislation, grants and awareness to support the switch to air source heat pumps. This is especially important as price point was cited as the most important consideration for the customer by 78% of respondents.
In addition to further government support, 77% agreed that there should be more support from the industry and manufacturers to help install more heat pumps. 65% of respondents say making changes to radiators or household heat emitters is the number one consumer barrier to heat pump adoption while 62% also highlight concerns about the reliability of the technology at low outdoor temperatures, there is a clear need for manufacturers to step up consumer education about the range of solutions on offer and the efficacy of their products when stress tested.
Joseph Raftery, Heating Product Manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said:
The government Future Homes Standard of 2025 is drawing ever closer, ruling out fossil fuel heating in all new build developments. This is a major milestone for our housing sector, reflected in the fact that 78% of heating industry professionals say demand for heat pumps had increased in the last five years. There’s never been a better time for installers to work with architects and developers to incorporate low carbon heating solutions into property designs.
To find out more about Samsung Climate Solutions and the new EHS Mono HT Quiet click here.
