PROJECT OVERVIEW
Our goal is to improve the quality and uptake of heat pump installations across Bath and North East Somerset.
Whether you’re a homeowner, a heating engineer, or simply curious about how heat pumps can make homes more efficient and environmentally friendly – this page offers guidance and practical support.
Heat Pump support
Why does this project matter?
Heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounts for almost 20% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Air source heat pumps can reduce home heating emissions by up to 80% and are suitable for most homes.
For climate-conscious homeowners who are able to make energy upgrades, replacing a fossil-fuelled boiler with a heat pump is one of the most effective personal actions they can take. However, navigating the process to ensure the right approach for your home can be challenging.
Our Heat Pump Support project is focused on helping people in Bath & North East Somerset to get quality, effective heat pump installations, tailored to their needs.
Project approach
The Heat Pump Support project is funded and supported by the West of England Combined Authority and delivered in partnership with Transition Bath. We focus on three key areas:
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Our expert assessors – trained to Heat Geek Mastery level – provide independent, in-depth heat pump advice to help you make informed decisions.
Each assessment includes:
A free webinar to explain key things to consider before buying a heat pump
A detailed heat loss calculation based on your home and energy bills
Recommendations for the best heat pump size and placement
Guidance on any extra work needed, like insulation or radiator upgrades
Advice on combining your heat pump with solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles and smart tariffs.
Because we’re independent and technology neutral, our advice is focused on what’s best for your home – helping you feel confident in pursuing an installation and comparing installer quotes effectively.
Learn more about Heat Pump Assessments.
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We urgently need more skilled heat pump installers, and with the right training, it’s easier than you might think. With demand expected to grow 10-15x in the next three years, government policies driving adoption, and new build requirements in BANES, there’s a strong pipeline of work for qualified installers.
The Heat Geek Mastery course teaches how to do a design heat pump systems that deliver high efficiency and low running costs. As part of this project we were able to cover the cost for a limited number of new installers, through our grant funding.
This funding opportunity has now come to a close, but our partners Retrofit West are offering 20 fully-funded Heat Geek Installer training places in the West of England Combined Authority area. For more information, see Green Construction Trading Grants.
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Thinking about installing a heat pump? Hearing from people who’ve already done it can make a big difference.
If you’re a heat pump owner, we’d love for you to become a Heat Pump Champion.
Ways to get involved:
Share your experience at local events or in conversations with interested homeowners
Host a visit to show your heat pump in action (as part of NESTA’s Visit a Heat Pump scheme).
If you’re interested, email us at home.energy@bwce.coop and we’ll find a way for you to take part that suits you.
Other useful resources
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): Get up to £7,500
in grant funding towards a heat pump.
Energy at Home: Available for eligible households on low incomes or in low-income areas.
Energy Saving Trust: In-depth background information on how heat pumps work.
NESTA’s Heat Pump Tool: Find out which type of heat pump suits your home.
Heat Pumps for Historic Homes: Watch our video for tips on installing heat pumps in listed buildings.
Retrofit West: See a comparative analysis of different types of heat pump installations.
Carbon factsheet: To help householders and retrofit advisors understand the full carbon picture of common retrofit measures.
Centre for Sustainable Energy: See information about self-referrals, or contact advisors directly on home.energy@cse.org.uk or 0800 082 2234.
