What is happening with natural gas?
2025 will see the start of the government’s Future Homes Standard initiative, a list of standards that all new residential buildings must meet. These standards are mostly related to making all new buildings greener. This policy ensures that new homes produce 75-80% less carbon dioxide emissions than new buildings.
The Future Homes Standard states that all new homes must contain low-carbon heating systems, ensuring they will produce fewer emissions. The plan also says that no gas boilers can be installed in new homes, implying that no gas network can be fitted.
As of September 2023, some targets initially set out in the original Future Homes Standard initiative have been pushed back or scrapped altogether. However, the government insists that the commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is still achievable.
What does the future of central heating look like from the trainer’s point of view?
Â
A brief talk with Alan Hayes:
Â
What do you see heating our homes in 2035?
I see the emphasis on insulating Britain to ensure lower energy consumption across the country as a first point of urgency.
Alongside insulating homes in Britain, I would hazard a guess that demand for air-source heat pumps will increase, as without proper home insulation, the model does not work.
What do you see as the most significant barrier to reaching net zero?
It is upskilling the current workforce. It doesn’t take much to step back and see that many gas engineers know two things: plumbing and gas works. The barrier to retraining an engineer’s brain will be the main factor in slowing down the progress of future heating and hot water fuel sources.
What does a heating engineer look like in 2035?
A heating engineer, not a ‘plumber’, is the future engineer. Engineers must have a new thought process to meet the complexity of new central heating and hot water systems, such as those associated with air source heat pump installations. Engineers must be versed in system design, controls, flow rates, etc. Changing the way of thinking away from gas central heating systems towards new appliance technologies is a significant barrier for engineers but an exciting one to undertake.
Are you looking to become qualified for air source? Enquire today about our OFTEC MCS-aligned heat pump courses: https://gastectraining.co.uk/heat-pump-course-list/
