A man who replaced his heating system with a £25,000 government-backed 'green' heat pump says he is facing "crippling" energy bills, which have amounted to almost £3,000 so far this winter and could see him facing a £7,000 yearly bill.
The government is currently providing grants for up to £5,000 to homeowners who remove a gas central heating and hot water system and replace it with a heat pump. But the new system - backed by many in the green lobby - has apparently left many UK homeowners in the cold.
Steve Mason, 58, spent thousands on his brand new system and says he has seen his bills rocket despite his living room being a mere 14 degrees and having to sit in layers of warm clothing. He said that if given the choice he would "rip it out" and replace it with a more cost-effective solution as he doesn't believe the government "have thought the policy through".
The company director from Harlaxton, Lincolnshire, who started using the system in July said: "I have no choice but to use it as it's my only source of heating and hot water in my house, but what we've found is that we don't think the government have really thought this through.
"This year so far alone, my electric bill has reached £1,461 after the government help and my direct debit each month is £650 - it's crippling. I'm fortunate that I'm in a position where I can make cutbacks, but not everyone's family can.
"My lounge is cold, it's 14.5 degrees despite my thermostat being set to 20. I have to sit with a jumper on and put the log burner on which completely defeats the object. If I had the choice I would rip it out and replace it definitely.
"If I did it all again I wouldn't put it in at all, I would get a clean oil boiler and put solar panels in. I understand the energy and climate crisis, but my concern is that the government is pushing this 'green alternative' that isn't cost-effective."
He added: "The equipment cost £17,000, then there was the installation so add another £10,000 at least. We moved back into the house in July when the weather was warm. In the summer months, our monthly bills are roughly £280 per month, Spring and Autumn will be about £500 per month and winter months about £850.
"Then a yearly total will be about £6k to £7k. My electric deal ends in March, so my tariff will increase. We could therefore be paying... well I don't really want to think about it. Only the stupendously wealthy who can afford the figure in my head - and joint incomes of me and my wife are nowhere near."
Based on the same technology as refrigerators, the air pump pulls heat out from outside air and into the house, and can be run on renewably generated electricity - making them carbon neutral. However with the highest electricity prices, the least insulated homes in Europe and the apparent inefficiency in colder temperatures, early adopters are counting the cost of going green.
Steve said: "Some people say it works for them, and that really is great but there's too much anecdotal evidence saying that these just aren't working. Something is fundamentally wrong with the policy, I want to know why the government thinks this is the way forward and what evidence there is to say that."
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “We know it’s been an incredibly tough time with families struggling to meet energy costs, which is why we’ve been paying around half of a typical household’s energy bill this winter.
“Improving the energy efficiency of homes is the best long-term method of tackling fuel poverty, and when installed alongside a suitability sized central heating system, a heat pump is a very efficient form of heating. That’s why we’re making installing a heat pump an attractive and affordable choice for heating a home – including through the £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme which provides grants of up to £6,000 towards the cost of installation.”
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