A man says he has been landed with a gigantic £7,000 energy bill after switching to a heat pump. Steve Mason says he has seen his heating expenses rocket since installing the government-backed system, reports Lincolnshire Live.
The 58-year-old replaced his heating system in his Lincolnshire property with a £25,000 UK Government-backed 'green' heat pump in July. Officials are currently providing grants for up to £5,000 to home owners who remove a gas central heating and hot water systems and replace it with a heat pump.
The system uses the same technology as refrigerators, the air pump pulls heat out from outside air and into the house. It can also be run on renewably generated electricity - making them carbon neutral. However, with highest electricity prices and the least insulated homes in Europe, early adopters are counting the cost of going green.
Steve said: "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 out 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 can afford the figure in my head and the joint incomes of me and my wife are nowhere near."
When asked about the positive aspects of investing in the air pump, Steve added: "I could say we are using some green non-polluting energy and Greta Thunberg will be pleased.
"However, as we have set the room temperatures to 17C to save money and it's -3C outside, we have a log burner chomping its way through a forest and sending smoke up the chimney - the irony should not be lost here."
The 58-year-old says two other families in his village who also have a heat pump are facing similar issues. One of the families is having to use two log burning stoves alongside their pump during the cold days.
Steve added: "We thought that since the government are championing Air Source Heat Pumps as one of the 'green' ways forward then this is the avenue we would go down. But my wife and I are struggling to see how the installation and running costs of the system makes economic and functional sense."
Lincolnshire Live have contacted the UK Government for comment on the situation.
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