Did you know that heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounted for 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available?* With the launch of the Government's Warm Homes Plan, and the extension of its Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2030, there is a clear commitment to making our homes more sustainable. And when you consider our energy consumption at home is a key factor in our carbon footprint (AKA the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by human activities), it’s never been more timely to take steps to reduce household emissions.
One way to do that is to improve the energy efficiency of our homes by adopting low carbon and energy efficient home tech like an air source heat pump. And the good news is air source heat pumps are more readily available and affordable than you might think, so it might be easier than you imagine to cut your household emissions.
How can an air source heat pump help reduce household emissions?
Air source heat pumps use electricity in order to extract heat from the air, intensify it, and then transfer it to your home’s heating system.
As they don’t directly burn fossil fuels, like most boilers, and instead can utilise 100% solar, wind, tidal or other renewable energy sources to heat your home, heat pumps are therefore considered low-carbon heating systems. That means they are an ideal option if you are looking to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Heat pumps are also significantly more efficient than gas boilers when you consider the heat output you get per unit of energy to generate it.
While a modern/gas boiler can convert gas to heat with around 90% efficiency, with older boilers being even less efficient (so for every unit of gas, it generates 0.9 units of heat), air source heat pumps can generate in excess of three units of heat for every one unit of electricity it uses. This not only results in lower energy bills, but also reduced carbon emissions.
So how much carbon can you actually save? According to E.ON Next, for CO2, an air source heat pump’s lower-carbon credentials can amount to a saving of about 2,900kg/year compared to a G-rated boiler.**
To really ramp up the reduction in your home’s carbon footprint, you can team a heat pump with other efficient tech, like solar panels and batteries, and even electric vehicles.
How do I switch from a gas boiler to a heat pump?
If you’re keen to make the move from a gas boiler to an air source heat pump, the good news is that it’s easier than you may think.
For example, to switch to an air source heat pump with E.ON Next, there are just four simple steps you’ll need to follow:
- Get an online quote. Answer a few questions about your home and they’ll recommend the heat pump and tariff for your home with a clear pricing structure, flexible finance options and more information on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme where you could get a £7,500 grant towards the cost of your heat pump.
- Choose your heat pump. You get to have a closer look at the heat pumps that may suit your home, as well as what else is included as standard
- Book your home assessment. A tailored heat loss survey will be carried out on your home by E.ON Next’s expert team to ensure your chosen heat pump is a suitable fit, and giving you peace of mind.
- Your heat pump will be installed. E.ON Next will fully manage the installation of your new heat pump, as well as your switch over to the most suitable tariff (if applicable). Their dedicated support team will be on hand for any questions you may have, from choosing the right heat pump to the installation and any post-installation questions you may have. The old boiler will be removed, then the heat pump installed and connected to your radiators and your hot water cylinder. Your installer will set it up how you want it and give you clear instructions on how to use the smart controls it comes with. The process can take up to five days, depending on the complexity of your specific installation.
For even more peace of mind, which is essential when you are committing to new technology like this, every heat pump installed by E.ON Next comes with:
- 7 year product warranty
- 2 year workmanship warranty
- HIES- (Home Insulation and Energy Systems) backed warranty
- Designed and installed to MCS standards (a quality mark for renewable products and installers in the UK)
- Online guides at your fingertips
- Fully-trained heat pump installation and support teams.
Want to see how much you could save with a heat pump? Get in touch with E.ON Next today.
* According to the National Audit Office.
** These figures are from the Energy Saving Trust and are based fuel prices as of July 2025 and on a three-bed, semi-detached home in England, Scotland and Wales with radiators upgraded if required.
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