93 per cent of rural off-grid households would not be able to afford the estimated average cost of a heat pump system, according to a new poll published in the Environment Journal

The survey also found that over a quarter (28 per cent) of rural households living off the gas grid have said that they would not be able to afford a new heating system at any price if forced to install one to meet net-zero emissions targets.

The research found that a further third (34 per cent) said that they can’t afford to pay more than £4,000 to help pay for a new low carbon heating system in the form of a heat pump, with only 12 per cent saying that they would be prepared to pay more than £6,000.

The cost of a new heat pump alone can range between approximately £11,000 - £18,000 well beyond the reach of most people living off-grid in rural areas.

The price could even end up being more in some cases as this does not include the cost of making other adaptations to the house to ensure it works properly.

The report says the poll is a blow to the Government’s new ambition to cut CO2 emissions by 78 per cent of 1990 levels by 2035. 20 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions come from heating buildings making tackling heating essential to any decarbonisation strategy.

Full article:

The Environment Journal - Rural households can’t afford net-zero plans