If you own a home that currently uses gas heating, you may have heard about an impending ban on gas boilers. At first glance, this news may seem worrisome, but in theory it shouldn’t shake up the housing industry too drastically when it is eventually enforced.
As an energy solution, the phasing out of gas-powered appliances is inevitable as we look towards more sustainable heating solutions. Here’s what you need to know about the gas boiler ban, as well as some information on how you can prepare for it.
When will gas boilers be banned?
According to the UK government’s current plans, we’re looking at a ban on all new gas- and oil-powered boilers from 2025.
This means it will be impossible for new build homes to implement them from this time onwards. However, replacement gas boilers for homes currently using them will still be legal, at least for the time being.
Why is the ban being put into force?
This ban is part of the government’s bid to cut back on carbon emissions. As it stands, the current proposed ban is still quite lenient in that faulty gas boilers will still be able to be replaced like-for-like, so critics of the ban argue that more needs to be done in order for the ban to be effective on an environmental front.
Do I need to replace my gas boiler?
The gas boiler ban in 2025 will not require homeowners who currently have a gas boiler to get theirs replaced with an alternative. In fact, even if it becomes faulty after 2025, it will still be possible to replace it.
This ban is likely the first step in a stricter and more general ban on the heating solution further down the line, so if you’re looking to replace yours in the near future you may want to investigate a more energy-efficient solution.
Gas boiler alternatives
Heat pumps
Air source and ground source heat pumps are an emerging technology with a lot of promise. The technology creates heat from the outside air or ground, compressing it until it reaches the desired temperature and then transmitting it into the home.
Installation costs for heat pumps are currently quite high as the technology is relatively new. As the technology evolves over the next few years, we’ll hopefully see them reduce in price to become more accessible from 2025 onwards.
Fabric first approach
The fabric first approach places an emphasis on using insulation and heat-retaining building materials as the primary means of heating the home. The theory is that in addition to insulatory building materials, the heat given off by standard household appliances should be enough to heat a residential property.
Improving natural lighting can also contribute to greater warmth. Of course, optimising an older home in such a fashion can be costly, but the benefits to overall sustainability can be substantial.
Design your home around a more sustainable heating system with Marraum
At Marraum, our dedication to sustainable architecture means we’re in a great position to help our clients build the energy-efficient homes they want from our practice in Cornwall, UK.
To learn more, discover our process or browse some of the projects we’ve brought to life. You can also contact us to speak to our team today.
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