More energy-efficient homes in London
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1089 Londoners have responded | 09/01/2024 - 18/02/2024
Heating London homes sustainably
The Mayor has an ambitious target for London to reach net zero by 2030.
Net zero is the idea of reducing our carbon dioxide emissions down to zero. In other words, the amount of harmful emissions we add to the atmosphere should be equal to or less than what we take out.
Did you know that heating homes and buildings with oil, gas or coal produces the biggest source of carbon emissions in the UK?
City Hall is working with local councils to create Local Area Energy Plans. These plans set out how your local council can help reach net zero. It will include the views of experts and Londoners, and explore more sustainable solutions.
Join in the discussion below and help shape your Local Area Energy Plan.
- After taking our survey, which energy-efficiency measures would you most likely consider for your home, and why?
- Imagine you were to upgrade or replace your current heating system to make it more energy efficient - perhaps you already have. What are the main challenges or barriers you could think of? What would help mitigate these?
- Heat networks (also known as district heating) supply heat from a central source to consumers, via a network of underground pipes carrying hot water. Would you like your borough to install a heat network? Why or why not?
- Anything else you’d like to share on this topic?
This discussion is co-moderated by Emma and Isobel from City Hall's Infrastructure team.
The discussion ran from 09 January 2024 - 18 February 2024
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Community Member 2 years agoIt feels like development of these ideas and putting them into practice has been quite slow across the UK. Local Heating Networks make sense in the same way as other collective approaches such as car sharing, renting out tools/appliances...
Show full commentIt feels like development of these ideas and putting them into practice has been quite slow across the UK. Local Heating Networks make sense in the same way as other collective approaches such as car sharing, renting out tools/appliances rather than everyone having their own boiler etc. Also as many people live in flats and homes with limited space there could be benefits in having centralised infrastructure. My only reservation is that any centralised system would need to be really reliable and controllable.
Ground source heat pumps seem to offer benefits over air source as you dont have a fan blasting out freezing air into your garden/balcony. As the roads are frequently dug up for utilities - could this be an option for installing local heat pumps at a useful depth.
Due to climate change we face the challenge of hotter summers so as well as thinking about heating our homes we also need ways to cool them down but in a low carbon way.
Show less of commentTessaprit
Community Member 2 years agoThe fan from the heat pump does blow out air but it is not freezing in my experience. You are not aware of it in the winter as you tend not to be outside, although I was outside yesterday when the temp was 2 degrees and the air from the...
Show full commentThe fan from the heat pump does blow out air but it is not freezing in my experience. You are not aware of it in the winter as you tend not to be outside, although I was outside yesterday when the temp was 2 degrees and the air from the heat pump was warmer than the air temp. In the summer you only use the heat pump for hot water to heat your hot water tank and in my experience on a hot day it’s quite nice to have some cooler air from the fan once a day.
Show less of commentMicrobe
Community Member 2 years agoNet Zero is not completely possible to reach as we know from discourse and opinion both scientific and public that oil and gas will still be needed into the future for machinery, lubrication, motability and much else in the manufacturing...
Show full commentNet Zero is not completely possible to reach as we know from discourse and opinion both scientific and public that oil and gas will still be needed into the future for machinery, lubrication, motability and much else in the manufacturing and industrial industries. Green ethics within the public and domestic environments is, of course, to be welcomed so long as the UK as a nation isn't subject to foreign regimes for input and supply of energy as hitherto the UK has been and remains, for example, to the Chinese and French in the building of our new nuclear power electricity infrastructure, or that any residual oil drilled and needed, which it will be whatever we like to think otherwise, isn't given over to foreign investment and licensing which allows foreign multinationals control over UK's energy as is the case today.
Show less of commentCedders
Community Member 2 years agoNet zero carbon emissions has to be possible, because until we attain it temperatures keep going up! The Climate Change Committee describes how it can be done for the UK, and the IEA for the world. There are 'hard to abate' sectors, like...
Show full commentNet zero carbon emissions has to be possible, because until we attain it temperatures keep going up! The Climate Change Committee describes how it can be done for the UK, and the IEA for the world. There are 'hard to abate' sectors, like shipping and aviation and concrete, but the CCC describes the technologies for making a warm and healthy home. We have a long way to catch up with Scandinavia on heat pumps, but it could all be done with local installers.
Show less of commentMicrobe
Community Member 2 years agoEven while 'little Britain' manages (perhaps) to reach Net Zero in the stipulated time what of the rest of the world especially those emerging nations determined to drag themselves out of the Third World and competitise themselves in the...
Show full commentEven while 'little Britain' manages (perhaps) to reach Net Zero in the stipulated time what of the rest of the world especially those emerging nations determined to drag themselves out of the Third World and competitise themselves in the trade markets where Net Zero will be far from their desires and even ability to meet?
Show less of commentChazKinnear
Community Member 2 years agoThe first things I did when I moved into my top-floor flat was to double the insulation in the loft and replace all of the lights with energy efficient ones. Technology is rapidly improving and costs are falling, however the up-front...
Show full commentThe first things I did when I moved into my top-floor flat was to double the insulation in the loft and replace all of the lights with energy efficient ones. Technology is rapidly improving and costs are falling, however the up-front capital costs of energy efficient heating systems (e.g. solar panels, batteries and, most expensive of all, air-source heat pumps) is still prohibitively high - even with a grant. The other major issue for flat dwellers is that there is typically not the required space for newer technologies, and many of flats will have covenants preventing the siting of air-source heat pumps on the outside walls. I personally think that the biggest savings can be made cheaply by improving insulation.
Show less of commentTessaprit
Community Member 2 years agoDistrict heat systems would be best for flats. If you’re interested Leeds City Council have installed these kind of heating systems and tenants are already saving huge amounts on their energy bills
oliverg8sr
Community Member 2 years agoI'm keen to act but am really concerned about the technical competence of potential advisers and installers which in my experience in this country is very low - so whatever you decide to do please address this otherwise it will ptobably go...
Show full commentI'm keen to act but am really concerned about the technical competence of potential advisers and installers which in my experience in this country is very low - so whatever you decide to do please address this otherwise it will ptobably go horribly wrong
Show less of commentMicrobe
Community Member 2 years ago'Cowboys' comes to mind. Where would infrastructure innovation be without cowboys muscling in to make a fast easy buck?
hestonlad
Community Member 2 years agoVery much agree. Who is out there that I could trust to develop a coordinated plan for a phased upgrade to external wall insulation. improved roof insulation, increased radiator capacity and heat pumps ? And where are the tradesmen to do...
Show full commentVery much agree. Who is out there that I could trust to develop a coordinated plan for a phased upgrade to external wall insulation. improved roof insulation, increased radiator capacity and heat pumps ? And where are the tradesmen to do the work and provide guarantees ?
Show less of commentrichardt135
Community Member 2 years agoIt depends where you are. In SE London (Greenwich), I’ve recently contacted SELCE which is a community organisation offering retrofit advice. A directory of reputable organisations across London would be useful.
Tessaprit
Community Member 2 years agoThey are out there.
Show full commentIf you want to do it privately you need to do your research and get recommendations as you would with any major works.
We have had solar panels, solar battery, insulation, heat pump installed over time and all the...
They are out there.
Show less of commentIf you want to do it privately you need to do your research and get recommendations as you would with any major works.
We have had solar panels, solar battery, insulation, heat pump installed over time and all the companies and their work and workmen has been exemplary
JackieB
Community Member 2 years agoWe need to get moving on this. Thank you for initiating this survey
Show full commentWe need to get moving on this. Thank you for initiating this survey
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 2 years agoThe GLA and Mayor should please include action on the old blocks of flats that are hard to heat, too expensive to insulate. If they are all to be demolished, where will the tenants or leaseholders go? Where is the social housing newbuild...
Show full commentThe GLA and Mayor should please include action on the old blocks of flats that are hard to heat, too expensive to insulate. If they are all to be demolished, where will the tenants or leaseholders go? Where is the social housing newbuild for rehousing them? If they are not to be demolished, or not soon, how will the residents of these blocks be enabled to reduce their heating and cooling costs? Or are they to be abandoned to cold and damp, and to death by heatstroke in the summers?
Is the Mayor talking to London HAs about their plans for these properties? If not, why not?
Show less of commentIsobel City Hall
Official Representative 2 years agoHi Jackie B,
Thank you for this feedback and for completing the survey, happy to hear this is an area of interest to you.
Isobel, City Hall