In early November, STEAMhouse was delighted to host and facilitate the Heat Pump Challenge.
This was a unique collaborative event whose purpose was to address the question: how might we enable a smooth transition from fossil fuels to low carbon clean heating in residential properties?
The Heat Pump Challenge brought together key stakeholders to develop and apply fresh thinking to the urgent need for widespread implementation of clean heat technologies. It was fitting that the all-day symposium took place just a few days before the opening of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, COP27.
Working together in a fertile atmosphere and facilitated by the STEAMhouse team, the diverse array of delegates worked through the barriers, opportunities and possibilities by readily adopting STEAM principles of interaction, collaboration, conversation and radical openness.
The context for the session was the government’s Future Homes Standard, which will be introduced in 2025 and which envisages that all new homes built thereafter will be gas-free.
Heat Pumps are a significant component in the future of home heating and the challenge is to ensure that adoption of the technology does not delay the construction of much-needed housing.
The Heat Pump Challenge at STEAMhouse drew an impressive array of delegates, who represented housebuilders, heating system manufacturers, local authorities and social housing providers.
Giving a keynote address on the day was Alex Lochead, Policy Advisor for the Clean Heat Directorate at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Speaking about the event afterwards, Mr Lochead said: “I thought it was a wonderful event and very uplifting to see so many key figures come together to discuss heat pumps.”
“I am interested to build on this with targeted follow-up sessions, which would be a valuable way of moving this important work forward.”
Mike Leonard, Visiting Professor in Manufacturing & Construction at Birmingham City University said: “We are proud to be a thought leader in this critical field, and BCU has already funded PhD research on the transition to clean heat starting in 2023.”
“This work is vitally important for the economy, for future generations, for housing and to ensure we meet our legally binding commitments on climate change.”
