Heat Pumps and Carbon Emissions
Switching from a gas boiler to an air source heat pump can reduce your home heating carbon emissions by 60–80% when powered by the UK grid — and potentially to near-zero with renewable electricity.
The Numbers
An average gas boiler emits around 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per year for heating. An equivalent heat pump on the UK grid emits around 0.5–1 tonne. That's a reduction of 1.5–2 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The Grid Factor
As the UK electricity grid gets greener (more wind, solar, nuclear), the carbon advantage of heat pumps increases. By 2030, the grid is projected to be substantially lower carbon than today.
What About the Manufacturing Emissions?
Heat pumps do have higher embodied carbon than gas boilers in manufacturing. However, this is typically offset within 2–3 years of operation.
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