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Learn the basics about air to water heat pumps, and gain deeper understanding about their costs, efficiency, and benefits.
Published at May 28, 2025
Planning permission just got easier for heat pumps. What does it mean for you?
For some households, outdated planning permission rules have made it hard to switch. But, for thousands of households looking to switch to a heat pump in 2025, those long, unnecessary waits for planning approvals are set to be a thing of the past with changes to the boundary rule as part of the Warm Homes Plan agenda.
Published at Feb 5, 2025
Can a heat pump replace a boiler?
With rising the cost of living and climate concerns, you may be considering a heat pump as a sustainable alternative to a boiler. Unlike boilers that burn fuel, heat pumps transfer heat, providing space and water heating with greater energy efficiency.
Published at Jan 24, 2025
Are heat pumps energy efficient heaters?
Heat pumps are a highly efficient and eco-friendly heating and cooling solution, offering significant energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. Unlike traditional systems that generate heat, heat pumps transfer it, achieving efficiency rates over 400%. This efficiency is amplified when powered by renewable energy sources, making heat pumps ideal for homeowners looking to reduce their environmental impact and save substantially on their energy bills.
Published at Jan 24, 2025
What is the best refrigerant for a heat pump?
Heat pumps are an efficient way to heat your home. However, the refrigerant inside your heat pump significantly affects its performance and environmental impact. Refrigerants are the unsung heroes, enabling heat pumps to efficiently transfer heat by cycling through evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. Choosing a heat pump with the right refrigerant enhances its efficiency and reduces your carbon footprint.
Published at Jan 24, 2025
Do heat pumps use refrigerant?
Refrigerant is at the core of heat pump functionality; it is the vital substance that facilitates the heat transfer process that makes heat pumps so efficient. By understanding refrigerants and their role in heat pumps, you can make more informed and sustainable energy choices.
Published at Dec 27, 2024
Can a heat pump improve my home’s efficiency?
As the cost of living rises and environmental concerns grow, improving home energy efficiency is more important than ever. Heat pumps offer an efficient solution for heating and cooling your home, helping lower both utility bills and carbon emissions. Unlike traditional heating systems that produce heat, heat pumps transfer existing heat, making them significantly more efficient.
Published at Dec 17, 2024
How much maintenance does an air source heat pump need?
Maintaining your air source heat pump is key to maximising its efficiency, extending its lifespan, and avoiding costly repairs. This eco-friendly system draws outdoor air to heat or cool your home, offering sustainable comfort year-round. With regular care, you can ensure peak performance and long-term reliability.
Published at Dec 17, 2024
When is a heat pump most efficient?
Heat pumps provide an innovative, efficient way to heat your home by transferring heat instead of generating it. This approach makes them environmentally friendly and cost-effective compared to traditional heating systems. While they are always highly efficient, their performance can fluctuate with outdoor temperatures.
News
Published at Jun 3, 2025
Green child of mine: almost half of young people urge adults to make more sustainable choices every week
84% of young people believe their actions matter when it comes to protecting the planet, with 70% believing they will play a central role in tackling climate change45% are encouraging adults to make more sustainable choices once or more a week and 37% are calling on Government to act Heating of the future: 37% of adults expect heat pumps to be commonplace in homes within the decade61% believe they can influence adults to make more sustainable choices London, 4th June 2025. Ahead of World Environment Day tomorrow, clean energy-tech champion, Aira, unveils new data that explores young people’s attitudes towards sustainability and a cleaner world, while raising awareness of clean heat solutions. New research, conducted amongst more than 1,500 adults and children aged 15 and under across the UK, reveals that 84% of young people believe their actions matter when it comes to protecting the planet and 70% believe they will play a central role in tackling climate change. As a rally cry, 45% are encouraging adults to make more sustainable choices once or more a week and 37% are calling on Government to take action to help the planet. Within this, accessibility and affordability are the main concerns for young people, with 57% calling for sustainable products to cost less and 51% asking for sustainable home heating to be cheaper. Young people are already taking the lead on driving climate action, with 80% of young people recycling, 53% actively turning off the lights and 42% using less water. In fact, young people are stepping up as educators in their own lives, with 61% saying they can influence adults to make more planet friendly choices.By contrast, 33% of UK adults are feeling anxious about climate change, with one in five (20%) expressing frustration at the lack of systemic action. This reality highlights a need for more support and clarity on the journey to a cleaner future. Looking forward, more than half of adults recognise that clean energy-tech solutions, such as solar panels (51%) and heat pumps (37%) will be commonplace in homes over the decade but cite cost (45%) as the main barrier to heat pump adoption. Pamela Brown, Aira’s Consumer Expert, commented: “Children already believe in climate change, are eager to act, and want to influence their households to do so. While adults know about the solutions, too many still feel stuck. Despite the concern about cost, our data shows that 31% of adults would be motivated to switch to a heat pump if they delivered lower long-term energy bills, exposing how many people are not yet aware that heat pumps already do exactly this - with Aira it’s 25%. Now is the time for change, with more education, inspiration and collective action. We owe it to young people – and ourselves – to create a cleaner future.” The findings form the basis of the Cleaner Future campaign, in which Aira has collaborated with sustainable artist, Emily Birch to visualise a cleaner future through the creative minds of young people. Emily guided children through a creative workshop to draw their own interpretations of a world without pollution, which was then used to create a hopeful image that represents a new era of eco-positivity and opportunity, driven by the generation of tomorrow. Gemma Bird, Aira ambassador and author, columnist and influencer ‘Money Mum’, added: “I’m so inspired by the creativity that the young people demonstrated during the workshop. They are super switched on and have ambitious ideas about creating a cleaner future. Seeing my own children participate in this campaign was an important reminder as to why talking openly about sustainability is so important. As a money expert, I’m always looking at ways to help people save money and while there is often a perception that living sustainably costs more, there are clean solutions, like heat pumps, that save people money on their bills too. Aira’s research shows that there’s work to be done to educate ourselves more and to match young people’s enthusiasm with action. It’s time to listen to the kids!”In a bid to empower adults to support younger people’s growing curiosity, Aira today launches its own Cleaner Future Workbook. Inspired by the workshop and research results, which reveal half (50%) of young people are already doing independent learning on climate change at least once a week, this workbook is designed to spark engaging conversations and curiosity. Download the Cleaner Future Workbook hereENDS Notes to editors For more information, please contact: press@airahome.com Survey MethodologyAn online survey was conducted by Walr among 1,002 UK adults and 505 children aged 7-15. Adults were grouped based on whether they were Eco-Identified, Moderately Engaged, or Low-Identity / Disengaged*. Minimum quotas have been applied to major cities. Fieldwork took place between Wednesday 30th April - Wednesday 7th May 2025. Data has been collected adhering to MRS (Market Research Society) and ESOMAR guidelines to ensure ethical and accurate data collection. * Coding assessing sustainability engagement:Eco-Identified - Strongly identify with environmental values and see it as part of who they are.Coding criteria (any of the following):Strongly agree/agree with: “Being environmentally conscious is an important part of who I am”Strongly agree/agree with: “I sometimes think about how my actions affect the environment”Disagree/strongly disagree with: “Being environmentally conscious is not an important part of who I am”Moderately Engaged - Think about their impact, but don’t strongly connect it to identity.Coding criteria (any of the following):Neither agree nor disagree on all three statementsMix of agree and neutral responses (e.g. Agree with “I sometimes think…” but neutral on identity statements)Agree with both identity statements (e.g. agree that it’s important and agree that it’s not important → shows ambivalence)Low-Identity / Disengaged - Don’t feel a personal connection to environmental action or identity.Coding criteria (any of the following):Disagree/strongly disagree with: “Being environmentally conscious is an important part of who I am”Agree/strongly agree with: “Being environmentally conscious is not an important part of who I am”Disagree/strongly disagree with: “I sometimes think about how my actions affect the environment”About AiraAira is one of Europe’s leading direct-to-consumer clean energy-tech players. Aira accelerates the electrification of residential heating with intelligent clean energy-tech to help consumers reduce increasingly volatile energy bills and enable the net zero transition. With Aira, consumers across Europe have a go-to provider for complete home energy-saving solutions, with intelligent heat pumps at the heart.Aira’s vertically integrated model, combined with a consumer-centric monthly payment plan that requires no upfront cost, delivers best-in-class consumer economics — making clean energy not only more accessible, but more affordable. By significantly reducing household energy bills, Aira empowers people to take control of their energy use, save money, and contribute to a cleaner future. Aira’s mission is to empower people to join the clean energy revolution, one home at a time. Founded in Stockholm, Sweden, by Vargas Holding and backed by climate and innovation investors including Altor, the Burda family, Collaborative Fund, Creades, Kinnevik, Lingotto, Nesta Impact Investments, Statkraft Ventures, and Temasek. https://airahome.com/en-gb
Published at May 28, 2025
Aira marks first year of its green skills training academy with Toby Perkins MP
Green skills academy has trained over 300 people and continues to develop partnerships with local institutions.The Aira Academy facilitates nationwide training and certifications for air source heat pump (ASHP) installation and maintenance. Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield and Staveley) attended the anniversary to mark the occasion, meeting apprentices and engineers to hear how heat pumps will reduce energy bills and carbon emissions for local residents.In addition to training, the Hub serves households from York to Leicester, helping more people to switch to clean heat. The facility has already scooped RNN Group’s Innovator of the Year Award.Sheffield, UK – May 28, 2025. Toby Perkins MP attended the green skills academy to mark the occasion, meeting Aira’s first cohort of apprentices, who joined the Academy in September 2024, alongside the Aira training team, trainees and established clean energy experts. The training facility is part of Aira’s £300 million investment in the UK and since launch, has trained over 300 Aira employees.The Academy’s innovative training model was recently honoured by the RNN Group for its cutting-edge approach to climate-friendly education. With the introduction of a new LCL-accredited certification, the centre now offers industry-recognised qualifications in sustainable heating, ensuring graduates leave fully equipped to meet the UK’s growing demand for clean, low-carbon heating solutions.The UK Government says that heat pumps will play a crucial role in meeting the country’s net zero targets and has targeted 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. According to the Heat Pump Association, the UK will need 41,000 heat pump installers by 2028 and there currently 5,000 MCS-certified installers, highlighting the importance the Aira Academy as a key enabler to this much-needed transition. In the UK, there are over 150,000 gas safe engineers and the Academy offers a clear pathway for these experienced engineers to transition into a career in renewable energy. In 2024, the UK experienced a significant surge in heat pump adoption, with sales of heat pumps reaching around 100,000 units, marking a 63% increase compared to the previous year. As one of the UK’s leading heat pump installers and service providers, Aira is rapidly scaling with a nationwide network of hubs serving millions of homes across England and Scotland. During the event, Toby Perkins MP spoke with the Aira team about the critical role heat pumps play in reducing carbon emissions and lowering household energy bills by over £500 a year for homes across the country.Mr Perkins visit coincides with a significant planning policy change, taking effect from May 29, which makes it easier to install air source heat pumps in England without the need for planning permission. To accelerate the transition and future proof homes across England and Wales, the Government offers a £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to switch from a gas boiler to a heat pump. Sarah Stevens, Aira UK Academy Manager comments: "Building this training centre from the ground up over the past year has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. We’re not just running courses; we’re shaping the future of the heating industry. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help both apprentices and experienced heat engineers gain the qualifications they need for a high-skill, future-proof career, one that makes a real difference to people’s homes and to the planet.An apprenticeship with Aira is a smart, debt-free route into the booming renewables sector. We want people who are hands-on, driven, and genuinely passionate about climate action and low-carbon innovation. This is more than just a job—it's a mission. And we’re proud to be leading that movement."Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield and Staveley), Chair of the Environment Audit Committee said: "Aira is making a major contribution to the Yorkshire region—not just through investment in its Skills Academy, but by creating high-quality jobs that are accelerating the rollout of low-carbon heat pumps and strengthening our national energy security. Having a facility like this in our community is a huge asset and it puts North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy transition.The recent funding boost for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, along with this month’s changes to permitted development rights, removing the need for planning permission to install heat pumps, show that the government is serious about backing this sector. It’s an exciting time for heat pump technology in the UK, and I look forward to seeing Aira continue to lead the way." – ENDS – About AiraAira is one of Europe’s leading direct-to-consumer clean energy-tech players. Aira accelerates the electrification of residential heating with intelligent clean energy-tech to help consumers reduce increasingly volatile energy bills and enable the net zero transition. With Aira, consumers across Europe have a go-to provider for complete home energy-saving solutions, with intelligent heat pumps at the heart. Aira’s vertically integrated model, combined with a consumer-centric monthly payment plan that requires no upfront cost, delivers best-in-class consumer economics — making clean energy not only more accessible, but more affordable. By significantly reducing household energy bills, Aira empowers people to take control of their energy use, save money, and contribute to a cleaner future. Aira’s mission is to empower people to join the clean energy revolution, one home at a time. Founded in Stockholm, Sweden, by Vargas Holding and backed by climate and innovation investors including Altor, the Burda family, Collaborative Fund, Creades, Kinnevik, Lingotto, Nesta Impact Investments, Statkraft Ventures, and Temasek. https://www.airahome.com/en-gb
Published at May 13, 2025
Aira welcomes end to planning delays for heat pumps – a major win for homehowners
The UK government has scrapped the need for planning permission for heat pump installations in densely populated areas, estimated to impact about 40% of customers, marking a major step forward in simplifying heat pump installations.1Aira, the Swedish clean energy-tech company, commissioned a Freedom of Information study revealing delays of up to 6 months for heat pump planning permission approval. As the industry continues to scale-up, Aira says the previous delay for homeowners and the bureaucratic burden on councils and heat pump installers was unsustainable – it welcomes the government initiative to scrap the planning red tape that is slowing the UK’s transition to low carbon heating. The UK Government says that heat pumps will play a crucial role in meeting the country’s net zero targets and has targeted 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. By switching to the intelligent Aira Heat Pump and clean electricity tariff, customers can save up to £550 on their energy bills, proving the value of this much-needed policy change.2London, UK – May 12, 2025. Aira, the clean energy-tech champion, welcomes the news that the UK government is to scrap the obligation for households to obtain planning permission for the installation of a new heat pump from 29 May which forms part of the government’s Warm Homes Plan. Key changes outlined include: Removing the rule that no air source heat pump can be fitted within one metre of the boundary of a property under permitted development. Increasing the maximum size of air source heat pump allowable under permitted development from 0.6 m3 to 1.5 m3. Doubling the number of air source heat pumps permitted, from one to two for detached dwelling houses, to allow cascade systems to benefit from the same rules as individual units. Allowing air-to-air heat pumps that can also provide a cooling function to benefit from the same permitted development rights as air to water heat pumps.There are 25 million boilers installed in households across the UK and the previous planning permission restrictions were preventing people from moving to cleaner, greener and more affordable heating solutions. Based on the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, it appears thousands of households in England and Wales were left waiting for up to 6 months to have their planning permission for an eco-friendly heat pump approved, which means they are prevented from saving money on heating bills. Figures obtained by Aira revealed the average waiting time for planning permission is currently 2 months, with residents in boroughs such as Westminster and Walsall having to delay their heat pump installation for up to 6 months while council planning officials work through their applications. The FOI data also found that council planning departments in Newport have experienced up to a 600% increase in applications for heat pumps to be installed in their local authority area, while Birmingham officials reported a 450% surge, demonstrating the growing demand for clean energy-tech solutions. The government has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028. In 2024, around 100,000 installations were completed, a record high for the nascent heat pump industry. The growth of the industry has been helped by subsidy schemes for households looking to install a heat pump, including England and Wales £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme and, in Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland £7,500 grant and £7,500 interest free loan. Daniel Sarefjord, Aira UK CEO said: "Today, up to half of all gas boiler installations are distressed purchases - consumers buying a new boiler to replace an old one that has broken down. These people won’t wait two to six months for planning permission because you can’t live without heating and hot water for that long. This absurd policy affected up to 40% of our customers, that’s why we have campaigned for years to reform permitted development rights and make it easier for homeowners to replace their fossil fuelled gas or oil boiler with an eco-friendly heat pump. “Residential heat pumps have come a very long way since permitted development rights were last reviewed. By removing outdated planning policy barriers, the government will help the industry to focus resources on installing more heat pumps, creating thousands of new roles within the green skills workforce across the country”. - Ends - For more information, please contact:Pamela Brown, Aira - pamela.brown@airahome.com Mark Hofman, The 10 Group - mark@the10group.com Elannah Boyce, The 10 Group - elannah.boyce@the10group.com Notes1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/560/made 2. £550 cost saving potential scenario calculation: The calculation compares heating costs for a boiler versus an air source heat pump system (ASHP). Energy-related costs encompass the initial hardware expense for either your boiler or an ASHP, along with maintenance costs over a 20-year period. This also includes an average yearly electricity consumption of 3,375 kWh with the ASHP system and 3,000 kWh allocated for your appliances, contrasted with a gas consumption of 15,000 kWh for heating and hot water.
Published at Feb 16, 2025
Bureaucratic red tape causes delays as heat pump grant process takes Scottish residents three months to navigate
Clean energy-tech company, Aira has called for greater transparency in the Home Energy Scotland's Grant & Loan (HESGL) application process Scottish Government failed to provide the average wait time for a HESGL application to be awarded for the installation of an air source heat pump, or report on any regional variancesAira reveals customers are taking on average three months to navigate the complex application processOnly 35% of Aira’s customer applications have been approved since May 2024Accelerating the HESGL application and financing process is critical to driving heat pump adoption and decreasing energy costs for homeowners, Aira arguesStirling, UK – February 16, 2025, 00:01 GMT. Aira, the Swedish clean energy-tech company has called for urgent reforms to Scotland's Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan application process, as hurdles slow down the transition to clean energy and prevent more people making significant savings on their heating costs.Despite a £7,500 government grant and a further £7,500 loan being available to households who make the switch to a heat pump, the complicated application process is significantly holding back uptake, Aira’s findings show. Many homeowners are being put off from applying due to the lengthy and complex process, including an online form equivalent to 38 pages long. Since May 2024, only 35% of Aira customers have had applications approved and on average, people are taking three months to navigate the complex process. The scheme currently awards just 14 grants per day, according to the Scottish government’s response to the Freedom of Information request made by Aira in August 2024, raising concerns about how realistic the Scottish Government’s target of 200,000 heat pumps annually by 2030 (1) — equivalent to over 750 installations per day – truly is.Aira is now calling for more information on the Home Energy Scotland scheme’s performance to be made public after the Scottish Government declined to share the average wait time against their 10-day commitment in the Freedom of Information request. Aira is urging the government to take three main courses of action:Conduct an independent audit to identify bottlenecks in the application process and establish clear expectations for consumers and businesses regarding the full grant process timeline. Publish details of how long the average customer journey takes from the initial submission of the application through to the grant being awarded.Publish monthly reports detailing the number of applications received and awarded through the HES Grant and Loan Scheme.Nicola Mahmood, Aira's Head of Scotland, stated, "These complicated processes and prolonged waits are both frustrating for people and businesses who are trying to grow the green workforce in Scotland. Aira’s mission is to make heat pumps an affordable and accessible solution for all, and the available grants play a key role in this, but the HES scheme is preventing people from taking advantage of electrifying their heating. These issues highlight a critical gap between the scale of Scotland’s net-zero ambitions and the capacity of the current grant and loan scheme. Simply put, the scheme is not fit for purpose in its current form and we’re not alone in calling for reform."Robin Parker, Nesta Scotland’s Sustainability Lead, said: “Getting a heat pump as part of a home heating upgrade should be as simple and straightforward as possible and the Scottish Government needs to keep working at making the process streamlined and supportive for homeowners. The Home Energy Scotland grant and loan scheme and the first-point-of-call independent advice service HES provides are critical to decarbonising the way we heat homes in Scotland, so it is really important that the service is easy for people to access and navigate. It is also essential that HES works for heat pump installers – they are on the front line of the clean energy transition and are leading the way on the path to net zero, so they need to have enough confidence in the scheme to promote it to their customers.”Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said, “I have so many constituents who are tearing their hair out because of the bureaucratic, slow and cumbersome HES Grant and Loan scheme. It is unfit for purpose and is slowing down what should be a rapid expansion in the market for heat pumps and other clean technologies. I have serious concerns about many aspects of the HES scheme from a painfully complicated advice and application process, to the often slow payment turnarounds for customers and installers. HES is currently a barrier rather than a boost to the home energy transition.” -ENDS-Notes to editor[1] Scottish Government: Heat in Buildings Strategy - achieving net zero emissions in Scotland's buildings The full freedom of information request and images from the Scotland hub launch event in September 2024 are available to download here (credit: Aira).The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme is administered by the Energy Saving Trust. According to the Home Energy Scotland website, the scheme provides grants and interest-free loans funded by the Scottish Government to help homeowners install clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures. FOI request detailThe FOI was requested and responded to under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs). An exemption was applied at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that the request was not dealt with under FOISA. The questions asked were as follows:How many Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan applications have been awarded for the installation of air source heat pumps since the launch of the scheme?What is the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for awarding an application for the installation of air source heat pumps from the receipt of an application to payment of the award (what is the timeline KPI)?What is the average wait time for a Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan application to be awarded for the installation of an air source heat pump?What are the Key Performance Indicators for assessing the application for the installation of air source heat pumps from the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme?What regional variations are there in timescales between the various Energy Efficiency Advice Centres processing the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme for the installation of air source heat pumps?What consultation with the heat pump industry did the government undertake before introducing the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme?