Trust Electric Heating
In a proactive move towards more sustainable heating for UK homes and commercial buildings, Yorkshire manufacturer Trust Electric Heating met with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) at Whitehall to discuss the UK’s net zero heating landscape and the challenges faced in striving towards carbon neutrality in the electric heating world.
Key representatives from Trust, including Founder and Chief Engineer Scott Conor, met Matthew Aylott, Electrification of Heat Policy Lead, and Joseph Rogers, Electrification of Heat Policy Advisor at the DESNZ.
Following Scott’s input into a round table with the Sustainable Energy Association, where the government requested feedback on definitions of storage heaters, he was invited to Whitehall to share insights into the limitations of current heating specification policies and the government’s existing methodologies for calculating the energy performance of homes and commercial buildings.
The discussion focused on innovative heating technologies, and their potential to revolutionise the industry as it moves towards net zero. Scott also addressed some of the challenges posed by High Heat Retention (HHR) systems: the only electric options that are currently incentivised by the government as an alternative to heat pumps.
He further highlighted the urgency for revising current policies to help support domestic innovation and economic growth in the UK. “Existing policies for securing major contracts see funding diverted overseas, making it much more difficult for UK manufacturers to support the Government’s efforts to reach carbon neutrality,” Scott says.
He continues: “It was an honour to sit down with DESNZ members to discuss the road to net zero, the challenges we face, and share key industry updates on the ground.
“I believe government policy is lagging woefully behind industry innovation, and the current outdated policies mean forward-thinking companies like ours who are developing futureproof technologies to bolster net zero efforts are not getting the recognition or support they deserve.
“At the meeting, we emphasised the immediate carbon saving benefits of our electric radiators compared with heat pumps, using real-life case studies to highlight the role of more sustainable and cost-effective heating solutions in our collective journey toward decarbonisation. I hope that adding our voice to this important discussion will help make a tangible difference.”
Scott says the DESNZ team were receptive to Trust's views, acknowledging the need for policy adjustments to accommodate new sustainable and innovative heating solutions. Plans for broader definitions of alternative electric heating systems are currently underway, and upcoming winter tests will evaluate overall efficiency.
Founded in 2014 and based in Leeds, Trust Electric Heating is a market leader in the design, creation, and installation of sustainable heating products. Their range includes the patented NEOS electric radiator, which is 290% more conductive, 59.4% more effective, and lasts up to 250% longer than other electric radiators.