Let’s ensure heat pumps are available to all

WE are in a climate change crisis. Instead of promising tax cuts and cash handouts to ‘solve’ the energy price hikes, this is the opportunity for our democratically elected Government to put in place measures to address the climate crisis and potentially prevent such occurrences happening in the future – to the benefit of all consumers, especially moving forwards!

Ensure heat pumps are available to every household.

This could take the form of air source or ground source pumps at a cost (including installation) of £6,000£8,000 and £10,000-£18,000 respectively.

The cost should be met in full but could be met via a significant grant and interest-free loan.

The Government must use the energy companies to roll out the installations.

The deadline of 2050 for net zero carbon emissions in all new-build properties must be brought forward to 2022 immediately.

The cost of such measures is incidental in the total building cost, whereas retrofitting is expensive and delays the inevitable.

Government must reverse the ban on petrol/diesel vehicles by 2030 – it is unrealistic given the terraced houses and flats a significant proportion of the country live in.

Instead, invest in a proper infrastructure for producing synthetic fuels and providing a network of hydrogen (also a by-product of producing synthetic fuels) refilling stations.

Ban all hard plastics in food packaging.

There must be compulsory sustainability teaching in all schools and encouragement for all members of the population to receive education.

The general public has become complacent in its knowledge of where resources come from.

It has also become too easy to raise the thermostat rather than put extra clothes on, drive to the shop/school 500 metres away, order ready meals, etc.