Raising product standards for space heating
This consultation is open for responses
Respond to this consultationSummary
DESNZ proposes raising minimum efficiency standards for heat pumps, introducing efficiency standards for hybrid heat pumps, and removing lower-performing gas boilers from the market through updated ecodesign regulations. The consultation also proposes simplifying energy labels from the current A to A+++ scale to a clearer A-G scale. These are product standards that affect heating equipment manufacturing and retail, not electricity system operation.
Why it matters
This is redistributive policy that treats the symptoms of expensive energy rather than addressing supply constraints or market structure. The proposals may marginally increase heat pump deployment by removing lower-efficiency alternatives, but do not address the fundamental barriers of high electricity prices or grid connection costs that limit electrification of heat.
Key facts
- •First-ever minimum efficiency standards proposed for hybrid heat pumps
- •Energy label scale simplified from A-A+++ to A-G
- •Tolerances for verification testing to be tightened
- •Lower-performing fossil fuel heating products to be removed from market
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
This consultation seeks views on proposals to improve product standards by updating ecodesign and energy labelling legislation for space and combination heaters. The consultation sets out: * proposals to enable the electrification of heat, including by raising minimum efficient standards for heat pumps and introducing such standards for hybrid heat pumps for the first time. * proposals to improve the efficiency of fossil fuel heating systems. This includes proposals to remove some lower performing products from the market and improve interoperability of different manufacturers’ products. These proposals build on those set out in the previous government’s Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency consultation and the response, published in March this year. * proposals to improve product labelling standards to ensure energy labels best inform consumer choices. This involves reforming the current space heating energy efficiency scale, under which most products achieve a rating of between A and A+++, to a simpler A – G scale. * proposals aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the regulations, including by tightening the tolerances accepted under verification testing, revising product efficiency benchmarks, and proposing pragmatic changes to the requirements for third party testing, to allow recognition of testing completed in other jurisdictions, such as the EU. These proposals aim to increase the efficiency of space heaters, thereby both reducing carbon emissions and consumer bills, along with driving efficiency within the space heater market and increasing consumer clarity when choosing products. Read the [consultation documents on GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/raising-product-standards-for-space-heating), before responding to this survey.