Across the three days of InstallerSHOW 2024, the biggest names in home heating gathered at the NEC in Birmingham to present their latest products and innovations. Passiv was there in force for the launch of the Passiv Smart Thermostat, a brand new smart controls solution developed specifically for heat pumps that can reduce energy bills by up to 30%. People from across the industry came to try out the new Passiv Thermostat and Programmer at the Passiv stand, from heat pump manufacturers and smart energy consultants to installers and housebuilders.
We had some fascinating discussions and gained valuable insights from the other attendees. The domestic heating space is going through a radical evolution as our energy system decarbonises, making it more important than ever to keep up to date with the direction the industry is moving. Here are our three key takeaways from this year’s InstallerSHOW.
1. Heat pumps are the centre of attention
It’s no surprise that everywhere you looked at InstallerSHOW heat pumps could be found. Despite the majority of attendees being boiler installers, most of the bigger stands had heat pumps front and centre. The focus of the major manufacturers was clear as you walked down the show’s central aisle. Everyone is gearing up for the increase in heat pump installations across the country to provide clean, efficient heating for new and existing homes. In particular, this year’s show saw the rise of R290 heat pumps – models using a new refrigerant that offer higher flow temperatures than traditional heat pumps. This is just one of the many innovations taking place with heat pumps. It’s an exciting time to be in low-carbon heating!
2. Heat pumps are cheap!
Our Sales & Strategy Director, Ian Rose, took to the stage alongside Bean Beanland, Director of the Heat Pump Federation, and Carl Arntzen, CEO of Worcester Bosch, to talk about how heat pumps can be more affordable than fossil fuel boilers. One of the biggest barriers to heat pump adoption is a combination of up-front and ongoing running costs. The panel discussed how a growing installer base and improved manufacturing are continually reducing the up-front costs, whilst the development of special time-of-use tariffs and efficiency-improving control solutions are helping to bring down running costs. It became clear throughout the show that heat pumps are becoming more and more affordable. For a well installed heat pump with a suitable control system, the payback time for installing a heat pump could be as little as three or four years.
3. Smart controls are the future
People are starting to notice and address the issues that traditional thermostats cause for heat pumps, as well as the difficulty of using standard manufacturer controls. Everybody, from manufacturers to installers, is looking for a solution to this problem. It’s clear that installing the right smart controls can significantly improve a householder’s heat pump experience and enable them to get the most out of their clean, efficient heating system.
At the Passiv stand, attendees were able to see the benefits that smart heat pump controls, like the Passiv Smart Thermostat, can bring to installers and householders. By dynamically controlling the flow temperature of the heat pump, it removes the need for installers to set weather compensation curves, making heat pump installation quicker and cheaper. With a full suite of in-home controls as well as app control and smart pre-heating, controlling heat pumps has never been easier. It also saves users up to 30% on their heating bill – through optimisation to time of use tariffs, solar generation and by increasing heat pump efficiency by 17%, as verified by the Energy Saving Trust.
We’ve had a great time talking to everyone at InstallerSHOW 2024. The heat pump space is getting bigger and more innovative year on year, and we’re excited to be a part of that growth. By improving customer experiences and reducing costs we can ensure that the heat pump rollout is as successful as possible, supporting the UK’s journey to net zero.
