GN22-21 Low-carbon heating options for rural homes

Buildings account for nearly one fifth of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, which are largely the result of burning fossil fuels for heating. For the government to reach its ambitious net zero target by 2050, emissions from buildings need to be almost entirely eliminated. There are three main options for reducing emissions: behavioural change, which can drive down or alter patterns in energy consumption, energy efficiency measures, which save energy, and a transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon heating technologies.

Although it is clear that oil is on its way out, it isn’t always clear what heating type is best to replace it with. This guidance note will give an overview of the seven main heating types: air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers, infra-red, high heat retention storage heaters, electric radiators and LPG.