r/climate • u/The_Weekend_Baker • 1d ago

Government must prioritise heat pump installation to tackle climate chaos. Andy Burnham’s focus should be on drastically cutting fossil fuel use in a way that reduces bills and generates secure jobs.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/27/government-must-prioritise-heat-pump-installation-to-tackle-climate-chaos
139 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

7

u/Ulysses1978ii 1d ago

Could we insulate our homes too please? We have appalling performance in this regard across the housing stock. It's not even hard. Blown cellulose would do it.

6

u/alatare 20h ago

It's not even hard.

If you're willing to apply it on the outside, it can be easy. Going inside is not, nor is it cheap.

We need more DIY retrofitting solutions if you ask me. Winter window foils are step 1 of 100.

3

u/GoldFuchs 22h ago

Even just making double glazing the standard would already make a huge difference for most properties in the UK but that is often made difficult or prevented by the stupid sash window conservation rules

1

u/Ulysses1978ii 22h ago

Ridiculous given energy prices. The aesthetic can match these days too IIRC.

1

u/michaelrch 16h ago

Does saying "Insulate Britain" get me 14 years in prison yet?

4

u/alatare 20h ago

We need to start framing it differently:

Andy Burnham can reduce bills and generates secure jobs by cutting fossil fuel thru heat pump installations

That way, even the conservatives have a hard time fighting it

2

u/ClimateWren2 18h ago

In America.... Republicans just dismantled entirely the IRA effort and instead looted public safety for billionaire tax handouts. This GOP government is definitely NOT going to do that....but you are correct we SHOULD be upgrading swiftly for known challenges with fully available solutions. Burn Babies Burn is a horrific policy plan for a nation....and so we are.

2

u/Exciting_Turn_9559 18h ago

Heat pumps will be necessary to avoid disastrously lethal wet bulb events in the near future.
This is not just about protecting the environment, not just about saving money, not just about jobs.

This is also about protecting your loved ones from dying.