Midland Heart’s Project 80, a programme to build and monitor homes that meet the upcoming Future Homes Standard, has produced results that contradict the idea that heat pumps will increase the load on the Grid.

The Future Homes Standard mandates a 75-80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to 2013 building regulations, and the12 homes at Eco Drive in Handsworth and a second site at Elvetham Road in Edgbaston feature all-electric homes, high insulation, heat recovery (MVHR) systems, air-source heat pumps, and solar panels (PV).

The homes achieved a significant reduction in emissions (up to 80 per cent) compared to homes built to 2013 standards, but most revelatory was that contrary to some concerns, the electrified homes used less energy at peak times than predicted, and the timing of peak usage varied, which reducing stress on the electricity grid.

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