Natural Gas Boiler Phase Out, What's Going On?

The UK government has proposed a ban on gas boilers by 2025. The proposal is to replace natural gas for heating with other forms of energy such as electric, air source and heat pumps. This change will be made to reduce emissions and combat climate change. While this sounds like a good idea, many people disagree with the plan. They say that it’s too soon for the government to make decisions about how they heat their homes without asking first if they even want these changes or not.

Why do we need a gas boiler ban?

In 1970 – the year Glastonbury Festival was conceived, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty became effective – simply 33% of UK homes had focal warming. However, by 1990 this had soared to 80%.

However, as per the Committee on Climate Change, warming is liable for close to 33% of the UK’s ozone harming substance outflows.

As gas and oil are petroleum products, the two discharge carbon dioxide (CO2) – an ‘ozone-depleting substance’s that adds to environmental change. Most CO2 outflows come from consuming petroleum products, with warming adding to around 30% of the UK’s complete outflows.

It’s not exclusively a UK issue, be that as it may. Gas is broadly used across the world to heat to homes.

How can a gas boiler ban help?

The UK and other developed countries majorly rely on fossil fuels for transport, energy and heating. These contribute to a larger percentage of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. By using alternative sources of heating, the Carbon II dioxide produced will be reduced.

The carbon dioxide gas produced by burning fossil fuels causes global warming, a greenhouse gas responsible for environmental disasters like floods, droughts, and other natural more frequently happening disasters.

By 2050, the UK government wants to achieve net zero emissions. To achieve this, they plan on having a third of all renewable electricity from offshore wind and solar energy. By phasing out gas boilers in new homes by 2025, it will help us get closer to achieving zero emissions.

Are gas boilers being phased out in the UK?

The UK Government has proposed to ban all gas boilers by 2025. The proposal is that all homes in the UK should have renewable forms of heating, such as heat pumps or electricity. This change will be made to reduce emissions and combat climate change.

Although there are some benefits from a switch away from fossil fuels like reducing greenhouse gases which cause global warming, there are also some significant disadvantages to the new plans, for example, if people are not living in areas with renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, then they would have no form of heating at all during winter months.

Today 95% of UK homes are half warmed by gas or oil-fired boilers. This statistic shows that most houses use natural gas, so it impacts our environment, which needs to change. Although not everyone agrees with how quickly these changes should be made, many agree that something has to be done about climate change before irreversible damage is already caused.

How does a ban or phase-out work?

The Committee on Climate Change suggests that we aim for an initial reduction of 12% in CO²emissions across the UK economy over ten years. Once the carbon dioxide levels have been curbed, each successive year’s target should be more ambitious than before.

Why has the government settled for heat pumps?

A heat pump (air source and ground source) is another method for warming our homes – but it’s a significantly more eco-friendly and productive alternative. It works by taking warmth from the outside air (or water) and transferring it inside your home, where only heating systems can recreate this heating as required.

Every kWh of used to power an electric heater costs around £0.14p in expenses; however, with a heat pump, you’ll spend just about half that amount on running one or two devices through winter months.

What will the domestic gas boiler ban in 2025 mean for me?

This “ban” on gas boilers only applies to homes that will be built from 2025 onwards and not current housing stock..

To ensure a complete phase-out of the gas boiler, the government encourages homeowners to choose alternatives.

This is, as of now, occurring with plans like the Renewable Heat Incentive. A Government-supported incentive out to property holders who purchase a sustainable warming framework, similar to a biomass or air to water heat system.