BEGINS the event blurb: “Join the debate as we hear divergent viewpoints on whether fabric improvements in buildings are necessary prior to heat pump installation. This could be a lively event!
“Some argue that a fabric-first approach in retrofit ahead of fitting a heat pump is no longer a priority in UK houses due to recent significant changes.
“Shifts in global energy security, improved heat pump performance and reduction of carbon intensity in UK electricity production are all contributory reasons to reconsider our approach. But does this stack up and what does it mean for householder comfort and costs?
“Countering this claim, advocates of fabric-first in retrofit before technology assert that improving insulation and airtightness is best practice; these upgrades ensure a higher-performing building that enables more accurate heat pump sizing, greater comfort and lower running costs. But is this really the case, and how far should we go in improving fabric ahead of heat pump installation?”