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December 2024 

Perfect partners when you want to be toasty warm in your period property; and meet your net zero aspirations!

 Mitchell & Dickinson and Good Energy

To transition to a lower carbon future, we all need to move away from fossil fuel heating. The government has targets for 60% of UK homes to install a heat pump as part of their strategy to reach net zero by 2050. But lots of households are held back by the belief that a heat pump wouldn't work well in their property.  And period and listed homes may seem a tricky proposition here! But fear not - Mitchell and Dickinson and Good Energy, an established duo which shares the green mission and values in the climate change agenda, have joined forces for the 20%plusof British homeowners who live in a period property. Older properties tend to be harder to keep warm, quickly losing heat through the roof, walls and single-glazed windows and owners will find they need to run their boilers throughout the day and night to stay warm, leading to high energy bills. They may also lack faith in the idea of a heat pump adequately heating their homes.

Thankfully, insulation, draughtproofing and secondary glazing can be installed in period properties - even if they are listed - and these measures will help them to retain their heat, dramatically reduce energy costs, and get them ready for an efficient, low carbon heat pump.

Mitchell & Dickinson's insulation solutions, with Good Energy's heat pumps, represent a great example of a renewable heating system, to ensure maximum efficiency with minimum running costs.

Here we interview Mitchell and Dickinson and Good Energy on how! 

What insulation can be installed in period homes?

One of the best ways to prevent heat loss in a period home is to insulate it. The easiest and most cost-effective ways are loft insulation, secondary glazing and draught proofing. Wall insulation for period homes can be more expensive, due to them mostly being constructed with solid walls, but it can be something to look into once other areas are rectified. Mitchell & Dickinson uses eco-friendly sheep's wool to insulate floors and lofts. This natural material has a 60-year lifespan, is produced locally and uses little energy to manufacture. Insulation will improve your EPC rating, saving you money on your energy bills and improving your home's saleability too.

How can you reduce heat loss through single glazed windows?

Windows in period homes should be preserved to retain the character of the property. But they can be a huge source of heat loss which is why Mitchell & Dickinson invented secondary-glazing solution,CosyGlazing. Invisible from the outside and conforming to conservation requirements for Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings, CosyGlazing is made by our craftsmen using a lightweight plexiglass that's installed using a high-tech magnetic tape, colour matched to your property which together with draught proofing and specialist ironmongery makes the integrated CosyGlazing system.

Do I have to insulate my period home before getting a heat pump?

Insulating your home will help to keep it warmer and bring down your energy costs, whether it is heated by a boiler or a heat pump. For properties built in the last 30 years, people can often be surprised to find out that the level of insulation they already have is sufficient for a well-performing heat pump. However, as heat loss in period and listed properties can be so high, it makes sense to install insulation to your windows, floors and lofts before getting a heat pump, to ensure it is appropriately sized for your energy needs. Domestic heat pumps range from 4kW up to 16kW. Generally speaking, well insulated or smaller homes will need a smaller heat pump, and lesser insulated or larger homes will need a larger, more powerful heat pump.

Good Energy is the perfect partner for Mitchell and Dickinson conducting bespoke design consultations for all customers looking to get a heat pump. This calculates your property's heat loss and advises you on the size of heat pump and any additional radiators you will need to keep your home warm and comfortable.

Will I need planning permission to get a heat pump and are they well suited to all period properties?

Most modern homeowners will not need to get planning permission to get a heat pump installed. However, if you live in a listed property or in a conservation area, you will need to get listed building consent to install a heat pump. Understanding and advice around heat pumps in historic properties is changing. In July 2024,Historic England updated their guidance to encourage the installation of heat pumps on heritage properties for the first time. This is a significant intervention, with local councils often referring to their advice when considering planning applications. Good Energy can assist you with finding the evidence you need to make your application successful. According to theEnergy Saving TrustandEnergy Systems Catapult, heat pumps are well suited to all property types, including older properties. In anextensive studythey found that while it can be more of a challenge to design a heat pump system for older homes (pre 1945), those challenges can be overcome - and they have over150 examplesof well-performing heat pumps in period properties to prove it.

How to claim exclusive savings with Mitchell & Dickinson and GE

Simply completethis formon the Mitchell & Dickinson website.Add your unique partnership code from Good Energyat the end of the form to claim your£500 discount. Your discount will be recorded and deducted from your installation price.

Once your form is complete, a member of our team will be in touch to arrange a property survey.

For further information, please visithttps://mitchellanddickinson.co.uk/

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With Compliments

Taylor Alden
Email:media@tayloralden.co.uk