Heat pumps for new builds are fast becoming the default choice as Building Regulations tighten and the Future Homes Standard approaches. Here's what developers and self builders need to know about choosing the right system, designing it properly, and how Alto Energy can help.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has changed. From 21 July 2026, eligible off-gas homes in England and Wales heated by oil or LPG could receive a £9,000 grant towards an air source or ground source heat pump. Discover who qualifies, what the changes mean, and how Alto Energy can help homeowners and installers navigate the process.
Can an air source heat pump cool a house? Yes, some systems can provide cooling as well as heating. However, for most UK homes, cooling with an air source heat pump introduces unnecessary complexity, including condensation risks, additional equipment and installation compromises. In this blog post, we explain how heat pump cooling works, why we recommend against it, and the alternative that usually delivers better comfort and value.
Alto Energy has partnered with Mitsubishi Electric as its official MCS umbrella scheme provider. Find out what the partnership means for heat pump installers, why MCS compliance matters more than ever, and how Alto Energy supports installers from design through to certification.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has changed. From 21 July 2026, eligible off-gas homes in England and Wales heated by oil or LPG could receive a £9,000 grant towards an air source or ground source heat pump. Discover who qualifies, what the changes mean, and how Alto Energy can help homeowners and installers navigate the process.
Heat pump sales across Europe rose 17% in early 2026, driven by higher energy prices and supply disruptions. France, Germany and Poland saw strong growth, while Austria declined after subsidy cuts. Around 575,000 units were sold, highlighting a growing shift toward efficient, low-carbon heating solutions despite uneven policy support.
The UK heat pump market surged in 2025, with 125,037 units sold, a 27% increase on 2024. For installers, this growth brings huge opportunity, but also the challenge of meeting rising demand for skilled professionals. Free training and MCS umbrella schemes from Alto Energy give engineers the tools and confidence to enter the low-carbon heating market, close skill gaps, and access government incentives.
The Government has launched its £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, aiming to cut energy bills and lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030 through heat pumps, solar panels, batteries, and insulation. The plan supports all households, with targeted interventions for low-income families, social housing upgrades, and new protections for renters, while providing long-term certainty for the heat pump industry through schemes like the extended Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Climate change is already reshaping life in the UK, and home heating is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions. This article explains why heat pumps are central to tackling climate change in homes, drawing on BBC reporting and government data to show how low-carbon heating can significantly reduce emissions, improve air quality, and support the UK’s net zero goals.
Recent research led by the University of Oxford confirms what experienced installers already know: heat pumps work exceptionally well when they are properly designed, installed, and commissioned. The findings underline why heat pump training is critical, showing that performance issues are caused by poor design and installation, not the technology itself.
Recent MCS investigations highlight the risks when shortcuts are taken. Some certified installers signed off on work they didn’t complete, submitting government funding claims on behalf of non-certified companies. This puts both homeowners and installers at risk, damages the reputation of heat pumps, and can lead to rejected applications or unsafe systems.
The UK’s heating industry is approaching a critical turning point. As demand for air source heat pumps and renewable heating grows, the sector faces a major shortage of skilled plumbers and heating engineers. With many tradespeople nearing retirement and too few new entrants joining the field, this skills gap threatens to slow the nation’s low-carbon transition. But with the right investment in training, apprenticeships, and green technology, the industry has a chance to turn this challenge into an opportunity for lasting change.
Heat pumps offer an efficient, low-carbon way to heat homes — but only when they’re properly designed. This article explores how poor system design can undermine performance and why partnering with a specialist like Alto Energy ensures every installation delivers comfort, reliability, and long-term efficiency.
