From Andy Ford, London, UK
Cedric Lynch writes that he would need planning permission to use his heat pump for cooling (Letters, 19 January). Heat pumps are a central part of the UK government's plan, with predictions of 20 million being installed by 2050. Progress has been stalled by the introduction of the scientifically hard to grasp concept of “renewable heat” in response to the EU directive on heating and cooling.
The UK decided that cooling was bad and to be discouraged. A better approach has been demonstrated in the Netherlands over many years: use large heat pumps to cool buildings in summer, store the heat in the ground until winter and then deliver it back to the building.
A few such schemes are appearing in the UK. We at London South Bank University have recently completed an award-winning demonstration system with the support of InnovateUK. To drive down the cost of heat pumps, we need many more. We need appropriate cooling to be recognised as a benefit. City temperatures are rising. As we struggle to decarbonise heat, let's find ways to solve two problems at once.
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