According to British Gas’s new Carbon Cruncher, by switching to a heat pump, the average UK home could lower emissions by the equivalent of 3.3 flights from London to New York
Based on the average UK household’s annual energy consumption of 12,000kWh (a 2-3 bedroom house currently using a mains gas heating system), British Gas’ new Carbon Cruncher calculates that switching to an air source heat pump could save 1,404 Kg of CO2 annually.
With the minimum expected lifespan of a new heat pump’s minimum expected lifespan being 20 years, a household can expect to save 28,080Kg of CO2.
That’s equivalent to the emissions savings of one person switching to a vegan diet for 80 years as well as the CO2-absorbing power of 29,933,280Kg of compost waste.
The CO2 savings are also equivalent to
- Over one year, the average household emission savings are equivalent to the amount of CO2 produced by driving 4,544 miles in a typical petrol car, or the same amount of CO2 absorbed by 64 trees.
- Over five years, the amount of carbon saved by a typical household switching to a heat pump is equivalent to 16.3 one-way economy flights from London to New York.
- Over a 10-year period, the emission savings from switching to a heat pump are equivalent to the amount of data centre emissions produced by 89,256 hours spent on online video calls.
The UK is aiming for 600,000 annual heat pump installations
If the UK reaches the 2028 installation target, the amount of CO2 saved would be equivalent to:
- The C02 savings would be equivalent to 2.4m Brits switching to a vegan diet for one year.
- It would offset the emissions caused by 7,262 Space X rocket launches.
- The emission savings are equivalent to the C02 produced by driving the circumference of the earth 109,482 times.
- It would require 226 square miles of rainforest to absorb the same amount of carbon.
- It would require 508,875 motorists switching from petrol to electric vehicles to save the same amount of C02 in one year.
- It is equivalent to the emissions caused by the production of 60,171 barrels of oil.
The Carbon Cruncher is free to use for UK residents seeking to better understand and reduce their carbon emissions.
