BEUC NEWS - 14 February 2025

A new report published by BEUC today reveals that heat pumps are no longer a technology of the future: they are already powering homes across Europe and consumers are broadly happy with them.

The report, ‘What’s it like to live with a heat pump? The real consumer story,’ is based on consumer testimonials from across the continent and cuts through the noise to reveal what is the real lived experience of consumers with a heat pump.

Misleading information in the media and online has led to a distorted and false perception of heat pumps but it is the consumer experience that can tell us the truth about this technology.

The report carried out interviews with heat pump owners in the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands and Spain to understand more about the benefits heat pumps can bring to people’s homes and what policymakers can learn from their experience.

After all, the full potential of the heat pump is yet to be realised and making it a more widely-used heating technology must be done in a way that benefits consumers.

The main takeaways of the report conclude that: 

1. Most people are very happy with their heat pumps, reporting that their thermal comfort has increased

2. Cooling is a big advantage during the warmer months

3. While cost savings are important, more efforts are needed to make heat pumps more cost-competitive compared to gas boilers

4. Heat pump users tend to become more conscious of their energy consumption

5. Although the installation process went smoothly, detailed advice on the suitability of the heat pump and housing insulation measures was often lacking

6. Many ‘teething issues’ highlight the importance of post-installation service and maintenance.

To read the full report, click here.

Related reading

• Mystery shopping: Consumers’ experiences with heat pump installers and retailers - report.

• Introducing the Heat Pump Readiness Indicator – How to make Energy Performance Certificates ready for heat pumps: report.