The Heat Pump Year

Total 2023 Carbon Footprint: 4.8 tonnes CO2e

Down 21% from 2022, 61% below 2019 baseline.

Breakthrough: Home Energy

First full year with heat pump showed dramatic results:

Heat Pump Impact

Moving from gas boiler to heat pump:

• Reduced home emissions by 1.2 tonnes
• Heating cost roughly equivalent (with renewable tariff)
• Comfort level maintained or improved
• Payback period: 8-10 years estimated

Key learning: Technology changes can deliver sustained reductions where behaviour change plateaus.

Travel Discipline

Maintained selective flying approach:

• Three flights (two conferences, one essential collaboration)
• Increased train travel for European destinations
• Virtual attendance for 90% of conferences

Unexpected Increase: Transport

Office days increased to 4/week (departmental requirement), raising commute emissions despite continued cycling.

Reflections

This year proved infrastructure changes matter as much as behaviour:

• Heat pump delivers ongoing reductions
• But requires upfront investment
• Policy support crucial (grants available)

2024 target: < 5 tonnes (maintain heat pump benefits, reduce flights further)