Somerset Council - Helping Residents find out information on how they can improve their home’s energy efficiency
Somerset Council is working towards carbon neutrality by 2030 and signposting information to the community about how they can also decarbonise and upgrade their homes by improving energy efficiency. Homeowners are eligible for up to £7,500 grant (or £9,000 if using heating oil) to install heat pumps or other decarbonised energy efficient heating systems to replace the use of fossil fuels. But how to know if your home is suitable for a heat pump and where to find a local installer?
Thermly is helping Somerset residents to support heat pump adoption
Thermly (www.thermly.co.uk) is an independent green tech start up and Certified B Corporation focused on helping homeowners make informed, confident choices about green energy technologies like heat pumps, solar panels, and batteries. Thermly joined forces with Retrofit Somerset in 2024, in a long-term collaboration for the region, including Somerset Council, supporting the installation of heat pumps into homes.
Thermly is an FCA licenced credit broker and works in partnership with Somerset based Lendology CIC to provide finance options - subject to eligibility – that can help spread the upfront installation cost over time (www.thermly.co.uk/finance).
Matt’s heat pump installation
A recent example is Frome homeowner, Matt, who has had solar panels on his house since 2021. For him, going fully electric and adding an air source heat pump to his home system was the logical next step. Matt says:
“Working with Thermly was simple, straightforward and really handy. I wasn't sure which company to choose for installing an air source heat pump, but the Thermly platform helped me decide. I also really appreciated being connected to the relevant grants which saved me £7,500 on the installation.”
“Living with the heat pump has been a real revelation - our home is much warmer and more cosy. The radiators maintain a steady, pleasant warmth, and I really like our new hot water system. When we were on gas, turning on the tap would start the noisy boiler and I would see the exhaust plume, reminding me that we were burning gas for heat with all its negative implications. Now, we have a large water tank full of piping hot water and I don't feel guilty singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" in full in the shower!”
“Given the current state of the world and volatile energy prices, I am very relieved that we no longer need to use gas to heat our home. And the cherry on top is attaching our new heating system to our solar panels. Even in winter, on a sunny day, our solar panels cover most of the energy required to keep our home warm. So not only have we got our home off fossil fuels; we are also heating it for free once we have paid off the panels.”
I feel happy that our home is well set up for some of the challenges that lie ahead – to me this feels like a much better investment than a "high" interest ISA.”
Working with Thermly in your parish
Thermly – a member of Community Energy England – recognises the importance of engaging and collaborating with community organisations and on a local level to increase awareness and trust. They would welcome the opportunity to present to local communities or participate in initiatives designed to increase heat pump adoption at a parish council level. The team can be contacted on 0333 050 3120 or enquiries [at] thermly.co.uk or on WhatsApp (07868 789624).