Henry Pelly
@henrypelly.bsky.social
Principal Sustainability Consultant at Max Fordham. Decarbonised Heating. Environmental Psychology. Ex-Rower.
I don’t usually post about politics. But as a TV licence payer, I expect the BBC to do its job. “If one says it’s raining and another says it’s dry, you don’t quote both — you look out the window.” It couldn’t be clearer which side’s narrative accurately reflects the facts.
January 25, 2026 at 1:42 PM
I don’t usually post about politics. But as a TV licence payer, I expect the BBC to do its job. “If one says it’s raining and another says it’s dry, you don’t quote both — you look out the window.” It couldn’t be clearer which side’s narrative accurately reflects the facts.
Reposted by Henry Pelly
A historic turning point for clean heating in Europe: For the first time, in the first half of 2025 sales of heat pumps in Germany have surpassed those of gas boilers.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
November 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
A historic turning point for clean heating in Europe: For the first time, in the first half of 2025 sales of heat pumps in Germany have surpassed those of gas boilers.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
This is a big milestone, demonstrating that the transition away from fossil fuels in our buildings is not just a future ambition.
An excellent positive article about the modern wonder that is the energy transition
An energy revolution is underway in this century, though it’s unfolded in ways slow enough and technical enough for most people not to notice (and I assume it’s nowhere near finished). It is astonishing – a powerful solution to the climate crisis... [Wrote it a while ago; came out yesterday.]
The renewable energy revolution is a feat of technology | Rebecca Solnit
An energy revolution is underway in this century, though most people have not noticed it
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
An excellent positive article about the modern wonder that is the energy transition
I’ve been renovating my house since 2021, which included upgrading the heating system to run at a 40C flow temperature at -3C. So I replaced a few radiators and added extra pipework. When I installed the heating system pump I joined two heating systems with a large pipe as well.
June 1, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I’ve been renovating my house since 2021, which included upgrading the heating system to run at a 40C flow temperature at -3C. So I replaced a few radiators and added extra pipework. When I installed the heating system pump I joined two heating systems with a large pipe as well.
Yes. It’s was a nice constant warm temperature all winter. I have small children and a wife who hates being cold and works from home. So our house was a constant 21/22C.
May 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Yes. It’s was a nice constant warm temperature all winter. I have small children and a wife who hates being cold and works from home. So our house was a constant 21/22C.
No solar. But battery, off-peak electricity tariff and an efficiently operated heat pump
May 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM
No solar. But battery, off-peak electricity tariff and an efficiently operated heat pump
So heat pumps like bigger pipes to suit higher flow rates. Big heat loads need big pipes. So if you can reduce the heat load of the room you can easily reuse existing radiators and pipe work for the heat pump and run it at much lower flow temperatures. Which can mean even bigger cost savings.
May 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
So heat pumps like bigger pipes to suit higher flow rates. Big heat loads need big pipes. So if you can reduce the heat load of the room you can easily reuse existing radiators and pipe work for the heat pump and run it at much lower flow temperatures. Which can mean even bigger cost savings.
Also insulating/reducing heat loss means that pipework and radiators don’t need to be upgraded. Heat pumps are much more efficient when the temperature of the water in the system is lower. They also move water through the pipes much quicker than gas boilers and a bit quicker than an oil boiler.
May 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Also insulating/reducing heat loss means that pipework and radiators don’t need to be upgraded. Heat pumps are much more efficient when the temperature of the water in the system is lower. They also move water through the pipes much quicker than gas boilers and a bit quicker than an oil boiler.
Much cheaper. My gas bill in the middle of the winter was as much as £400 a month and I spent about £300 a month on electricity (three small children and a lot of laundry). Now my monthly electricity bill is £300 in mid-winter and about £100-£150 a month in the summer.
May 30, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Much cheaper. My gas bill in the middle of the winter was as much as £400 a month and I spent about £300 a month on electricity (three small children and a lot of laundry). Now my monthly electricity bill is £300 in mid-winter and about £100-£150 a month in the summer.
It helps that I work at an engineering practice (Max Fordham) that has put Solar Panels on Kings College roof and switched Wolfson College (listed Brutalist building) onto heat pumps. So I know that HE support all kinds of decarbonisation measures
May 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
It helps that I work at an engineering practice (Max Fordham) that has put Solar Panels on Kings College roof and switched Wolfson College (listed Brutalist building) onto heat pumps. So I know that HE support all kinds of decarbonisation measures
The FT wrote something on it. I’ve got some big batteries that make it affordable to run. www.ft.com/content/e8cb...
Home microgrids: a blueprint for the future of sustainable household energy?
Once the preserve of doomsday preppers and sustainability nerds, these autonomous mini ‘power plants’ are gaining wider traction among homeowners and housebuilders — despite the maze of obstacles
www.ft.com
May 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The FT wrote something on it. I’ve got some big batteries that make it affordable to run. www.ft.com/content/e8cb...
I installed a heat pump on my Grade II* listed house. It’s in my garden which is a scheduled monument. Historic England and my heritage officer were very helpful. I think it’s worth your followers knowing that you don’t need any thermal improvements to make a heat pump work well an old house.
May 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I installed a heat pump on my Grade II* listed house. It’s in my garden which is a scheduled monument. Historic England and my heritage officer were very helpful. I think it’s worth your followers knowing that you don’t need any thermal improvements to make a heat pump work well an old house.
Reposted by Henry Pelly
Sooo... the government has removed the 1m planning rule in England, and the BBC have opened the comments section on their article...😱😳
Because I clearly hate myself, let's do a quick fact check on some of the most popular comments...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Because I clearly hate myself, let's do a quick fact check on some of the most popular comments...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Planning change makes heat pump installations easier for homes
The rule requiring planning permission if a heat pump is within 1m of a neighbours property has been removed.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Sooo... the government has removed the 1m planning rule in England, and the BBC have opened the comments section on their article...😱😳
Because I clearly hate myself, let's do a quick fact check on some of the most popular comments...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Because I clearly hate myself, let's do a quick fact check on some of the most popular comments...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
There’s loads of low-cost heat reducing ideas here. My favourite is painting yoghurt on your windows. www.heatwavetoolkit.com
Heatwave Toolkit - Solutions for a UK Heat Emergency
www.heatwavetoolkit.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
There’s loads of low-cost heat reducing ideas here. My favourite is painting yoghurt on your windows. www.heatwavetoolkit.com
There’s also a good case study on how a heat pump and batteries make my ‘thermally-challenged’ listed house cost-effective to run.
Interesting article on self-sufficient “home microgrids”. And yes the Stone Edge Farm mentioned IS the one set up by John “Mac” McQuown, the father of index funds. on.ft.com/3FoTMHG
Home microgrids: a blueprint for the future of sustainable household energy?
[FREE TO READ] Once the preserve of doomsday preppers and sustainability nerds, these autonomous mini ‘power plants’ are gaining wider traction among homeowners and housebuilders — despite the maze of...
on.ft.com
May 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
There’s also a good case study on how a heat pump and batteries make my ‘thermally-challenged’ listed house cost-effective to run.
My suggestion for an initial solution is to remove the levy from smart-metered electricity that is below a certain carbon intensity threshold. I.e when renewable generation makes up 50% of the grid. It would incentivise smart meters, demand shifting and create fewer losers.
May 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
My suggestion for an initial solution is to remove the levy from smart-metered electricity that is below a certain carbon intensity threshold. I.e when renewable generation makes up 50% of the grid. It would incentivise smart meters, demand shifting and create fewer losers.
My heat pump. A basic Samsung with manufacturers controls. The house is big and listed so minimal insulation. It’s got a SCOP to date of almost 4. This is typical for decent installs. I’ve more than halved my energy bills with battery. If it works in my house it can work almost anywhere.
May 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
My heat pump. A basic Samsung with manufacturers controls. The house is big and listed so minimal insulation. It’s got a SCOP to date of almost 4. This is typical for decent installs. I’ve more than halved my energy bills with battery. If it works in my house it can work almost anywhere.
Reposted by Henry Pelly
Pinchbeck acknowledges debate over cost of net zero. Says there is investment and cost required over the next 10 years, especially in grid and home retrofit, but the modelling shows benefits start to outweigh costs around 2040 and then continue to amass beyond then.
April 29, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Pinchbeck acknowledges debate over cost of net zero. Says there is investment and cost required over the next 10 years, especially in grid and home retrofit, but the modelling shows benefits start to outweigh costs around 2040 and then continue to amass beyond then.
Reposted by Henry Pelly
Pinchbeck: 'Apart from EVs if there is a key technology in the Carbon budgets it is trees, because it takes 25 years to grow a tree to maturity.' Says if there are two things the government needs progress on now it is buildings and trees.
April 29, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Pinchbeck: 'Apart from EVs if there is a key technology in the Carbon budgets it is trees, because it takes 25 years to grow a tree to maturity.' Says if there are two things the government needs progress on now it is buildings and trees.
Reposted by Henry Pelly
Other key challenge is residential buildings and electrified heat. There needs to be more progress here to get to half of buildings having electrified heat by mid-2030s before then ramping up through to 2040.
April 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Other key challenge is residential buildings and electrified heat. There needs to be more progress here to get to half of buildings having electrified heat by mid-2030s before then ramping up through to 2040.
Reposted by Henry Pelly
Pinchbeck: 'Our primary recommendation for government is to make electricity as cheap as possible'. This relates to the major challenge for this government of decarbonising heating over the next decade.
April 29, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Pinchbeck: 'Our primary recommendation for government is to make electricity as cheap as possible'. This relates to the major challenge for this government of decarbonising heating over the next decade.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/defenc...
I wrote a defence of the new Net Zero Building Standard. There's a bit too much focus in the industry on perfecting ideas and not enough on doing things better....
I wrote a defence of the new Net Zero Building Standard. There's a bit too much focus in the industry on perfecting ideas and not enough on doing things better....
In Defence of the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard
There’s been a bit of controversy over the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (NZCBS) in the last couple of days. On Friday, Simon Sturgis, the godfather of Embodied Carbon assessment in the UK, publi...
www.linkedin.com
April 28, 2025 at 3:19 PM
www.linkedin.com/pulse/defenc...
I wrote a defence of the new Net Zero Building Standard. There's a bit too much focus in the industry on perfecting ideas and not enough on doing things better....
I wrote a defence of the new Net Zero Building Standard. There's a bit too much focus in the industry on perfecting ideas and not enough on doing things better....
Reposted by Henry Pelly
Best explanation of why energy prices are so high in the UK you will find in the media. Watch this ⬇️
(Spoiler alert: it’s not green policies that are the problem)
(Spoiler alert: it’s not green policies that are the problem)
We’ve know this for ages but it’s good that this kind of analysis in now on mainstream TV in the UK
April 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Best explanation of why energy prices are so high in the UK you will find in the media. Watch this ⬇️
(Spoiler alert: it’s not green policies that are the problem)
(Spoiler alert: it’s not green policies that are the problem)
BUT it’s a clear sign that highly-educated and bright people still don’t understand that 1. heat pumps have been here for decades and 2. They will be the dominant heating technology within a decade or two. Wind, Solar, Batteries and Smart Electricity tariffs will make sure of that.
April 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
BUT it’s a clear sign that highly-educated and bright people still don’t understand that 1. heat pumps have been here for decades and 2. They will be the dominant heating technology within a decade or two. Wind, Solar, Batteries and Smart Electricity tariffs will make sure of that.
In the case of the BBC they are an arms-length government organisation, funded by a tax on TV watching. Its long-term survival (and funding model) depends on its impartiality. So I understand their caution….
April 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
In the case of the BBC they are an arms-length government organisation, funded by a tax on TV watching. Its long-term survival (and funding model) depends on its impartiality. So I understand their caution….