Daikin UK has opened the doors to four new centres as part of its now 35-strong national Sustainable Home Network.
The centres have been opened in partnership with Plumbco in Northampton, Aberdeen Training Centre in Aberdeen, LBS in Port Talbot and Tucker French in Surrey.
Daikin is partnering with builders’ merchants, heating specialists and energy companies across the UK to create walk-in locations for homeowners to get to grips with the benefits of renewable heating solutions. Once they’ve identified the best solution for their home, they are partnered with a trusted local installer, Daikin said.
Local installers can use the centres to access free training and resources to help them diversify into renewable heating solutions and ensure the long-term competitiveness of their businesses as fossil fuels are phased out.
Trusted installers will also benefit from lead generation and enquiries through the centres, sending homeowners their way for a quality experience throughout the installation process.
Each of the four new centres invited homeowners, installers, housing associations, government representatives and local councillors to celebrate their openings and recognise the role they can play in driving the adoption of renewable heating systems.
The growth of Daikin’s Sustainable Home Network comes during growing demand for heat pumps, boosted by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, recently increased to £7,500 of support, the Home Upgrade Grant and the removal of VAT on heat pump installation.
Iain Bevan, commercial manager – heating and renewables at Daikin UK, said: “Our new openings follow a busy year for launches across our network. We are proud to be partnering with Plumbco, LBS, Tucker French, and Aberdeen Training Centre, as, together, we tackle the green skills shortage and make a significant contribution towards our national net zero targets.
“The Sustainable Home Network allows specialist low carbon heating businesses to step up and help the nation achieve its net zero goals.
“Being able to discuss heat pump technology and their significant cost savings in person is vital, as is knowing that it will be installed by a highly trained professional – which is exactly what our Sustainable Home Network is all about.
“The recent boost in funding through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme means heat pumps are now more affordable than ever and have huge potential to reduce energy usage and bills in the home.
“Over its 15-year lifespan, switching from a fossil fuel boiler to a Daikin Altherma low temperature wall mounted heat pump will save homeowners more than £3,000 when compared to a gas boiler, more than £6,000 compared with oil and more than £9,000 compared to LPG.
“With lifetime savings of between 24 and 37 tonnes of carbon, switching from gas, oil or LPG to a heat pump can have a massive impact on a building’s carbon footprint and represents our best chance to make a significant contribution towards our national net-zero targets.”