First slowly, then quickly

wot’s this then, guvnor? heat?

Britain has banned the sale of gas boilers after 2025 (2023, if Boris has his way), and will soon be ripping them out of existing homes by the millions. (One) problem: they won’t work for millions of homes. We’ll leave aside, for now, where the new electricity supply to power all these new heat pumps will come from, because it doesn’t exist, nor will it

But back to freezing in the dark:

These pumps are a greener solution as they aren't powered by fossil fuels and are highly efficient. However, they may not be suitable for millions of UK homes.

David Holmes of comparison site Boiler Guide said: 'Heat pumps come at a considerable cost, so it is important that homeowners do their research on suitability before forking out. 

'While the Government is rightly pushing for renewable heating solutions, a one size fits all approach is not going to work. There are many positives with heat pumps but they are not viable for every home in the UK.'Heat pumps operate at a lower temperature than gas boilers, so if your home is not well-insulated a heat pump is unlikely to provide the warmth and comfort you need.

It is thought that 25 million homes in the UK do not have adequate insulation, so if you have a draughty house, ripping out your gas boiler for a heat pump before investing in insulation is only going to make the situation worse.

In his History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Churchill observes that when Rome retreated from Britain, the technology to build and maintain the hypocausts that provided central heat and hot water also faded away, with the result that “not until 1898 would the wealthiest Victorian gentleman be able to enjoy central heat”. We’re heading back, fast.