The Role of Heat Pumps in Achieving SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
As the world continues to confront the urgent realities of climate change, the push for cleaner, more sustainable ways of living has never been more critical. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduced in 2015, provide a global framework for addressing many of today’s environmental and social issues.
One of these goals, SDG 7, which relates to Affordable and Clean Energy, seeks to ensure access to reliable, sustainable energy solutions for all. Meeting this goal calls for not only the increased use of renewable energy but also significant improvements in energy efficiency across all sectors.
Heat pumps are playing an increasingly important role in this transition. These energy-efficient, low-carbon home heating systems align with SDG 7 by reducing household carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, and supporting the move away from fossil fuels.
At Adlår, we’ve seen firsthand the many benefits of choosing an air source heat pump to replace your boiler. In this article, we explore how heat pump efficiency makes these systems a cornerstone of a cleaner energy future, and why they are an ideal choice for modern British households looking to transition away from gas or oil-based heating.
Understanding SDG 7 – What Is Affordable and Clean Energy?
What Is SDG 7?
SDG 7 aims to transform how the world produces and consumes energy by the year 2030. Its three primary targets are:
- Ensuring universal access to modern energy services, making reliable and clean energy available to all.
- Substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix while phasing out fossil fuel usage.
- Improving energy efficiency through better technology and practices, in order to reduce energy waste
Energy poverty directly impacts education outcomes, healthcare, and overall quality of life. That’s why meeting these targets is not only essential for climate action but also for promoting social equity. To succeed, energy systems must become smarter, more efficient, and fully decoupled from fossil fuel dependency.
Why Energy Efficiency Is the Foundation of Affordable Energy
Improving energy efficiency in home heating systems is arguably the most straightforward and impactful method of achieving SDG 7. When energy is used more efficiently, less of it is wasted — lowering overall demand, cutting emissions, and reducing costs for households, all while maintaining the same levels of internal comfort and utility.
This is where heat pumps truly excel. Unlike conventional boilers, which burn fossil fuels to generate heat, air source heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from the outside air into your home. This process is inherently more efficient because it doesn’t rely on combustion; instead, it harnesses and amplifies existing thermal energy. In fact, heat pump efficiency can reach up to 400%, while even the most efficient gas boilers rarely exceed 95%.
Opting for a heat pump to replace your boiler is therefore a logical and forward-thinking decision. It allows UK households to actively reduce their carbon footprint, improve long-term energy affordability, and future-proof their homes against rising fuel prices — all while supporting national and global climate goals.
The Case for Heat Pumps – A Sustainable Heating Solution
What Are Heat Pumps and How Do They Work?
A heat pump is a device that captures thermal energy from the air, ground, or water and transfers it into your home to provide heating and hot water. Air source heat pumps (ASHPs), the most popular choice in the UK, extract heat from the ambient air to provide reliable, sustainable heating year-round — even at temperatures well below freezing.
Although heat pumps are powered by electricity, their design enables them to deliver significantly more thermal energy than the electrical energy they consume. Heat pump efficiency is represented through a coefficient of performance (COP) value that illustrates this. For example, a heat pump with a COP of 3 produces three units of heat for every unit of electricity used.
In comparison, even the most modern gas boilers operate at around 90% efficiency, meaning some energy is always lost during combustion. Switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump represents a leap in performance and sustainability.
Heat Pump Efficiency vs. Traditional Boiler Efficiency
Feature | Heat Pump | Gas Boiler |
Efficiency | 300 – 400% (COP 3-4) | ~90% |
Carbon Emissions | 900 – 1,500 kg CO₂ per year | 3,500 – 4,000 kg CO₂ per year |
Average Lifespan | 20 – 25 years | 10 – 15 years |
Energy Source | Electricity (can be renewable or supplied by solar panels) | Fossil fuels (gas or oil) |
In every key category heat pumps outperform gas boilers and support SDG 7’s goals. Not only is heat pump efficiency far superior, but they also release significantly less carbon emissions (and emissions can drop to zero if paired with a renewable electricity supply like solar panels), and last longer on average than conventional gas boilers.
How Heat Pumps Support the Affordability Aspect of SDG 7
Lower Running Costs Compared to Gas Boilers
At first glance, the cost of installing a heat pump may appear higher than that of a traditional boiler replacement. However, the long-term financial case is compelling.
Thanks to superior heat pump efficiency, their running costs are significantly lower. According to Greenmatch, annual heating expenses for a heat pump range between £550 and £1,100 on average, while gas boilers often cost between £760 and £1,700.
As the UK’s electricity grid continues to decarbonise and electricity prices become increasingly stable relative to gas, this gap is likely to widen further in favour of heat pumps.
Government Incentives for Heat Pump Adoption
Governments worldwide are recognising the need to support heat pump adoption. In the UK, government support has made the financial side of switching more accessible than ever, thanks to:
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which offers a £7,500 grant to help offset the cost of heat pump installation, subject to homeowner eligibility.
- 0% VAT on heat pump installation until 2027, making them more accessible.
Such incentives reduce the upfront cost barrier, making it easier to install a heat pump to replace your boiler.
In the future, policies such as low-interest green loans may further support affordability, helping to make sustainable heating choices not only environmentally responsible and aligned with SDG 7, but also economically sound.
How Heat Pumps Support the Clean Energy Aspect of SDG 7
Here in the UK, where home heating remains one of the largest sources of domestic carbon emissions, choosing a heat pump to replace your boiler is one of the most impactful ways to reduce your household’s carbon footprint.
In fact, transitioning from a standard gas boiler to an air source heat pump can cut emissions by over 60%, even when powered by the existing UK grid. If paired with renewable electricity tariffs, this figure can drop to zero emissions.
Heating System | Average Annual CO₂ Emissions |
Gas Boiler | 3,500 – 4,000 kg CO₂ |
Oil Boiler | 5,000+ kg CO₂ |
Air Source Heat Pump (grid electricity) | 900 – 1,500 kg CO₂ |
Air Source Heat Pump (powered by renewable electricity) | 0 kg CO₂ |
This aligns perfectly with the broader aims of SDG 7 – fostering a global energy system that is sustainable, low-carbon, and accessible. As the UK moves toward a fully decarbonised electricity grid by 2035 and looks to achieve Net Zero by 2050, the environmental benefits of heat pumps will only increase.
Additionally, heat pumps can be integrated with other clean technologies. Combining them with solar PV systems and home battery storage creates a fully self-sufficient energy ecosystem, allowing households to store and use their own clean energy throughout the year.
The Future of Heat Pumps in a Sustainable World
Governments and climate experts alike are increasingly recognising the strategic importance of heat pumps in the transition to net zero. The UK Government has set an ambitious target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028, a figure that reflects their central role in national decarbonisation strategies.
Technological innovation is driving the evolution of heat pumps even further. Modern systems are more compact, quieter, and able to perform in even colder conditions. Heat pump efficiency is also continually improving, thanks to innovative companies like Adlår and our dual heat pump systems.
Smart controls and integration with AI-based energy management systems are making heat pump systems more adaptable and user-friendly. As installation processes become more streamlined and economies of scale reduce costs, it’s only a matter of time before heat pumps become the default heating system for UK homes.
From both an environmental and practical perspective, choosing a heat pump to replace your boiler is no longer just an option for eco-conscious households – it’s fast becoming the standard for future-proof home heating.
Make the Switch Today and Contribute to SDG 7
Heat pumps are a key solution in achieving SDG 7 by providing affordable heating, high efficiency, and clean energy integration.
If you’re ready to reduce your energy bills, cut carbon emissions, and move towards a cleaner, more sustainable home heating system, now is the perfect time to act. With generous government incentives and rising public demand for greener solutions, investing in a heat pump to replace your boiler is a decision that will pay dividends for years to come.
Contact Adlår today for a free heat pump consultation and personalised installation plan.
