Nesta, a research and innovation foundation, launched a live service at www.visitaheatpump.com on 21 September 2022, as part of a pilot programme to set up a show home service for people interested in installing a heat pump1. The launch followed a period of discovery work that began on 10 June and moved to a live pilot on 15 August1.
The service is intended to test the heat pump visitor journey and the key touch points Nesta has mapped and prioritised during the project1. Visitors who have signed up will attend eight different events across four locations in London and Glasgow1. The events involve two private homeowners with heat pumps and two installer showrooms1. Nesta said the prototype aims to provide a seamless experience using live content and to respond to user feedback in real time, and that this phase is about understanding how well it meets the needs of both visitors and hosts1.
Nesta reported over 150 sign ups in two weeks from a small amount of direct promotion, which it described as very positive signs of real demand1. It also identified time-intensive points in the service, such as scheduling events with hosts, and potential improvements for keeping users engaged if they sign up but cannot visit immediately1.
"we have launched a live service at www.visitaheatpump.com"
Earlier work included user profiles for people with a pre-existing interest in buying a heat pump but with questions still to answer before deciding, and a data model based on UK household data to estimate the capacity of a show home network1. That modelling indicated a combination of show homes and other kinds of public showroom would probably be required to reach a large enough audience1. Nesta also met green open homes organisations including the Centre for Sustainable Energy, SuperHomes, Home Energy Scotland and Energy Saving Homes Oxford, and a heat pump manufacturer1.
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up a heat pump, the practical question is often what the technology looks and sounds like in a real home, and what living with it involves. Nesta's pilot is testing whether organised visits to installed systems and showrooms can answer that before a purchase decision is made1. The reported demand, over 150 sign ups in two weeks from limited promotion, suggests appetite among people already considering a heat pump1. The service is a prototype rather than a permanent scheme, and Nesta has said it is testing how well it meets visitor and host needs to define a future vision that works for multiple partners1. No costs, installer details or eligibility criteria for the visits are given in the published update1.
What happens next
Visits by signed-up users were due to take place over the week following the 21 September update1. Nesta said it is surveying visitors before and after attendance and will hold more in-depth conversations with visitors and hosts1. The site will remain open for further sign ups, and Nesta is looking at opportunities to run visits in other locations1. It also plans an event to share learning so far and explore how the service could grow with other partners1.
Sources1 cited
- Heat pump show home: our running progress | Nesta, nesta.org.uk