A poll of 2,010 adults in Great Britain found that only 3% correctly identified 2035 as the target date for phasing out gas boilers in existing homes, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said on 25 August 2023.
The ECIU said unclear messaging meant 97% of people did not know when the UK's target gas boiler phase out would begin. Of those who got the date wrong or said they did not know, around two-thirds (63%) thought it was sooner than it is, with 61% saying it was two or more years sooner than proposed and 43% placing it five or more years earlier1.
"Only 3% of respondents to the poll got the gas boiler target phase out date of 2035 (12 years' time) for existing homes correct."
The poll also tested awareness of emissions and air pollution from gas. Only half of respondents knew that gas boilers and hobs produce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change (49% and 47% respectively), and around two-thirds (67%) said they did not know that gas boilers produce air pollution1. The ECIU said heating and cooking account for around a fifth of the UK's carbon emissions, and that gas boilers can account for a fifth of nitrous oxides (NOx) in some urban areas, with half the nitrogen dioxide in central London recently reported to come from gas boilers1.
When told that gas boilers produce air pollution, 53% said it made them more likely to want to switch to a cleaner alternative, 43% said it made no difference and 4% said it made them less likely to switch1.
| Poll finding | Share of respondents |
|---|---|
| Correctly identified 2035 phase out date | 3% |
| Thought the date was sooner than it is | 63% |
| Thought it was two or more years sooner | 61% |
| Thought it was five or more years earlier | 43% |
| Knew gas boilers produce carbon emissions | 49% |
| Knew gas hobs produce carbon emissions | 47% |
| Did not know gas boilers produce air pollution | 67% |
Why it matters for households
The government's stated target is to phase out gas boilers in existing homes from 20351. The poll suggests most households hold a different date in mind, and that most expect the change sooner than policy proposes. For a household weighing up a replacement boiler or a heat pump, that gap matters: the rules that will eventually apply to an existing home, and when, are widely misjudged. The ECIU also reports that the government has not confirmed whether new homes will be allowed to connect to the gas grid, despite a consultation due in spring 2023, and has not confirmed whether a proposed ban on all fossil fuel boilers in off-gas grid homes will be implemented from 20261. On the support side, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers a £5,000 grant for an air source heat pump or £6,000 for a ground source heat pump, and the ECIU says analysis has shown the scheme could run out of vouchers if current monthly increases in installation rates continue1. For a home's energy independence, the practical questions are which heating system it will be running, what it will cost to run, and what support is available at the point of replacement. On the timing of the phase out, the poll indicates public understanding is out of step with the published target.
What happens next
The ECIU notes that the government has yet to confirm whether new homes will be allowed to connect to the gas grid, with a consultation due in spring 2023, and has not confirmed whether the proposed 2026 ban on fossil fuel boilers in off-gas grid homes will go ahead1. No further dates have been reported.