Daikin UK has opened four new centres as part of its Sustainable Home Network, bringing the national total to 351. The centres were opened in partnership with Plumbco in Northampton, Aberdeen Training Centre in Aberdeen, LBS in Port Talbot and Tucker French in Surrey1. The announcement was reported by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, of which Daikin is an Industrial Associate, on 17 October 20231.
The network is described as a set of walk-in locations where homeowners can look at renewable heating options and then be matched with a local installer, while installers can use the centres for free training and resources1. Each of the four new sites held an opening event for homeowners, installers, housing associations, government representatives and local councillors1. The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Stephen Hibbert, officially opened the Plumbco centre1.
Iain Bevan, Commercial Manager for 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."
Daikin attributes the growth of the network to rising heat pump demand, citing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, recently increased to £7,500 of support, the Home Upgrade Grant and the removal of VAT on heat pump installation1. The company states that over a 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 compared with a gas boiler, more than £6,000 compared with oil and more than £9,000 compared with LPG, with lifetime carbon savings of between 24 and 37 tonnes1. These figures are Daikin's own and no independent verification is given1.
For installers, Daikin offers £250 to MCS certified installers each time they fit a Daikin air-source heat pump in England, Scotland or Wales, a scheme linked to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Home Energy Scotland Scheme; in Scotland the eligible products also include hybrid boilers1. New installers also receive 40 per cent off the first heat pump unit purchased at a local centre, £100 off MCS accreditation and commissioning support for first installations1.
| Nation | Support scheme cited | Eligible products cited |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales | Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Home Energy Scotland Scheme | Air-source heat pumps; hybrid boilers in Scotland |
| Scotland | Home Energy Scotland Scheme | Air-source heat pumps and hybrid boilers |
Why it matters for households
A walk-in centre gives a householder a place to see heat pump equipment and discuss running costs before committing, rather than relying on a remote quote. The installer training and accreditation support described here is aimed at widening the pool of installers able to fit and commission the equipment, which bears on how quickly a home can move off a fossil fuel boiler. The savings figures quoted are Daikin's own projections over a 15-year period and depend on the property, the fuel being replaced and energy prices; they are not a guarantee of a household's bills. The grant levels cited apply to the schemes named, and eligibility rules for each have not been set out in the announcement.
What happens next
No further openings, dates or expansion targets beyond the 35-centre total have been reported1.