ivie released Heat Pumps 101 on 1 April 2024 as the last of four guides in its Future of Energy series. The guide is available as a free download from the company's website1.
The series is described by ivie as "four-part series of short, easily digestible guides" covering different elements of home energy, with earlier editions on solar, battery storage and electric vehicles1. The company said the final instalment covers heat pumps, which it describes as a topic causing "both curiosity and concern" over how they disrupt established gas and electric central heating1.
The guide sets out to answer three questions, listed by ivie as: "What is a heat pump and how does it work? Is a heat pump better than a boiler? Can a heat pump heat a whole house?"1. The company said it answers "these questions, and more" to help readers understand how a heat pump could work for their home1.
"You can download our final Future of Energy guide, Heat Pumps 101, below for free."
ivie positions the series as "clear, unbiased information" intended to help households understand home energy changes, alongside its app and ivie Bud products1. No price, eligibility criteria or technical specifications for heat pumps are given in the announcement, and no installation figures, grant rates or running costs are reported1.
Why it matters for households
A heat pump moves heat rather than burning gas to create it, which changes what a home draws on for warmth: electricity instead of a mains gas supply. That shift sits at the centre of heat pumps and household energy independence, because a home that heats with electricity can, in principle, be supplied by generation sited on or near the property rather than by a national gas network.
For householders weighing a switch, the practical questions are usually about whether the existing radiators and insulation are adequate, what the upfront cost is and how running costs compare with a boiler. The ivie guide addresses the first of these in general terms only; the announcement does not report costs, grant support or performance data1. Readers looking for background on how the technology fits different systems can find it in the heat pumps hub, and coverage of specific manufacturer offerings sits under Octopus Energy heat pumps and the Cosy range and Global Energy Systems heat pumps.
What happens next
No further guides in the series are announced; ivie describes Heat Pumps 101 as its final Future of Energy guide1. The company invites readers to sign up to its monthly insights email, which it says includes a free home energy guide1.