Heat Pumps: What They Really Mean for You

Sign language

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

What They Really Mean for You

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature

What will it take to reach net zero energy?

How people drive, heat their homes and keep the lights on needs massive change. But what will it take to make it happen?

Episode 2

BBC One London

London

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Channel Islands

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Yorkshire

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One Oxfordshire

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West HD

BBC One South West

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

BBC One East Midlands HD

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One East

BBC One South East HD

BBC One South

BBC One North West

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One Nightlight

BBC One West HD

BBC One North West HD

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Justin Rowlatt

Michelle Ackerley

Tara Shine

Tim Usborne

Sam Bagnall

Andrew Shaw

What They Really Mean for You: Series 1: Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps

Series 1

BBC One - What They Really Mean for You, Series 1, Heat Pumps

How we heat our homes and keep the lights on needs massive change. But what will it take?

Investigating the controversial plans to change how we heat our homes and produce electricity. Is it possible and what will it take?

How we heat our homes is set to radically change as the government phases out gas boilers. But can changing the technology we use every day help us reduce greenhouse gases and stop climate change? BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt, presenter Michelle Ackerley and environment scientist Dr Tara Shine investigate if it’s possible to heat our homes by replacing oil and gas boilers with new green alternatives, whether the country is ready to build an entirely low-carbon electricity network, and if we can do it all before the government’s net zero target of 2050.

Justin heads to Salford to explore a futuristic house used to test new home heating technologies in extreme conditions. From minus 12 degrees to the comfort of central heating, he gets to grips with heat pumps, a technology the government is betting on. In the loft, Justin clambers around to see how well our homes need to be insulated. 

Michelle gets an insight into how heat pumps are installed and what it means for a family in Reading. She questions the installation costs and if the government grant is enough to help families transition from gas boilers to heat pumps. With a government target of 2035 for all the UK’s electricity to be generated from renewable and low carbon sources, Michelle meets a community centre near Bristol who have built the UK’s largest wind turbine. Then, she heads underground to find out how the electricity grid needs transforming to deliver enough power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Tara meets the gas company promoting hydrogen as a solution to home heating, and visits residents in Whitby in Ellesmere Port, who were going to be part of a hydrogen trial but have big concerns about costs and safety. She investigates how oil companies are planning to produce hydrogen and if it’s a feasible option. Tara explores cracks in the core of Heysham Nuclear Power station in Lancashire to understand what it means for the lifespan of the plant, visits Hinkley Point C to understand the complexities of building new nuclear power stations, and asks if technology from nuclear submarines could be a solution.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

What They Really Mean for You

Series 1

Heat Pumps

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

About BBC Two