There are two common types of heating system in the UK:
- Central heating
- Electric heating
Your heating options explained
Did you know that over half of your energy bills are spent on heating and hot water? With that in mind, the ideal heating system, both for lower energy bills and a lower carbon footprint, is one that:
But you don’t have to have an entirely new system to save money on your energy bills
In fact, upgrading a G-rated boiler to an A-rated boiler with full heating controls will save you £420 in Great Britain (GB) and £500 in Northern Ireland (NI). Let’s look at your options:
There are two common types of heating system in the UK:
Also called a wet heating system, central heating heats up water in a single place, like a boiler. It then sends the heated water around your home through radiators or underfloor heating.
The most common types of central heating use:
Electric heating uses electricity to warm your home. These heating systems only provide heat for the room they’re in, typically using:
Low carbon heating like heat pumps and solar water heating can be a good option if you’re looking to replace your current heating system.
They offer:
Lower energy bills
Low carbon heating system like heat pumps are more efficient than traditional heaters like gas boilers and electric radiators. Depending on what system you’re replacing, low carbon heating could save you money on your annual heating bills.
A lower carbon footprint
Low carbon systems don’t use fossil fuels to heat your home. This means your home’s carbon footprint should be significantly lower.
Combination options with other renewable technologies
You can use solar panels to generate electricity that powers a heat pump, lowering your energy bills and carbon footprint even further.
Go Renewable lets you discover what renewable technologies are suitable with your home.
Answer a few questions about your home and we’ll show you which renewable home improvements are best suited to you.
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Want to get started with solar? Our step-by-step guide will take you through the solar panel installation process.
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Last updated: 5 June 2025