Episodes
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In this episode, architect and Ecodan Ambassador George Clarke is in conversation with James Chaplen, Head of Product Marketing & Communications at Mitsubishi Electric and Rob Hicks, Asset Sustainability Manager at Sovereign Network Group. James introduces the latest Ecodan R290 heat pump and why it is setting new standards for performance and sustainability. He explains how the latest high-temperature products will reshape the UK residential retrofit market. Rob discusses Sovereign Network Group's 'Roadmap for Change' strategy and how the R290 will accelerate the decarbonisation of their social housing stock, helping to lift more people out of fuel poverty.
This episode was recorded on the 21st of November 2023.
01:17 / Introducing the Ecodan R290
01:52 / What is a high-temperature heat pump?
03:40 / Retrofit opportunities for R290
08:00 / Matching fossil fuel boiler temperatures
11:50 / R290 refrigerant benefits
16:05 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
16:30 / Sovereign Network Group
18:00 / A roadmap to change
21:35 / Comfort, carbon and cost
24:30 / Costing for decarbonisation
31:00 / Reducing fuel poverty
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/products/residential-heating/outdoor/ecodan-r290
www.sng.org.uk -
In this episode, Ecodan’s Russell Dean is in conversation with Architect and Ecodan Ambassador George Clarke, and James Mealing, ex-Director at Blueflame. James discusses his 15 years of experience with renewable energy and installing air source heat pumps for social housing developments. James highlights getting the fundamentals right for a successful social housing heat pump project. The group discusses running costs compared with oil and gas boilers, the funding streams available to UK housing associations and what a long-term approach towards healthier homes will mean for tenant wellbeing.
This episode was recorded on the 6th of September 2022.
1:00 / James Mealing
4:07 / How heat pump technology has improved
8:00 / User-friendly controls
9:37 / The perfect Ecodan set-up
10:35 / Getting it right for social housing
13:28 / Social housing providers adopting green technology
16:35 / ASHP runnings costs compared with oil and gas
18:24 / Village hall visits for ASHP education
23:40 / Funding streams for social housing
37:13 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
37:39 / Advise for housing associations
41:15 / 24/7 homeowner helpline
43:50 / Using AI to future monitor
45:50 / Heat as a service
59:30 / Healthy homes for tenantshttps://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/end-users/application-by-sector/housing-association
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode, Ecodan’s Russell Dean is in conversation with Architect and Ecodan Ambassador George Clarke, Cala Homes’ Product Design Manager, Stephen Kelso, and Martin Fahey, Head of Sustainability at Mitsubishi Electric. Stephen explains how building standards differ between England and Scotland, and how Cala is trialling new technologies, such as air source heat pumps, ahead of regulation changes. Martin and George share their views on our collective journey towards net zero carbon, the importance of embodied vs operational carbon, and discuss what sustainability will look like in the future using new eco-materials. The group discusses how closer construction industry and supplier collaboration coupled with education will play a vital role in meeting the UK's decarbonisation challenges.
This episode was recorded on the 6th of September 2022.
01:10 / Cala Homes introduction
02:37 / Building standards in Scotland
04:00 / Hybrid heat pumps as a stepping-stone
08:20 / Cala Homes and Part L Regulations
11:00 Changing the building mindset
17:00 / Zero, net or low carbon for 2050?
21:00 / The scale of change for heating
23:30 / Embodied carbon
25:00 / Working together as an industry
30:00 / Eco-materials & bio-architecture
36:25 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
36:49 / Cala Homes customers
40:00 / Graduates spearheading sustainability
47:45 / Collaboration and education
53:15 / The retrofit challenge
1:01:00 / Challenges for Cala Homes
1:03:00 / Challenges for Mitsubishi Electrichttps://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/housing-developers
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/homeowners/our-heat-pumps
https://www.cala.co.uk/
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In this episode, Russell Dean from Ecodan is in conversation with Architect and Ecodan Ambassador George Clarke, Will Allanson, Deputy Principal at Harlow College and Lance Hitchins, People and Training Manager at Mitsubishi Electric. The group discusses the transitional challenges of upskilling UK gas engineers to be able to install air source heat pumps. Lance explains the benefits of Mitsubishi Electric's new Ecodan Training Centre at Hatfield – allowing their courses to combine online group sessions with more personal, 'hands-on' teaching. Will Allanson from Harlow College talks about promoting 'carbon literacy' and 'decarbonising their college curriculum' to deliver sustainable heating education to the next generation of heating installers.
This episode was recorded on 6th Sept 2022.
01:06 / The need to upskill
02:15 / Ecodan training challenges
03:50 / Learning plumbing and electrics
11:30 / Decarbonising the curriculum
13:00 / Engaging with employers for jobs
15:00 / Transitional phase for skills
18:00 / Regional job opportunities
23:00 / A sustainable journey
28:45 / Educate for carbon literacy
34:50 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
35:15 / The green economy
36:15 / The commercial benefits of Ecodan
39:00 / The opportunities for gas installers
44:20 / The biggest challenge for educators
53:20 / Honesty, education & collaboration
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/upskill-to-ecodan
https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/homeowners/our-heat-pumps
https://www.harlow-college.ac.uk/
https://podcast.ecodan.uk/
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In this episode, Russell Dean from Ecodan, is in conversation with architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke, and Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director at Barratt Developments Plc. They discuss the Zed House project – a unique zero carbon concept home that showcases the future of sustainable living in the UK. Built on the University of Salford’s main campus, the Zed House is the first home in the country to be built by a major housebuilder that goes substantially beyond the UK Government's Future Homes Standard. Oliver discusses partnering on the project with Mitsubishi Electric – Ecodan to deliver sustainable heating and hot water and other innovative technologies and processes, like MMC, that will change the way that all new homes are built in the future.
01.40 / An introduction to the Barratt Zed House
04.15 / Being 'green' without trying
05.28 / Skirting board heating
07.06 / The case for a Zero carbon home
09.05 / Ecodan and heating the Zed House
12.30 / Getting rid of gas
14.30 / Robots building houses
20.38 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
21.00 / The evolution of MMC
28.05 / Designed for manufacture
30.45 / The educated self-builder
39.00 / Government standards and planning
45.00 / Trading energy
47.45 / A remote control for a house
51.28 / Changing coming with The Future Home Standard
www.ecodan.co.uk
https://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/showcase/z-house
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In this episode, Russell Dean from Ecodan, is in conversation with architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke, and Ben Freeman, founder of Dore Woodman – UK renewable heating specialists. They discuss several topics including; what it means to live 'greener', starting a renewable heating business, grants, 'heating education', retrofitting existing UK housing stock, and the overall challenges that face the heating industry in meeting the UK Government's target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
01:00 / George Clarke's journey to sustainable living and renewable heating.
06:08 / Ben Freeman: starting a renewable heating business
12:00 / The educated renewable buyer
14:30 / Low-income households and efficient heating
15:45 / The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
17:15 / Retrofitting existing housing stock
22:10 / A long-term strategy for green buildings
24:15 / Making technology simple
27:00 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
27:24 / Installer advice from Dore Woodman
31:10 / Housebuilders and changing legislation coming in 2025
33:50 / Hydrogen ready boilers?
35:00 / Heat or eat / fuel poverty
38:00 / Re-programme the industry for heat pumps
47:00 / Collaboration is the futurewww.ecodan.co.uk
www.dorewoodman.co.uk -
Since COP26 in Glasgow in Oct/Nov 2021, interest in renewable heating technologies from the UK media and the public has intensified. Social media has been awash with often 'polar opposite' opinions and viewpoints regarding air source heat pumps. In this episode, Russell Dean from Ecodan, architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke, and Laurent Widloecher, Product Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, discuss and 'debunk' commonly held myths associated with air source heat pumps.
01:00 / An intro to ASHP myth-busting
01:59 / Heat pumps are a new and unproven technology.
02:38 / Heat pumps are not powerful enough to heat my home in cold weather.
03:42 / Heat pumps take a long time to warm up a home.
06:02 / A heat pump is more expensive to run than a fossil fuel solution.
10:00 / Electricity is not a clean, green fuel type.
10:37 / Air source heat pumps are noisy.
13:11 / Planning permission is required before you can install an air source heat pump.
14:41 / Heat pumps take up too much space outside and inside.
16:47 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan.
17:12 / Heat pumps are only suitable for new build homes.
19:29 / Heat pumps only work with underfloor heating.
21:13 / Heat pumps are high maintenance.
21:48 / Heat pumps have a short life span.
23:34 / Heat pumps are expensive.
26:17 / Heat pumps are complicated to programme and use.
26:58 / Renewable heating incentives are difficult to apply for.
28:16 / The UK government is forcing people to scrap their working gas boilers.
29:41 / Heat pumps are imported products and not manufactured in the UK.
30:06 / The national grid will not be able to cope with the mass market uptake of electric cars and heat pumps.
34:45 / Air Source Heat Pumps are not practical for apartments.
www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Chris Ricketts from Elmhurst Energy. Elmhurst Energy Systems is the UK's largest accreditation scheme, covering EPCs on domestic properties, new-build compliance, U-Value calculations and inspections. Chris shares his insight from his consultancy work for UK Government on The Future Homes Standard – the landmark Building Regulations update set to improve the energy efficiency of all new homes. Max and Chris discuss, the journey to UK NetZero carbon, the challenges the industry will face, to up-skill the current fossil-fuels installer base to fit the number of heat pumps needed – an expected timeframe for change and what the new Building Regulations will mean to developers.
01:55 / An intro to Chris and Elmhurst Energy
04:12 / The roadmap to NetZero in 2050
05:00 / Up-skilling installers to meet demand
08:00 / Heat pumps – a crucial technology
09:55 / The Future Homes Standard from 2025
11:40 / Part L Regulations
14:00 / Our energy grid is low-carbon now
17:30 / Measuring energy use in buildings
22:20 / Timelines for 2025
26:40 / SAP 10.2
33:00 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
33:30 / Change impact for developers
35:30 / What will the new industry standards be?
40:35 / A line in the sand has been drawnwww.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to David Cooke, one of the UK's most experienced Ecodan installers. David has been installing Ecodan air source heat pumps for more than 10 years and has completed over 630 installs, mainly domestic, off-gas, retro-fit, new and self-build projects in North Norfolk. He shares his journey; switching from fossil fuels to sustainable heating, how the consumer market and technology has changed over the years and what makes a successful business partnership with the right heat pump manufacturer.
01:36 / Over 10 years of Ecodan installs
03:40 / Giving up on oil boilers
05:00 / Ground source vs air source heat pumps
07:30 / Partnering with Mitsubishi Electric
09:30 / Sizing a heat pump correctly
14:40 / Low-temperature capacity
16:25 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
17:00 / A typical install process
19:45 / Room-by-room heat loss calculations
20:45 / Commissioning the Ecodan with SD cards
22:32 / The Ecodan MelCloud App
23:40 / Remote maintenance to prevent false call-outs
26:23 / Grant funding for heat pumps
32:54 / Partnering with Ecodan for a successful heat pump business
34:33 / Advice for installers looking to switch from fossil fuels to heat pumps.
www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Georgina Burnett, Property and DIY Interiors Presenter. They discuss Georgina's passion for sustainable home renovation and her experience of choosing a Mitsubishi Electric, QUHZ Ecodan Air Source Heat Pump for her self build project. Georgina tells the story starting from her desire to be more energy-efficient, researching the sustainable home-heating technology available, selecting the right manufacturer and product, through to installation and user experience.
00:45 / Welcome intro
02:25 / Making your home a safe haven
03:55 / A passion for home renovation
06:00 / Starting a self build project
07:00 / The right sustainable technology
09:00 / An ultra-quiet solution
10:00 / Cylinder and heat pump placement
11:40 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
12:05 / Easy install process
13:10 / Championing the technology
17:15 / Underfloor heating vs radiators
23:00 / Living with Ecodan
26:00 / Remote control heating
27:15 / Switching to a renewable energy supplier
28:30 / Renewable Heating Grants
30:15 / No more gas boilers by 2025www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Russell Dean, Head of Residential Heating and Ventilation at Mitsubishi Electric UK. Russell reflects on how Mitsubishi Electric UK responded to the industry, the business and manufacturing challenges that they faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the launch and subsequent demise of the UK Government's Green Homes Grant. Max and Russell also discuss the evolution of the Ecodan Air Source Heat Pump in the UK over the last 12 years and how Mitsubishi Electric has simplified the technology for installation, improved the efficiency and the user experience to meet the requirements of tenants, homeowners, installers, developers and housing associations.
01:05 / Introducing Russell Dean
02:30 / COVID-19 – A challenging 12 months
04:53 / The perfect storm
05:59 / The end of the Green Homes Grant
06:30 / The Clean Homes Grant
09:00 / The evolution of Ecodan
11:14 / The future of heat pump mass-market uptake
12:50 / Heat pumps for new build homes
15:15 / Living with Ecodan for homeowners
17:00 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
17:24 / Challenges to meet moving carbon targets
19:50 / The time is now for UK heat pumps
24:35 / Heat pumps for on-gas homes
27:50 / Dedicated heat pump warehousing
28:45 / Future UK grant funding
www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive of UK Green Building Council. Julie explains the history of the UKs policy for Net Zero carbon buildings and what it means today for existing buildings in operation and new construction. Max and Julie also discuss the decarbonisation of home heating and the challenges facing the built environment industry to reach the UK Government's Net Zero carbon goals.
02:00 / UK Green Building Council introduction
05:33 / Net zero carbon for buildings definition
08:40/ The slow pace of UK regulation change since 2016
11:15 / UK governement 'green' subsidies
13:45 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
14:15 / A Net Zero home in operation definition
16:44 / Net Zero for construction vs operation
18:35 / Hydrogen and the decarbonisation of home heating
26:00 / Smoke and mirror energy market
30:30 / How is the industry gearing up for Net Zero?
35:40 / Further information
37:07 / What can we all do for Net Zero?www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Ben Fogle, broadcaster, writer and adventurer. They discuss Ben's personal experiences of renovating and moving his family into a period, stone-flint, off-gas property in the UK countryside. Choosing sustainability over pure aesthetics. Switching from oil to renewable heating and hot water with an Ecodan air source heat pump system, with intelligent, I-life heaters from Mitsubishi Electric.
01:15 / Switching to air source technology
02:00 / From oil to Ecodan
04:15 / UK Grid carbon intensity app
06:09 / Designing a sustainable house
07:50 / Intelligent I-life heaters
11:00 / How an Ecodan works
14:00 / Pioneering the new technology
14:49 / Grants available for UK homeowners
15:00 / Off-gas solution
18:44 / After workout cool down
20:00 / Adding insulation for greater efficiency
21:06 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
21:35 / How the UK compares to other countries
24:41 / The UKs Electric economy
30:00 / How critical is the climate situation now
36:00 / Committing everybody to 10% changewww.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Ben Fogle, broadcaster, writer and adventurer. They discuss the challenges that we all face in reducing our collective consumption, striving to live more sustainably. They reflect on Ben's personal experiences of setting up a new home in the country, before lockdown, the encouragement from his two children to 'go-greener', and his views as a 'positive campaigner' on global climate change, and how one person 'can' make a difference to environmental sustainably.
00:55 / A reverse adventure
02:12 / A Life on Our Planet Netflix film
04:20/ COVID impact on the environment
05:30 / Balancing a personal carbon footprint
07:15 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
07:50 / Buying to last
13:00 / Shift to selflessness
14:24 / How one person can make a difference
16:40 / The UK 'pioneer of green values'
21:06 / UK target for Net Zero
24:04 / Be the change you want to see
27:22 / Setting 'green goals'
34:56 / A hope for the future
www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Rob Hicks, Innovation Manager at Sovereign Housing Association. They discuss how the social housing sector and Sovereign, in particular, are playing a key role in reducing carbon emissions from home heating, by installing sustainable technologies for both new build and retrofit applications. Rob discusses a Sovereign Housing Association case study, where they were able to reduce resident heating bills by over 50% when switching to Ecodan, air-source heat pumps. They improved resident 'warmth ratings' – moving from, one out of five, to five out of five, and also reduced CO2 tonnage from 4.5 tonnes down to 1.8 tonnes (per property).
01:36 / Sovereign's approach to net-zero
02:28 / Air Source – the perfect match for off-gas grid
04:30 / Moving homes up to band C and beyond
06:38 / Reducing heating bills by over 50%
07:10 / Improving warmth ratings & reducing CO2 tonnage
08:02 / The Clean Homes Grant – the RHI replacement
10:27 / The Green Homes Grant
11:56 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
12:25 / Sustainable heating technologies – the way forward
14:33 / The 2050 'Road Map' – 'Future Homes Standard'
18:26 / Social housing – leading the way to net-zerowww.ecodan.co.uk
www.sovereign.org.uk -
In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to Rob Hicks, Innovation Manager at Sovereign Housing Association. They discuss Sovereign's decision to invest in sustainable heating technology to meet their long-term, 'affordable warmth' objectives for residents. Rob reflects on the housing association's ten-year relationship with Ecodan, and the educational challenges they overcame when introducing new technology.
01:00 / Early adopters for Ecodan technology
01:30 / A long term approach
02:49 / What is affordable warmth?
04:53 / Using Energy Performance Certificates
06:10 / The best recipe for home energy efficiency
09:17 / Changing to Ecodan
10:53 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
11:22 / Challenges of new technology
13:30 / Selecting the right energy tariff
16:30 / MELCloud app for Ecodan monitoring
17:03 / MELConsole for maintenance and servicing
www.ecodan.co.uk
www.sovereign.org.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke. Find out what are MMCs (Modern Methods of Construction) and how this 'mini-revolution' in off-site, factory manufacturing is shaping the design and build of energy-efficient and sustainable UK homes for self-builders and developers.
01:15 / What are MMCs and the benefits
05:50 / House specifications – options to order
07:29 / 'Just-in-time' building process?
10:58 / Mobie charity
19:13 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
19:40 / A stable construction workforce for the future
22:00 / We still built houses like the Romans
26:20 / A real opportunity to change the industry
28:00 / Smart homes and technology
30:00 / Early days of MMC
32:20 / What’s it like to live with an Ecodan?
35:00 / Are we doing enough in the UK?
www.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, (recorded on 25th June 2020) Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke. They discuss social housing in the UK, 'affordable warmth', and the need to educate the entire sector, from government, developers, housing associations, and residents about heat pump technology. They consider the case for new-build developments versus retrofitting the UK's existing social housing stock to be more sustainable and energy-efficient.
02:44 / Rishi Sunak UK Chancellor urged to build more social housing
05:23 / George Clarke's Council House Scandal
06:15 / Unaffordable UK housing
12:06 / Right to Buy Scheme
15:55 / Housing Associations, affordable warmth
16:53 / Long-term housing view
17:10 / Fuel poverty, to eat or heat?
18:00 / Replacing old heating technology
18:35 / The UK's poor housing stock
21:40 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
22:08 / New build vs retrofit for social housing
24:25 / The RIBA Stirling Prize for Norwich social housing project
26:30 / Educating residents on new technology
34:35 / The future of social housingwww.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke. They discuss the future of home heating in the UK from a new build perspective and the need for a radical shift in the way we design and build new homes to be more sustainable and energy-efficient, considering that all the new homes we build now will be with us for at least 100 years?
01:08 / Net carbon zero 2050
01:51 / New build housing
06:20 / Future Homes Consultation
08:34 / Zero carbon homes initiative
10:15 / The cost of creating energy-efficient homes
18:13 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
18:40 / All-electric economy – the big picture
21:05 / A level playing field for UK housebuilders
29:14 / Mobie Charity
30:10 / Option 2 of Future Homes Consultationwww.ecodan.co.uk
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In this episode, Max Halliwell from Ecodan talks to architect and Ecodan Ambassador, George Clarke. They discuss sustainable home heating for UK homeowners from a retrofit perspective. George shares his experience of switching from a gas boiler to an Ecodan air source heat pump providing sustainable heating and hot water for his home.
01:30 / The UK retrofit challenge
03:25 / The road to UK net-zero
09:35 / George's own Ecodan experience
15:36 / What is an air source heat pump?
24:08 / Every new house should have an ASHP
27:09 / UK Government RHI scheme
30:05 / A Future Homes Standard in 2025
31:42 / Sound comparison ASHP vs gas flue
34:01 / Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan
34:30 / Getting a heat pump, where to start?
37:25 / A trickle of clean energy
40:00/ MELCloud App and Homeowner Helpline
41:46 / Show close-outwww.ecodan.co.uk
