Term
Heat network zoning: what the term means
An emerging policy in England to designate areas where heat networks are expected to be the lowest-cost low-carbon heating, with some buildings required to connect.
An emerging policy in England to designate areas where heat networks are expected to be the lowest-cost low-carbon heating, with some buildings required to connect.
Heat network zoning in practice
Heat networks distribute heat through insulated pipes from central sources to many buildings. Under heat network zoning, certain types of buildings within a designated zone can be required to connect within a set timeframe. The categories consulted on are new buildings, large non-domestic buildings and residential blocks that are already communally heated.
Individually heated houses are not among those categories, so zoning does not prevent a homeowner from choosing a heat pump. Pilot reports mapping potential zones have been published for many English cities.