Concerns over energy prices and the role installers can play to support homeowners revealed in new research
With October’s energy price cap increase upon us, new research1 from Resideo, the global developer and manufacturer of Honeywell Home heating controls, shows UK homeowners see heating controls as a critical way to tackle energy cost concerns - opening up opportunities for installers to add value and support their customers.
The survey investigating the energy attitudes of 1000 homeowners and 100 installers in the UK revealed:
- Almost a third (32%) of consumers said they remain ‘very concerned’ about energy costs for the coming winter and a third (33%) are also ‘less likely’ or ‘much less likely’ to switch heating on because of energy cost worries.
- Over half (53%) of homeowners feel like they need more information or are unconfident about setting their heating controls correctly to get the best out of their system.
- Almost 7 in 10 (68%) homeowners want access to simple or easy to program controls.
- 92% of installers have had more customer questions about how to get the best out of their heating controls.
- Two fifths (41%) of homeowners said they were likely to consider spending money on the latest heating controls such as thermostats and radiator valves if it meant they could save more money over the long run for their heating costs.
Installers are on the front line of tackling energy challenges
It is clear many UK consumers need some help to optimise their energy management. And, as Resideo's heating season campaign aims to demonstrate, Resideo offers many Honeywell Home solutions that heating professionals can recommend to help their customers control and optimise their heating system – be that with a heat pump control, an easy-to-use thermostat or smart app-based control.
Simple and easy to program
The ability to access simple or easy to program controls was a clear preference for homeowners, with more than two thirds (68%) saying such control solutions appealed most. Here, the award-winning Honeywell Home DT4 with its easy-to-read LED display, or the ever-popular T3, for example, are good options to suggest to customers looking for something in this category. Those wanting a smart option could benefit from the T6R with its geofencing capabilities or evohome with its 12 zoning opportunities.
Growing interest in low-carbon and low temperature heating technologies
Nearly half (46%) of homeowners questioned said they are now more environmentally aware as a result of the recent energy crisis and price volatility. Nearly one in five homeowners (18%) said they are now ‘more likely’ to consider installing a heat pump than in previous years and more than half (55%) of heating professionals report an uptick in consumer interest.
Again, Resideo has a series of Honeywell Home products that can help customers explore new heating technologies. The T3, DT4 and evohome are all now compatible with heat pumps. For those wanting to combine heat pumps with underfloor heating too, the Honeywell Home HCC100 multizone controller can offer zoning options and works alongside the DT4 and evohome for even greater installation flexibility.
Worryingly, nearly 1 in 10 homeowners (9%) admitted to never having checked that their heating controls are running effectively – that equates to 2.5 million homeowners2 across the country! However, this is maybe the easiest challenge to resolve by taking action and making that long overdue check.
Martin Wilson, Regional Director – North EMEA at Resideo comments: “It is clear is that energy bills and how to reduce them as much as possible remains front of mind with many UK homeowners, and it's driving some fundamental behavioural change such as being more environmentally aware. Installers have a key role to play in providing the solutions to the challenges their customers are facing. They are on the heating control front line and can proactively provide guidance, recommending the most suitable heating controls and advising on how to optimise their energy management."
For further information on the latest Honeywell Home thermostats and controls to suit a wide variety of installs, visit Resideo.com/got-it/.
Notes to editors
The Honeywell Home trademark is used under a long-term license from Honeywell International Inc. Based on the licensor relationship, Honeywell was not involved in this research and neither supports nor denies its validity.
1 Survey of 1000 homeowners and 100 installers in the UK carried out on behalf of Resideo by One Poll in August 2024.
2 Based on 28.36m UK homeowners: https://www.uswitch.com/mortgages/home-ownership-statistics/
About Resideo
Resideo is a leading global manufacturer and developer of technology-driven products and components that provide critical comfort, energy management, smart living and safety and security solutions to over 150 million homes globally. Resideo’s trusted First Alert® brand offers smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, escape ladders and water leak detection solutions. With proven expertise for more than a century, the company’s Honeywell Home smart thermostats help balance indoor air quality and offer energy savings. Through the ADI Global Distribution business, Resideo also is a leading wholesale distributor of low-voltage security and life safety products for commercial and residential markets. For more information about Resideo, visit FirstAlert.com, HoneywellHome.com or Resideo.com.