QUALITATIVE CONSUMER INSIGHT ON THE TOPIC OF BOILERS AND HEATING CONTROLS

BEIS is exploring ways of reducing emissions from domestic gas central heating systems. As part of their Boiler Policy project, BEIS is proposing options to update minimum standards on the energy efficiency of boilers and heating controls. Given the wide ranging technologies available, and the differing circumstances of consumers, one policy option is to require households to choose from a list of heating technologies - including: Passive Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHR); zonal control; Time Proportional Integral (TPI) control; Automated Optimisation.

The success of the policy will depend on buy-in from consumers, the media and at a political level. This buy-in is, to a large extent, dependent on putting consumers at the heart of policy design. BEIS is therefore looking to commission qualitative research to better understand what choices regarding heating technologies consumers would like to make (or leave to the installer's recommendation), to what extent they are capable of making these decisions, and what types of information and advice would be useful.

The research will build on previous panel survey findings about consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for certain technologies or energy saving advice.

The specific aims of the project are to provide insight of the following:

BEIS have proposed that an online qualitative forum is used to deliver this research, with sample recruited from the consumer panel. Our suggested approach is outlined below.