We spoke with Brian Horne, to find out:
- how renewable energy powers his zero carbon home
- what it’s like to live with a heat pump
- why integrated electric homes are the future
Brian is our technical knowledge lead. He led the research into the ‘integrated electric home’ – that’s a home with a heat pump, solar panels and battery combination. But he didn’t just research it – he lives in one.
Modern Eco-Friendly Home with Solar Panels (Image: D. Goug/Pexels)
Brian installed an air source heat pump, solar panels and battery in 2023. He was already driving an electric vehicle (EV), but wanted to “future-proof” his 1960s bungalow and go zero carbon to address the climate emergency.
We spoke to Brian to find out:
- what having a zero carbon home is really like
- whether he thinks making the switch was worth it
- what he’d tell anyone else thinking about doing the same
Why did you decide to go zero carbon?
Brian didn’t start with a heat pump. After switching to an EV, he improved his home step by step. His main goal wasn’t quick savings. He wanted to cut carbon, improve comfort and future‑proof his home.
“I wanted to get a heat pump after the EV,” Brian explains. “But it took me so long to find the right installer, so I went for solar panels first – because that was easier to find someone.”
Brian got a battery at the same time because he “liked the idea of having one” to make the most of the electricity generated by his solar panels.
And while this has saved money, it was the climate emergency that drove Brian’s renewable technology journey: “it’s the knowledge that I’m doing what I think needs to be done.”
Read more: Energy Saving Trust
