Customers start asking for fossil fuel free products

Customers of HVAC installers and plumbers are already asking for fossil fuel free products. This is already 16% in the UK and 40% in Poland. It is expected that it will take 10 to 15 years for a big shift to alternative energy sources. The majority of the installers are already taking trainings for fossil fuel free solutions. These are some of the results of the Q2 2018 report of the European Mechanical Installation Monitor with the theme ‘Shift towards fuel free products’. This report is based on 954 successful interviews with HVAC installers and plumbers in six European countries.

By Ralitsa Ruseva
25 Sep 2018
Installation, News,
Subscribe to the newsletter

Customers start asking for fossil fuel free products

There are differences per country, but it is clear that customers are asking for fossil fuel free products nowadays. The top-3 of the countries with highest share consists of Poland (40%), the Netherlands (32%) and Germany (29%). The other investigated countries indicate lower shares of customers asking for fossil fuel free products, which are 26% in Belgium, 25% in France and 16% in the UK.

Expected time needed for the big shift

The expectancy of the interviewed installers is that it will take 10 to15 years on average for a big shift to alternative energy sources. Installers in Germany mention on average the longest period of time needed (15 years) and French installers say this will take 10.5 years. USP has in general the experience that in the construction and installation market, changes need more time then expected. So based on the outcomes of the research the big shift to fossil free solutions should not have to be expected before 2035.    

HVAC installers are getting trained in new technologies

European HVAC installers and plumbers already take trainings to work with different types of heat pump, solar systems and so on. The share of German installers that take these trainings is 91%, which is clearly the highest in Europe. In other investigated countries this is much lower. For example, only 54% of the installers in France take trainings to work with different kind of fossil fuel free products.