Misleading government advertising - Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)

RE: Misleading government advertising

JamesPa — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:34:47 +0000

@derek-m Fair cop (or COP?). That just shows how easy it is to interpret something in a way that one expects not read what it actually says. This is misleading!

RE: Misleading government advertising

Derek M — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:17:50 +0000

@jamespa

That's strange, I did not realise that heat pumps provide our homes with electricity, and not only that, but they also clean the electricity before doing so. I wonder do heat pumps polish the electrons? 😋

RE: Misleading government advertising

JamesPa — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:59:02 +0000

Does it conflate the two, the bit about heat pumps (reproduced below) talks about energy efficiency not cost savings so far as I read it. I guess you could argue that the title does put all the measures into the same bucket, but then you could also argue that the title reflects the fact that the article itself deals with two different things (ie energy efficiency and cost saving).

It will be interesting to hear what ASA says.

6544

RE: Misleading government advertising

Abernyte — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:57:08 +0000

Are heat pumps generally rated poor in EPC's in England? It doesn't seem to be the case on mine in 2019 in Scotland.

6542

Misleading government advertising

Mike Patrick — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:31:33 +0000

You may have seen a government information advert which appears on TV. I've most recently seen it on Channel 4 catch-up.

It has a link to a website https://energy-efficient-home.campaign.gov.uk/ which makes the same claims as the advert.

The advert enourages us to adopt energy efficiency measures such as heat pumps, loft insulation, double glazing and so on.

It conflates claims of better energy efficiency for heat pumps, with operating cost savings for other measures. In so doing I think it is misleading in encouraging people to believe that a heat pump will be an operating cost saving measure. I pointed out that EPCs which rate the energy cost of a property, rate ASHPs as Poor.

I think if a private business was to do this it would lay itself open to claims of mis-representation.

I should probably get out more but anyway I've complained about the advert to the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority). We'll see what is their response.

Mike