Energy Unwrapped with Mick Wall

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick Wall is joined by Steph Willis from Spruce to unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of heat pump design: heat loss calculations.They explore why heat loss surveys matter, how outdated ventilation assumptions have led to oversized systems, and why many homeowners may have been quoted for larger heat pumps — and more radiator upgrades — than they actually needed.Topics include:- Fabric vs ventilation heat loss- Why old guidance produced inflated heat loss figures- The real impact on heat pump sizing and system costs- Air changes, blower door tests & infiltration- Why accurate surveys matter for installers and homeowners- How better heat loss calculations could reduce disruption and improve heat pump adoptionA practical and honest conversation for homeowners, installers, and anyone interested in heat pumps, retrofit, and home energy efficiency.📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools:👉 https://energy-stats.uk🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer?👉 https://energy-stats.uk/trusted-heat-pump-installers/⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50):👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast:In-depth conversations with installers, engineers and industry experts — breaking down what actually works in UK homes.Alongside the podcast, you’ll find practical guides, deep dives and real-world performance data to help you make smarter energy decisions.

In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped Podcast, I’m joined by Claire Rowland from the Living Lab at Energy Systems Catapult.The Living Lab is a panel of over 5,000 UK households sharing real energy data, helping us understand how people actually use energy in their homes. We talk through what that data shows about EVs, solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, including which technologies people install first and how households build towards fully electrified homes.We also dig into how the data is collected, what it’s used for, and how it feeds into product development, research and even energy system planning. Claire explains how companies and policymakers use this real-world insight to design better services, tariffs and technologies.We reference this report during the episode:What can the Living Lab tell us about home energy technology adoption?https://es.catapult.org.uk/insight/what-can-the-living-lab-tell-us-about-home-energy-technology-adoption/We also cover how you can get involved in the Living Lab, what’s involved, and what participants get back, from paid trials to early access to new technologies.If you’re interested in real-world home energy data and where UK homes are heading next, this one’s worth a listen.Want to take part in trials, share your energy data, or help shape the future of UK energy? https://www.livinglab.energy/🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner.📊 Data & analysis on my website:👉 https://energy-stats.uk⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, I’m joined by TJ Root from Octopus Energy to walk through the full journey of getting a heat pump, from the first online quote through to survey, design and installation.We talk about the Octopus Cosy heat pump, why it looks the way it does, how it is installed and what really matters when it comes to heat loss, radiator sizing and system design. There is also a good discussion around common concerns like noise, siting and R290 refrigerant.A big part of this episode is about getting the basics right. We get into why heat loss figures can vary, why gas usage is not always a reliable guide, and why slightly undersizing a heat pump can be a bigger risk than many people realise.If you are thinking about a heat pump, or just want to understand how the process actually works in a real UK home, this is a really useful one.Get £100 Octopus heat pump referral:https://tech.referrals.octopus.energy/ucMTeP8d🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner.📊 Data & analysis on my website:👉 https://energy-stats.uk⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

The Future Homes Standard is finally here. From 2027, new homes in the UK will move away from gas boilers and towards heat pumps, solar and fully electric design.But is it enough… or are we still building homes that will need fixing later?In this episode, I’m joined by Nigel Banks from Octopus Energy to break down what the Future Homes Standard actually means in practice, and whether Zero Bills Homes are genuinely achievable.We talk through:What’s changing in new build homesWhy gas boilers are effectively being phased outHow much solar will actually go on roofsWhy we ended up with 2-panel installsHeat pumps, design, and common mistakesExport limits and grid constraintsWhether zero energy bills are realisticOne standout moment: in some cases, it’s now cheaper to install solar than slate roofing If you’re interested in heat pumps, solar, tariffs, or the future of home energy in the UK, this one’s worth a listen.🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner.📊 Data & analysis on my website:👉 https://energy-stats.uk⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

Intelligent Octopus Go is changing, and it’s caused a fair bit of debate.In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Schoch, Group Director of Flexibility and Electrification at Octopus Energy, to explain what’s changing, why it’s happening, and what it means in practice.We get into the new 6-hour charging setup, how the charge cap works, and why most EV charging sessions are shorter than people think.But this goes much further than one tariff.We also talk about grid flexibility, how EVs and batteries are being used to balance the grid, why export rates are moving away from flat pricing, and how tariffs like Flux and Agile fit into that direction of travel.There’s also a look at vehicle-to-grid (V2G), how it works, and why it could become a big part of home energy in the future.If you’re using Intelligent Octopus Go, thinking about switching, or just trying to understand where tariffs and home energy are heading, this should give you a clearer picture.🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner.📊 Data & analysis on my website:👉 https://energy-stats.uk⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, I’m joined by Rhiannon de Wreede to talk about her journey into renewables, starting with a plumbing course and moving into heat pumps, system design and domestic energy.We get into what it’s really like retraining later in life, the challenges of breaking into the heating industry, and why training doesn’t always translate into real-world competence. There’s a strong focus on heat pump systems, design, and the importance of getting the fundamentals right.We also cover solar panels, battery storage, EVs and tariffs, along with Rhiannon’s own home setup and how real data helps build trust with homeowners.Finally, we talk about women in renewables, the barriers that still exist, and what needs to change to bring more people into the industry.If you’re interested in heat pumps, renewable energy, or thinking about a career change, this one’s well worth a listen.🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner.📊 Data & analysis on my website:👉 https://energy-stats.uk⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

Are heat pumps noisy? In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick Wall is joined by Jez Climas from City Plumbing to unpack one of the biggest questions homeowners ask about an air source heat pump.They talk through where heat pump noise really comes from, including compressors, fans, vibration, pipework and installation quality. The conversation also covers the MCS noise assessment, neighbour impact, quiet mode, hot water runs, maintenance, and why many modern heat pumps are much quieter than people expect.A practical episode for homeowners, installers, and anyone researching heat pump noise, air source heat pumps, and low temperature heatingIf you're getting value from my podcasts, and would like to support me in my efforts to help everyone, here are a few ways to do this:1. Visit my Energy Stats UK website for a range of offers and different ways to support: https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site2. If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy, use my referral code here and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts! https://mickwall.octopus.energy/3. Feel free to buy me a coffee :-) http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM4. Like and subscribe to help other people find the podcast, thank you.

Heating system water quality is one of the most overlooked causes of boiler and heat pump problems. Sludge, corrosion and dirty system water can quietly damage pumps, valves and heat exchangers if a system isn’t flushed and treated properly.In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, Mick Wall talks to heating engineer Ricky Prescott from Thoroughflush about power flushing, magnetic filters, inhibitor chemicals and the VDI approach to water treatment, and what homeowners should know to protect their heating systems.If you're getting value from my podcasts, and would like to support me in my efforts to help everyone, here are a few ways to do this:1. Visit my Energy Stats UK website for a range of offers and different ways to support: https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site2. If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy, use my referral code here and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts! https://mickwall.octopus.energy/3. Feel free to buy me a coffee :-) http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM4. Like and subscribe to help other people find the podcast, thank you.

In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, I’m joined by Paul Arundale for a proper homeowner-to-homeowner chat about going from gas to a heat pump, and everything that tends to come with it: EVs, solar, batteries, and even vehicle-to-grid.Paul talks through his “gateway drug” into renewables via a government-backed V2G trial, how that nudged him into solar, why hot water storage becomes a real design constraint, and what it’s actually like living with a Samsung HTQ heat pump, warts and all, including controls, cycling, and the stuff you only discover at 3am If you’re weighing up a heat pump (or you’ve already got one and you’re wondering what “normal” looks like), this one’s for you.If you're getting value from my podcasts, and would like to support me in my efforts to help everyone, here are a few ways to do this:1. Visit my Energy Stats UK website for a range of offers and different ways to support: https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site2. If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy, use my referral code here and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts! https://mickwall.octopus.energy/3. Feel free to buy me a coffee :-) http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick Wall is joined by Alex Nelson, co-founder of Havenwise, to talk about smart heat pump control and what better optimisation really looks like in the real world.They discuss how Havenwise came to life, why manufacturer controls do not always deliver the best comfort, and how weather compensation can keep homes more stable. The conversation also explores hot water scheduling, time-of-use tariffs, and where smart control can genuinely reduce running costs.Mick shares his own experience running Havenwise on his Vaillant heat pump since April 2025, including where it works well and who it may not be for.Topics covered:• How Havenwise works• Weather compensation and home comfort• Smart hot water scheduling• Using time-of-use tariffs to save money• Who Havenwise is best suited forTo claim your free month trial of Havenwise: https://www.havenwise.co.uk/partners/energy-statsMy Havenwise Review: https://energy-stats.uk/havenwise-review-vaillant-heat-pump/My Hot Water Golden Rules: https://energy-stats.uk/best-heat-pump-hot-water-settings/If you're getting value from my podcasts, and would like to support me in my efforts to help everyone, here are a few ways to do this:1. Visit my Energy Stats UK website for a range of offers and different ways to support: https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site2. If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy, use my referral code here and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts! https://mickwall.octopus.energy/3. Feel free to buy me a coffee :-) http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In Episode 3 of the Energy Unwrapped Podcast, Mick Wall visits Octopus Energy to speak with Phil Steele about Octopus Agile, Intelligent Octopus Go, the Octopus API, and what really happens when you electrify your home.They cover the origins of Energy Stats UK, smart tariffs, solar, batteries, EV charging with Zappi, installing a Vaillant aroTHERM heat pump, accurate COP monitoring with OpenEnergyMonitor, and why time-of-use tariffs can matter more than chasing small efficiency gains.Visit my Energy Stats UK website for a range of offers and different ways to support: https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site/If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy, use my referral code here and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts! https://mickwall.octopus.energy/Feel free to buy me a coffee :-) http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick Wall interviews Gary Does Solar, who shares his unexpected journey into the world of solar energy. They discuss the challenges and considerations of installing solar panels, the evolution of solar technology, and the impact of rising energy prices on consumer decisions. Gary emphasizes the importance of thorough research and choosing the right installer, while also addressing the financial aspects of solar energy in the UK. The conversation highlights the potential for solar energy to save money and contribute to environmental sustainability, as well as the future innovations in the solar industry.Gary's YouTube Channel:  @GaryDoesSolar  Gary's Installer Directory: https://getreadyfor.solar/Energy Stats website: https://energy-stats.uk

Episode 1 is a short introduction to the Energy Unwrapped Podcast and the person behind it, Mick Wall from Energy Stats UK (http://energy-stats.uk). Mick shares how his renewable journey started with solar in 2018 and gradually grew to include batteries, an EV, smart hot water, and a Vaillant aroTHERM heat pump, leading to a fully electric 1930s semi in Sheffield. He explains how the Energy Stats UK website began as a way to track Octopus Energy tariff pricing through the API, before growing into a mix of real world data, guides, and deep dives into heat pumps and home energy.The episode also sets the direction for the podcast itself. After appearing on many shows as a guest, Mick wants to turn things around and start asking the questions, speaking with others about their own setups, experiences, and views on low carbon tech. This first recording is a simple introduction, a bit rough around the edges by his own admission, and an open invitation for listeners to suggest future guests and topics as the podcast finds its rhythm.