How do you know if someone is vegan? They will tell you, runs the old joke. How do you know if someone owns a heat pump? They will invite you into their home to admire the performance of a 14kw Midea R32 stuffed under the stairs behind some tasteful louvre shutters.

The “Visit A Heat Pump” scheme run by Nesta, an innovation charity, is a curio of Britain’s net-zero transition. Each weekend hundreds of volunteers welcome visitors into their homes to dis cuss how to book a council-mandated sound survey, the merits and demerits of a flow temperature of 55°C versus 45°C, and the joys of a triple-panel radiator. For someone in south London, the hosts on offer are David, Paul, Edward, Nick, Naresh, Mario, Stephen, Jerry, Bernie, Nicholas, Phil, Priyesh, Roy, Paul and Steph (who is also, incidentally, a man). The trend is obvious: the Net-Zero Dads are on the march.

The Economist, February 1st 2025

For years now, I’ve been a Net-Zero Dad without really knowing it. I’m up for doing things to live more sustainably, but I’m more motivated when it also involves making life more pleasant, saving money, or fettling interesting technology.

When The Economist picked up on me and the other NZDs showing people around our homes via VisitAHeatPump.com, it helped put a label on this approach to greener living. But, of course, it doesn’t stop at heat pumps. It never does. 😈