Marie Hand has been working at Kensa Heat Pumps for the past 15 years. Kensa produces ground source heat pumps, a reliable and efficient heating and cooling alternative to fossil fuels. Maire started her career at Kensa working on the factory floor and now oversees the production line, helping get heat pumps out of the door and enabling more people switch to renewable energy.

“I have a little granddaughter and I want her to grow up with better air and to not worry about global warming. It’s a privilege to do what I do – helping the climate and helping people to get out of fuel poverty and hopefully give them a better life. That’s why I do it – to try and make the world a better place, I guess.”

The fossil fuels used in homes for heating, hot water and cooking make up more than a fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions. And, according to the latest figures, there were approximately 2.4 million households considered to be in fuel poverty in 2018. Thanks to Marie and her team, thousands of households across the UK are benefiting from low-carbon, affordable energy.

“I think people are starting to think about the environment now. And it’s just the way forward. We have had reports from customers saying how warm their houses are and that they have been so pleased. It’s nice to get that.”