How we work
Who builds it
KarbonKit is built by Michael Fell, a researcher at University College London. It grew out of pump:chic, which let homeowners try out a heat pump before deciding. KarbonKit is a working product rather than a research project, though it draws on Michael’s research into how households decide about low-carbon technology. The method, figures and sources behind each widget are on the methodology pages, with the date each figure was last checked.
How it is paid for
Paid plans are not on sale yet. We plan to sell licences to organisations that can afford them, such as installers, manufacturers, energy suppliers, councils and housing associations. A licence will add features, such as enquiry collection, and support.
Free for small organisations. If your organisation has no funding or a small budget, for example a community energy group, a small charity or a volunteer group, KarbonKit will stay free for you. If a feature we charge for would help and cost is what stops you, ask us at hello@karbonkit.com and we will waive it. Bespoke work may still cost something.
What we won’t do
- We won’t sell or share visitors’ details. A visitor’s details leave KarbonKit only when they ask: an enquiry form that the site’s owner has switched on sends them to that owner.
- We won’t let installers pay for a better position. The installer finder lists installers nearest first. A site owner can add installers they know, and those are labelled as suggested by the owner. If we ever charge installers, it will be for an introduction a visitor chose to make, never for where they appear.
- We won’t market to the people who use a widget. KarbonKit emails a visitor only when they ask for something, such as their boiler escape plan, and does not use the address again.
- We won’t present estimates as quotes. The calculator gives cost ranges and says which inputs each answer rests on, so a visitor knows that a survey comes next.
What we store, for how long and who processes it is on the privacy and security page.
Getting in touch
Email hello@karbonkit.com if something here looks wrong, or to ask whether KarbonKit suits your organisation.