In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, I’m joined by Emilie Romain, one of the original voices putting heat pumps and renewables on YouTube long before the industry became mainstream.
Back in 2020 and 2021, if you searched YouTube for heat pumps, there was very little content available. Emilie and her company EcoBubl were some of the first to regularly show real installations, explain how the technology worked and document the renewable journey in normal homes.
We talk about how she accidentally became one of the first “renewables influencers”, her route from pet care into heat pumps, building EcoBubl during COVID, working with Fully Charged, women in renewables, training installers and how the industry has changed over the last few years. It is a fascinating look back at the early days of renewable content creation and how far the industry has come.
What we cover in this episode
- why Emilie became one of the first heat pump YouTubers
- how EcoBubl started during COVID
- why YouTube became their marketing strategy
- filming early heat pump installs and renewable systems
- how renewable content exploded online after 2020
- moving from pet care into renewables
- learning heat pump installation on site
- women in renewables and customer reactions
- why explaining technology simply matters
- how homeowners respond differently to installers
- training installers through EcoBubl and Daikin
- retrofit assessment and understanding homes properly
- EPCs, retrofit and heat loss discussions
- working with Fully Charged / Everything Electric
- interviewing Robert Llewellyn
- Midsummer, The Heat Pump Show and Everything Electric
- why the renewables industry now feels completely different
- how social media helped normalise heat pumps
- why proof, data and visibility still matter for adopti
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Full Transcript
Below is the full transcript for this episode, lightly edited for readability.
Meet the OG Heat Pump YouTuber
The episode opens with a look back at YouTube around 2020 and 2021. At that point, searching for “heat pump” on YouTube returned very little useful content. Emilie was one of the few people openly documenting installs, explaining systems and showing real homes.
How EcoBubl Started
Emilie explains how EcoBubl originally started with ambitions around renewable distribution and training, but COVID changed the direction of the business almost overnight. Instead of focusing on training, the company moved heavily into installations.
Why YouTube Became the Marketing Strategy
Without large marketing budgets, EcoBubl turned to YouTube as a way of showing their work. The videos were intended simply to document installs and attract local customers, but they unexpectedly gained traction online.
Going Viral in the Early Heat Pump Days
Emilie talks about how strange it felt when customers started calling because they had watched the videos online. At the time, very few installers were creating renewable content, so the videos stood out immediately.
Becoming a Renewable Influencer by Accident
The discussion explores how the renewable creator scene barely existed back then. Today there are countless installers and creators producing renewable content, but Emilie was one of the people who helped prove there was an audience for it.
From Pet Care to Heat Pumps
One of the most surprising parts of the episode is Emilie’s background. Before renewables, she spent over a decade working in the pet care industry before taking a leap into a renewable distributor role and eventually co-founding EcoBubl.
Learning Heat Pumps on the Job
Rather than following a traditional route into plumbing and heating, Emilie learned directly on site while working alongside a qualified heating engineer. She describes starting out effectively as an apprentice, helping with radiators, outdoor work and installation basics.
Why Customers Wanted the “Next Thing”
A really interesting theme is how homeowners naturally progressed through electrification. Many customers started with a heat pump, then added solar and batteries afterwards once they saw the wider opportunities around energy savings and self-consumption.
Women in Renewables
We spend time discussing how unusual it was at the time to see a woman fronting renewable installation videos online. Emilie explains that customer reactions were often very positive, particularly for homeowners who found her easier to relate to and more approachable.
Explaining Heat Pumps Without the Jargon
A major reason the videos worked was their simplicity. Instead of using technical language, the goal was always to explain heat pumps and renewables in a way normal homeowners could understand.
Why the Industry Needs Better Communication
The episode explores how parts of the heating industry still overcomplicate things unnecessarily. Emilie argues that clearer communication is essential if renewables are going to become truly mainstream.
Training Installers and Running a Renewable Centre
EcoBubl later developed into a training centre and showroom, eventually becoming accredited for training and running manufacturer courses for Daikin installers. The centre also allowed homeowners to see heat pumps operating in person.
Why Seeing a Heat Pump in Real Life Matters
At the time, most people had never even seen a heat pump before. The showroom gave homeowners a chance to hear the noise levels, see the physical size and understand how the systems actually worked.
Retrofit Assessment and Understanding Buildings
Emilie also trained as a retrofit assessor, which led into discussions around insulation, EPCs, ventilation and how to assess homes properly before recommending renewable technologies.
Why EPCs Still Have Problems
The conversation touches on the limitations of EPCs, especially when treated as a definitive measure of energy performance. While improvements have been made, Emilie argues they still miss too much detail about real homes.
Working With Fully Charged and Robert Llewellyn
As the YouTube channel grew, Emilie eventually connected with the Fully Charged team and interviewed Robert Llewellyn during the launch of EcoBubl’s training centre. That relationship later led to appearances on Fully Charged itself.
Behind the Scenes of Renewable Video Production
We also talk about filming, scripts and editing. Most of the videos were loosely structured around a few bullet points rather than heavily scripted, helping the content feel more natural and approachable.
Returning to Renewables After a Break
Following the closure of EcoBubl and time away after having her second child, Emilie discusses returning to the industry and how different the atmosphere now feels compared to the early days.
The Industry Has Changed Massively
One of the biggest changes is enthusiasm. In the early years, homeowners were often sceptical about heat pumps and renewables. Today, many people actively want to electrify their homes and are excited by the technology.
Why Proof and Real Data Matter
Despite the growth, there is still a feeling that renewable systems constantly need to prove themselves. The discussion highlights how long-term data, performance stats and real-world examples help build confidence.
The Heat Pump Show and Everything Electric
Towards the end of the episode, we discuss newer industry events like The Heat Pump Show and Everything Electric, including how much larger and more mainstream the renewable industry now feels compared to only a few years ago.
Final Thoughts: Standing on the Shoulders of the Early Creators
The overall theme of the episode is how much the renewable creator space has evolved. Many of today’s installers and creators are building on foundations laid by some of the very early YouTube pioneers who helped make heat pumps and renewables visible to mainstream audiences in the first place.
About the Energy Unwrapped Podcast
Energy Unwrapped is my podcast about renewables, home electrification and how energy technology works in the real world. You can browse all episodes, platform links and future updates on the main Energy Unwrapped Podcast page.
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