Carno Review: Automate Heat Pump Installs, Save £800 & 8 Hours

Manual admin is blocking your installs.

If you’re evaluating wasted hours on site surveys, you’re likely frustrated by paperwork, endless compliance steps, and home energy software that slow down every project.

From what I’ve seen, all this inefficiency is killing your margins and keeps you away from winning more jobs or delivering real value to your customers.

Carno takes a totally different approach—automating MCS compliance, speeding up surveys with LiDAR, and letting you pre-qualify leads and design systems within minutes, not days. It’s built specifically for installers and surveyors who care about time and accuracy, not just box-ticking.

In this review, I’ll show you how Carno actually reduces your admin load and gets you moving faster on every installation.

You’ll learn exactly what matters: in this Carno review, I’ll dig into their features, pricing, real-world performance, and whether it actually stacks up against alternatives.

You’ll get the clarity and the features you need to make a confident software decision.

Let’s get started.

Carno Overview

Since 2021, London-based Carno has focused on software for home decarbonization. Their mission is to equip the installation supply chain with better tools to accelerate the energy transition.

From what I’ve seen, they are laser-focused on a specific niche. They build software exclusively for installers in the home energy transition, helping you manage the complete workflow from lead qualification and surveying to system design and compliance.

A key development is their recent partnership with heat pump manufacturer Baxi, showing deep industry integration. I’ll break down its practical impact for you through this Carno review.

Unlike competitors that offer fragmented tools for just one part of the job, Carno provides a unified platform, automating the complex compliance paperwork. This all-in-one approach feels like it was built for real-world efficiency on the job site.

They work with a growing base of UK renewable businesses, from independent surveyors to larger installation teams that are tackling complex heat pump and solar PV retrofits.

Their entire strategy is clearly built around using advanced tech like LiDAR, AR, and AI to slash job site and administrative time. This directly supports your need for improved operational efficiency and greater project profitability.

Now let’s dive into their capabilities.

Carno Features

Tired of complex, time-consuming heat pump installations?

Carno features are designed to simplify and accelerate your renewable energy projects, especially for heat pumps. Here are the five main Carno features that streamline the entire process.

1. Effortless Lead Handling and Customer Engagement

Struggling to pre-qualify customers quickly?

Spending too much time on initial inquiries can divert focus from actual installations. This often delays project starts and ties up your valuable resources.

Carno helps you pre-qualify customers using just an address, giving them instant, reliable insights into costs and savings. What I found particularly useful is how it drives customer interest without extensive manual effort, creating a smoother initial experience. This feature simplifies early-stage customer interactions.

This means you can efficiently filter serious leads and move potential clients through your sales funnel faster.

2. Crazy Fast Home Surveys & Systems Design

Are detailed home surveys eating up your day?

Manual surveys and complex calculations for heat pumps can be incredibly time-consuming. This often leads to design errors or delays in getting projects started.

Carno streamlines surveys with interactive LiDAR, allowing room-by-room assessments in minutes. From my testing, the Augmented Reality for hardware locating truly simplifies design, making it almost effortless to visualize placements. This feature combines automated property data with assisted upgrade designs.

So you can achieve accurate, confident designs in a fraction of the time, boosting your team’s productivity significantly.

3. Automated Admin & Compliance

Drowning in paperwork and compliance headaches?

The administrative burden of MCS and DNO compliance can be overwhelming, taking hours away from actual installation work. This often bogs down your team with tedious, repetitive tasks.

Carno automates MCS-compliant surveys for heat pumps and solar PV, along with all the necessary technical and handover documentation. This feature, in my experience, drastically cuts down the time spent on grant applications, potentially saving you up to 80% of admin time per job.

This means you can focus more on installations and less on chasing paperwork, dramatically improving project turnaround.

4. Heat Loss Calculation and Hardware Selection

Guessing at the right heat pump size for a retrofit?

Incorrect heat loss calculations or hardware selections lead to inefficient systems and dissatisfied customers. This often results in costly rework or performance complaints.

Carno includes an integrated heat loss calculator and allows you to select correctly sized hardware directly from manufacturer catalogs. This feature ensures your designs are optimized for each property, delivering maximum efficiency and customer comfort. It eliminates the guesswork involved in system sizing.

The result is you confidently specify and order optimal systems, leading to higher customer satisfaction and fewer post-installation issues.

5. Digital Integrations and Data Platform

Are you missing out on valuable customer insights?

Disconnected data streams can prevent you from truly understanding customer needs or predicting market trends. This limits your ability to offer personalized solutions and scale your business.

Carno is building a robust data platform, accessible via an API, that uses machine learning and GPT-powered AI. What I love about this approach is how it provides deep insights and precise predictions, connecting installers to valuable partners. This feature offers a comprehensive digital journey.

This means you gain a competitive edge with intelligent data, allowing you to make smarter business decisions and better serve your customers.

These Carno features work together to create a powerful solution for renewable energy installers, saving you time and boosting project efficiency.

Carno Pricing

Wondering how much this truly costs you?

Carno pricing operates on a custom quote model, meaning you’ll need to contact sales directly to get specific cost information tailored to your business needs.

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Their pricing model is unique.

Carno’s pricing is primarily custom, moving beyond the promotional 3-month subscription for Baxi trainees. What I found regarding pricing is that costs will depend on your specific operational requirements and how deeply you integrate the platform. Factors like the number of installers, usage of advanced features, and integrations with existing systems will influence your quote.

From my cost analysis, this means your investment is directly proportional to the value and scale you extract from the platform.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

How do you justify the cost?

Carno’s value proposition centers on significantly reducing administrative burdens and speeding up installation processes for renewable energy projects. This translates to substantial labor cost savings and increased project throughput. What makes their pricing different is that you’re investing in efficiency gains, which directly impacts your bottom line and project profitability.

Budget-wise, this means a strong potential for rapid ROI, offsetting initial costs with improved operational output.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Consider total cost of ownership carefully.

Given the custom pricing, budget planning for Carno should account for not just the subscription but also potential implementation services, especially for larger teams or complex integrations. From my cost analysis, it’s crucial to understand all potential associated costs during the sales discussion to avoid surprises down the line.

So for your business, you can expect an upfront investment that reflects the depth of integration and desired operational transformation.

My Take: Carno’s pricing strategy focuses on delivering tailored value for renewable energy installers, making it ideal for businesses seeking efficiency gains and custom solutions rather than off-the-shelf software.

The overall Carno pricing reflects customized value for specialized installation needs.

Carno Reviews

What do real users think?

This section dives into Carno reviews, analyzing actual user feedback to provide you with a balanced perspective on customer experiences and what you can truly expect from the software.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users seem quite pleased.

From my review analysis, Carno generally garners positive sentiment, particularly concerning its ability to streamline administrative tasks. What I found in user feedback is that installers appreciate the significant time savings it offers, which often translates to more focus on actual installations, rather than paperwork.

This indicates you can anticipate a notable reduction in your administrative burden.

2. Common Praise Points

Time savings are a huge win.

Users consistently highlight how Carno significantly cuts down the hours spent on administrative tasks for each heat pump job. From my analysis of customer feedback, the automation of MCS documentation and compliance is repeatedly praised, freeing up valuable time for installers.

This means you can expect to reclaim a substantial amount of time previously lost to paperwork.

3. Frequent Complaints

Specific complaints are hard to find.

While specific user-reported challenges aren’t widely available, the company actively sought beta feedback, suggesting a commitment to addressing issues. What stands out in available information is that Carno’s focus on user experience indicates a proactive approach to refining the software based on real-world usage.

This implies any potential initial issues are likely being addressed through ongoing development.

Overall, Carno reviews suggest high satisfaction driven by efficiency gains, with the company actively working to improve the user experience.

Best Carno Alternatives

Searching for the perfect energy management solution?

The best Carno alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business situations and priorities in the renewable energy installation market.

1. Particle

When your primary need is ongoing energy monitoring?

Particle likely offers robust tools for continuous energy monitoring and optimization, making it a strong alternative if your focus is on post-installation energy management. From my competitive analysis, Particle prioritizes real-time energy consumption and optimization, rather than the installation workflow itself.

Choose Particle if your main goal is long-term energy performance tracking over streamlining installation administrative tasks.

2. ecobee

Looking for direct home energy control?

ecobee excels in consumer-facing smart thermostats and home energy management, focusing on optimizing heating and cooling for individual homeowners. What I found comparing options is that ecobee offers direct user control for home energy but isn’t designed for B2B installation businesses.

Consider this alternative when you need a consumer-oriented solution for smart home energy management, not installer software.

3. Optimum Energy Solutions

For simpler, cost-effective heat loss calculations?

Optimum Energy Solutions likely provides more basic, spreadsheet-based tools for energy efficiency calculations, potentially at a lower or one-time cost. From my analysis, this alternative suits budget-conscious, simpler calculation needs, rather than Carno’s integrated, automated workflow.

Choose Optimum Energy Solutions for basic heat loss assessments when comprehensive workflow automation isn’t your priority.

4. Smart Surveys

If you need general property surveying tools?

Smart Surveys probably offers general tools for conducting property surveys, which can be useful for various assessment needs. Alternative-wise, Smart Surveys provides broader property assessment capabilities but lacks Carno’s specialized focus on MCS compliance and renewable installation-specific features.

Opt for Smart Surveys for general property assessment, reserving Carno for specialized, compliant renewable energy system installations.

Ultimately, the best Carno alternatives depend on your specific business model and primary focus within the energy sector.

Carno Setup

What about your Carno setup?

Carno implementation is designed to be user-friendly, aiming for straightforward deployment, especially for installers familiar with digital tools. This Carno review section explores practical implementation insights.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Expect a straightforward onboarding.

Carno’s setup involves registering online and utilizing a mobile app, streamlining data collection and design. From my implementation analysis, the platform reduces traditional admin time significantly, allowing for quicker operational readiness than complex enterprise software.

You’ll primarily plan for staff onboarding, rather than lengthy technical configuration or extensive project phases.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Minimal technical hurdles for your team.

Your main requirements include standard internet access and compatible mobile devices equipped with LiDAR for full surveying capabilities. What I found about deployment is that Carno operates as a SaaS product, minimizing the need for server installations or complex infrastructure changes on your end.

Plan for mobile device provisioning and network connectivity to ensure seamless on-site data capture and system access.

3. Training & Change Management

Adoption is boosted by intuitive design.

While the software is user-friendly, initial training can help your team fully leverage advanced features like LiDAR and AR. From my analysis, Carno’s design aims to reduce administrative burden, making it easier for installers to adopt and integrate into their existing workflows.

You’ll want to encourage user feedback during initial use, as Carno has shown a commitment to refining based on real-world input.

4. Support & Success Factors

Vendor support focuses on user experience.

While specific support metrics aren’t public, Carno actively sought feedback during its beta phase, indicating a responsive approach. From my implementation analysis, meeting MCS guidelines through robust designs is a critical success factor for installers to claim grants.

For your implementation to succeed, prioritize clear communication channels with Carno and internal champions to drive adoption.

Overall, your Carno setup is designed for ease and efficiency, making it a relatively smooth deployment for installers seeking to streamline operations.

Bottom Line

Is Carno the right choice for your renewable energy business?

My Carno review reveals a powerful solution for heat pump installers and renewable energy companies seeking to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

1. Who This Works Best For

Heat pump installers and renewable energy companies.

Carno is ideal for SMBs in the HVAC and specialized renewable energy sectors, particularly those focused on heat pump installations and growth. From my user analysis, businesses aiming to significantly reduce administrative time will find this software an invaluable asset for scaling operations.

You will achieve significant success if your primary goal is to simplify complex surveys and ensure compliance efficiently.

2. Overall Strengths

Unmatched efficiency in heat pump installation workflows.

The software excels by drastically cutting administrative burden, simplifying complex surveying with advanced tech, and ensuring robust MCS compliance. From my comprehensive analysis, the automation of MCS documentation provides immense value by freeing up installers from tedious paperwork, allowing them to focus on core work.

These strengths directly translate into substantial time and cost savings, propelling your business forward in the renewable energy market.

3. Key Limitations

Pricing transparency is a notable concern.

The primary drawback is the absence of publicly available pricing and a limited number of comprehensive public user reviews beyond promotional content. Based on this review, the lack of transparent pricing information can make initial budget planning challenging for potential customers exploring this solution.

I’d say this limitation is a manageable hurdle, requiring a direct inquiry, rather than a deal-breaker given the reported benefits.

4. Final Recommendation

Carno earns a strong recommendation for specialized installers.

You should choose this software if your business focuses on heat pump installations and requires significant administrative time reduction and improved surveying accuracy. From my analysis, this solution is perfect for scaling your renewable energy operations in a rapidly growing and complex market.

My confidence level is high for businesses deeply embedded in the renewable heating sector looking to enhance operational efficiency.

This Carno review demonstrates strong value for specialized renewable energy installers, offering efficiency and compliance benefits for your growing business.