Heat decarbonization threatens substantial disruptions in temperate countries. However, the concept of disruption carries diverse meanings, potentially relating to cost, material space and everyday heating practices. Here, using interpretive risk theory, this article elucidates a relational understanding of how disruption is experienced and takes on meaning in everyday life. We deploy this framework to examine perceptions of four low-carbon heating technologies—heat pumps, hydrogen, hybrid heating and heat networks—alongside associated upgrades to distribution network infrastructure. Drawing on data from six, 1-day workshops representing a diversity of geographic and housing contexts across the United Kingdom, we address how existing relationships shape hopes, fears and expectations for heat decarbonization. Our findings help clarify the role of affective relationships, feelings of precarity, security and pressure in distinguishing material inconveniences from more fundamental disruptions to valued ways of life, and may be particularly relevant in other gas-dependent countries and regions.

热脱碳可能对温带国家造成重大破坏。然而，破坏的概念具有多种含义，可能与成本、材料空间和日常供暖实践有关。在这里，本文使用解释性风险理论，阐明了对颠覆如何在日常生活中经历和呈现意义的相关理解。我们部署这个框架来研究对四种低碳供暖技术——热泵、氢气、混合供暖和热网——以及配电网络基础设施的相关升级的看法。我们利用六次为期一天的研讨会的数据，代表了英国各地不同的地理和住房环境，探讨了现有关系如何塑造对供暖脱碳的希望、恐惧和期望。我们的研究结果有助于阐明情感关系、不稳定感、安全感和压力在区分物质不便和对有价值的生活方式的更根本破坏方面的作用，并且可能在其他依赖天然气的国家和地区特别相关。