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Around the industry
The government’s failure to deliver the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme effectively has damaged confidence in its ability to deliver future energy efficiency schemes. That’s the verdict of the Committee of Public Accounts, which examines how public money is spent.
The Committee’s report says the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme underperformed badly, upgrading 47,500 homes compared with the 600,000 originally targeted, and accounting for just £314 million out of the original £1.5 billion budget.
“We are not convinced that the department [BEIS] has fully acknowledged the scale of its failures with this scheme,” says the report. “The failure to deliver this scheme continues government’s troubled record of energy efficiency initiatives and risks damaging the Department’s future efforts to harness both consumer and industry action to deliver government’s net-zero commitments.
“The 12-week timescale to implement the scheme was unrealistic and imposed constraints on its design and implementation. The department proceeded with the scheme despite its own Projects and Investment Committee rejecting its full business case. The department should have considered halting or delaying the scheme, given evidence that preparations were not sufficiently progressed.
Poor design
“What resulted was a scheme with poor design and troubled implementation – the department did not consult meaningfully enough with industry and consumers, leading to an overly complex scheme design with poor customer experiences and a lower uptake than envisaged.
“It is a matter of concern that green homes schemes have repeatedly been short term and have underdelivered on over-optimistic promises on green targets and job creation. The department needs to consider carefully how to approach such schemes in future.”
The Committee says the government needs to regain the confidence of consumers and the industry and should set out the measures it will use to assess whether consumers are opting to install measures to decarbonise their homes at a rate consistent with delivery of net zero.
The government is due to respond to the report within two months.
Advanced heating controls can lower energy use
Replacing a standard room thermostat with an on/off load compensation thermostat can reduce gas use by 10 per cent, according to new research. The research was a collaboration between BEAMA (the trade association for energy infrastructure technologies), Salford University, the OpenTherm Association and manufacturers.
It aimed to quantify the benefits of heating controls in reducing fuel usage. The study was conducted independently at Salford University Energy House to assess and compare the energy saving potential of directly modulating room thermostats.
The results showed the impact that small changes in installation practices and the use of more advanced heating controls can have on reducing fuel consumption. The study found that something as simple as replacing a standard room thermostat with one that controls the boiler using proportional on/off load compensation can reduce the gas used by 10 per cent over the heating season.
Where the boiler and control are able to talk to each other through a suitable communication protocol, a directly modulating load or weather-compensating room thermostat standard instead of a standard one can make a 12 per cent saving.
Colin Timmins, director of Building Technologies at BEAMA, says: “It remains critical that we look at cost-effective ways to make our homes more energy efficient, while also futureproofing them for future low-carbon heating. Better heating controls provide a route to achieve both of these.”
School and heating company fined for disturbing asbestos
A school and its maintenance contractor have been fined after workers disturbed asbestos at the school while they were installing a new heating system.
Peterlee Magistrates Court heard that, in February 2019, TW Steam & Heating Services, Durham, had been contracted by Park View Academy to install a new heating system in the school building at Park View School, Chester Le Street. During the work, ceiling tiles containing asbestos were disturbed, potentially exposing people to asbestos fibres.
The HSE investigation found that the contractor and the school both failed to refer to existing asbestos registers and management plans to identify the presence of asbestos in the school building.
Park View Academy of Church Chare, Chester Le Street, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £3,000 plus costs of £4,785.37.
TW Steam & Heating Services Limited of Rennys Lane Industrial Estate, Durham, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,710.37.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Ashfaq Ali said: “The dangers associated with asbestos are well known and advice and guidance is freely available from HSE and other organisations.
“Those in charge of premises have a duty to inform contractors of the presence of asbestos-containing materials, ensuring that works are carried out safely.
“Those undertaking work which is likely to disturb asbestos or asbestos-containing materials should ensure that building occupants and operatives are not exposed to asbestos. Those undertaking the work should also provide suitable information, instruction and training to their employees.”
Students get a taste of Baxi
Baxi joined in with a taster day at Myton School in Warwick to help students find out more about a career in plumbing and heating, and to encourage the future generation.
During the day, organised by Baxi’s specification client L&Q, trainers Rob Pearson and Ian Trott talked to pupils about what life is like working in the sector, and ran practical, hands-on workshops.
Each session ran for around 45 minutes and gave students the chance to explore and experience different trades. They were able to spend time with the people who are considered experts in their field and ask questions while they took part in practical challenges, trying tasks for themselves.
Rob Pearson says: “Sharing our knowledge with the younger generation is crucial when it comes to bridging the skills gap in our industry.
“Taking the time to explore the different parts of a boiler, solve fun challenges and interact with students can make all the difference when it comes to encouraging younger people to pursue a career in the heating industry.
“This is why trade taster days are so invaluable and give us a great chance to raise the profile of just how diverse and rewarding working in this sector can be.”
Baxi is also encouraging the gas engineers of the future through community partnerships and apprenticeships.
Don’t forget cold weather protection
Condensate Pro is reminding gas engineers of the importance of preventing boiler condensate pipes from freezing.
“Six thousand boilers are fitted every working day and 70 per cent of those installed in houses will have a condensate terminating externally,” says Condensate Pro inventor Dave Smith. “Condensate Pro was launched to help installers provide the best protection for condensate pipes, while ensuring the finish looks professional and complies with all maufacturers’ instructions, guidance and regulations.
“In the past, the advice for customers was to use hot water to unfreeze the pipe, which is dangerous and outdated, especially when professionals can now upgrade the condensate to provide maximum protection as and when needed.”
Condensate Pro protects condensate pipes from freezing in low temperatures: it can be used on new installations as well as fitted when boilers are serviced.
Esso fined £500,000 over uncontrolled LPG release
Esso has been fined £500,000 for a leak of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) that was discovered by a worker cycling home at the end of his shift.
Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard that in November 2015 there was an uncontrolled release of around 15 tonnes of LPG through a valve near the main roadway used by LPG tankers visiting Esso Petroleum Company’s refinery in Fawley, Hampshire.
The leak went undetected for around four hours before being discovered by an employee on his way home. It took a further hour to establish the source of the leak. On-site emergency personnel had to enter the area to reset the valve.
The HSE investigation found that the leak occurred because the LPG was flowing through the pipework at a pressure that was too high for the valve. There was no process in place to detect the discrepancy in the flow and the company had failed to take the necessary measures to prevent a major accident.
Esso Petroleum Company Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) 2015 and was fined £500,000.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Jonathan Halewood said: “Even though there was no fire or injury on this occasion, there was potential for a major accident. The prosecution has been brought to highlight the importance of maintaining layers of protection and preventing this kind of major leak.”
Doug Bacchus Plumbing & Heating Services fitted the 100th installation for the Cox family
Doug fits 100th boiler in his home town
Doug Bacchus of Doug Bacchus Plumbing & Heating Services has celebrated the 100th boiler installation in his village of Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot in Devon.
In nine-and-a-half years, Doug has fitted boilers in one in 10 homes in the village of 2,400 people. Of the 100 boilers – all made by Viessmann – nearly one-third are in his own road.
“I’ve lived in Ipplepen for 23 years, and I love being part of the community here,” says Doug. “I feel so proud to have been chosen by so many Ipplepen residents, and to celebrate this milestone is really touching.”
The 100th installation was in a barn conversion on the outskirts of Ipplepen and was a Vitodens 111-W wall-mounted combi boiler.
“I would say around 99 per cent of my work comes through word of mouth, says Doug. “And this was the case with the 100th install, which came via referrals from two former customers.”
Doug set up his heating business in 2004. He employs Scott, his first apprentice, who joined the company more than 15 years ago, and Adam, who has been with Doug for more than two years. Installer Nick Andrews and apprentice Louis Bacchus joined the team in 2021.
Heat pumps could cost five times more than hydrogen-ready boilers
It could cost five times more to fit a heat pump than a hydrogen-ready boiler, according to a report by Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA).
The report, Residential Heat – the Upfront cost of Decarbonising Your Home, reckons households can currently expect to pay up to £15,000 to transition to a heat pump, depending on the type of property, compared with less than £3,000 for a hydrogenready boiler. In addition to the higher cost of the heat pump, the disparity is largely due to the additional energy efficiency measures needed so that the heat pump can operate efficiently, plus the need to fit a hot water cylinder and new radiators. Some homes would also need new pipework.
The government has said that it will offer consumers a grant of £5,000 for the installation of heat pumps, yet the allocated funding is only enough to support 30,000 heat pump installations a year for three years. EUA says its report gives clarity for customers considering the switch to greener energy and is the first in a series that will track progress towards the government’s targets.
EUA CEO Mike Foster says: “Consumers simply do not have the cash to pay for the high upfront costs of many lowcarbon heating options. The Heat and Buildings Strategy is right to demand massive reductions in the cost of heat pumps, which, according to this report, can cost consumers up to seven times that of a simple boiler switch.
“Many heating industry experts are sceptical that the scale of the cost reduction can be achieved, with the claim that heat pump costs will be at parity with gas boilers by April next year, as simply implausible.
“It is increasingly clear that heat pumps are not a like-forlike replacement of a gas boiler. Consumers will face considerable disruption, cost and the need for behavioural change to retrofit their homes with a heat pump.
“It is recognised that the majority of UK homes are simply not suitable for heat pumps. When an existing boiler needs replacing, installing a hydrogenready version, at no extra cost, means that a householder can switch over to clean-burning hydrogen when it’s available in the network.”
The report highlights that the costs of transitioning to cleaner energy can vary vastly, depending on the fabric of the building and existing energy efficiency measures.
More than half of homeowners will not apply for the government’s £5,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant – and 43 per cent do not support a ban on gas boilers, a new survey has found.
The Great British Home Heating Survey of 18,000 customers, organised by Boiler Guide, saw 51 per cent of respondents say that they will not be applying for the grant, which was announced in the Heat and Buildings Strategy last year.
When asked if they support a an outright ban on gas boilers: 43 per cent do not but nearly 25 per cent are in favour. Nearly 32 per cent were unsure or had not thought about it. When asked, “What’s putting you off renewable heating systems?” 54 per cent say it’s cost, and nearly 18 per cent think renewables systems aren’t suitable for their property. A lack of available space is also a concern.
Seventy-seven per cent say the government should provide more financial help to decarbonise heating.
Retrofit guide from TrustMark
TrustMark has a created a consumer guide to retrofitting. It aims to clarify and explain what retrofit means, how it works and its benefits.
CEO Simon Ayers says: “Retrofit is a well-used term that’s been around a long time and understood by many. For homeowners, though, it’s a relatively new term and getting to grips with what it actually means and the options and benefits open to them can be a little overwhelming.
“We felt we could help improve their understanding, demystify some of the jargon and technical terms and assist homeowners to understand how they can benefit from retrofitting their home.
“To get the best result from installing any energy efficiency measures and to avoid making an existing problem worse, they should be properly planned, well-thought through and carried out by skilled, technically competent tradespeople who commit to high standards of workmanship and protection for their customers.”
Tips for oil servicing
Regular servicing and maintenance of oil boilers ensures reliability and means that warranties are still valid, says Navien, and can also reduce energy bills.
Servicing prevents soot forming on the heat exchanger, which can then restrict the amount of heat being transferred into the system water. Flexible oil hoses and nozzles need to be replaced, otherwise they can cause the heat exchanger to ‘soot up’ due to too much fuel passing through the burner.
Engineers should look for any signs of water leaks inside the case during the visual inspection. Sean Keleher, national technical manager at Navien, says: “It is important to check there are no small signs of distress or possible water, oil or flue condensate leaks; particular attention should be given to key components such as the diverter valves, plate-to-plate heat exchanger, main heat exchanger, pump and pipework. Close inspection of these parts will help identify any potential issues at an early stage.”
Correction
The phone number provided for SERT in our ACS Directory, published in December 2021, was incorrect. You can contact the company on 01489 232 090.
