Energy efficiencies of instant water provision

Issues relevant to today’s society, such as environment preservation, energy conservation and health care - as well as demand for lower NOx emissions and more efficient use of energy - have led to big advances in combustion and gas control technologies, particularly in instant hot water systems.

Design improvements by leading gas water heater manufacturers have increased heat efficiency of hot-water appliances, from 80% to 95%, while decreasing gas consumption by around 14%.

A continuous flow water heater system is the best option for all applications - from all types of domestic dwelling through to office buildings, hotels and leisure parks and caravan sites. With a continuous flow water heater you can never run out of hot water, no matter how many individual baths or showers are taken simultaneously. What is the point of wasting energy and money heating water for a number of hours for a brief period of use? 


With a continuous flow system the only time you are using energy is when there is a demand, in other words it is only burning gas when a tap or shower is turned on for use.

Conversely, stored hot water has to be kept at 60°C to combat Legionella and other waterborne diseases which add costs because you are permanently heating that volume of water to maintain that temperature. Even if you do not use any hot water, a standard cylinder will lose a maximum of 3kW of heat a day as a standing loss. All cylinders suffer from this to some extent and it actually equates, over a year, to 1095kW of energy wasted; a big hole in the pocket for the benefit of having a cylinder taking up space. If you also look at the gas saving alone it equates to 101.8m³ of gas used.

Another downside to a stored water system is that room has to be found for a cylinder and considerable care would have to be taken when mounting it: for example, when full a standard one could weigh 250kg and be 579mmW x 1486mmH. On the other hand, with an instant system the water heater is wall mounted and is typically only 582mmH x 355mmW x 234.5mmD and weighs just 24kg, so no floor space is lost.


The use of single internal continuous flow gas water heaters can really make a difference to running costs, but step up to a condensing system with a secondary steel heat exchanger within the unit and this is where the very high efficiency figures kick in. The other advantage of a condensing unit is that there is a higher modulation range as these units will modulate down from 59.5kW input to as low as 2.83kW input.

The condensing process can deliver up to 95% thermal efficiency, which translates to significant energy savings when compared to standard tankless water heaters.

A gas continuous flow hot water system is simplicity itself to install as basically it is just three pipes gas in, cold in and hot out. There is no extra specific qualification required as there is with a sealed hot water system engineers do not require G3 unvented cylinders. This means less training and subsequently reduced overheads for the installers.

To make even greater savings, the linking of a renewable energy source to a continuous flow system is very easy to accomplish. The flow of domestic hot water is heated by the renewable energy source and is then fed through the water heater; the idea being that the water unit is pre-set to a temperature of 60/65°C then if the renewable energy source does not get to this temperature the water heater makes it up. The reason for the high temperature is to get the most from the renewable source.


With regards to maintenance this, as all gas appliances, is required once a year and would take on average less than one hour to complete.


For energy efficient plumbing supplies check out Energy Smart.

Plumbing News: SkillPLUMB 2011 crowns a winner

Twenty-five year old Tom King from Brian King Plumbing & Heating has been named the 2011 SkillPLUMB champion after three days of intense practical competition at Leeds College of Building.

The finalists’ task was to fit a simulated domestic central heating system, a wash basin, hot and cold shower pipework and plastic waste pipework to a simulated WC.

Tom, a student at Grimsby Institute, beat nine other competitors to take the gold medal after judges scored him most highly against a strict criteria including bend and joint quality, bend angles and clearances, plumb and level pipework and appliances, soundness testing, material usage and health and safety.

The competition, which has the UK Copper Board as its premier sponsor, awarded silver and bronze places to Lee Cuthill (DI Jones Heating Engineering) and Phillip Kempsell (KEJ Services) respectively.

Raymond McWilliam of Speyside Plumbing Services and Alex Henning of Gower College Swansea were also awarded with special Highly Commended medals for an excellent performance.

Speaking after his win, Tom, said: “The competition was so tight, we really couldn’t tell who was ahead, so I can’t believe I have won. It was a challenge to get everything done to the specification, so it’s great to know that I came out on top. I’ve made some good friends here, meeting the other guys has been brilliant, and I’d like to thank Brian King Plumbing for all its support.”

Neil Collishaw of SummitSkills, organiser of the competition, said: “Just watching these talented people compete has been fantastic. Aside from their obvious technical skills I’ve been particularly impressed by the conduct and professionalism of the competitors – they are a credit to their families and an asset to their employers.

“Judges were impressed by Tom’s planning and pace of work. His dimensional accuracy and bend quality were superb; both these areas contributed to his very high overall score.”

As an added bonus for the top three competitors’ colleges - Grimsby Institute, Yale College Wrexham and Bedford College – each will receive a press-fit tool courtesy of the UK Copper Board.

News source: hpmmag.com

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Plumbers urged to fight global water crisis…

Health professionals are calling on plumbers to take a more active role in tackling the humanitarian disaster caused by poor water supplies, which is gripping many parts of the developing world.

Over two million people die from water borne diseases every year and 80% of the four billion cases of diarrhoea are caused by poor sanitation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appealed to the plumbing industry to export its expertise to areas most at risk.

Speaking at last month’s World Plumbing Conference in Edinburgh, the WHO’s Bruce Gordon said that health practitioners had identified sanitation as the top medical milestone since 1840 – more important than the discovery of penicillin – but that it remained a relatively low priority for most governments and aid providers.

“Diarrhoea is the biggest single thing that the plumbing industry can do something about,” he told the conference, which attracted 360 delegates from all over the world. “Reacting to big outbreaks is incredibly expensive and difficult, so prevention is the key. Plumbers are on the front line of public health action.”

He said the WHO was in close dialogue with the World Plumbing Council (WPC) that organised the Edinburgh conference, which was hosted by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).

Contamination

“Unsafe plumbing is responsible for thousands of outbreaks of life threatening diseases,” said Bruce. “Cross-connections and backflow; as well as contamination of piped water from sewerage have been identified by the WHO as technical issues that can be rectified by skilled plumbers.”

Source: hpnmag.co.uk

Find out more on Energy Smart... For all your Plumbing Supplies and Cheap Boilers call today  0845 230 3320 or visit us online www.energy-smart.org.uk

The Green Deal Finance Company is formed

 An industry-led consortium has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop the business plan for a not-for-profit organisation,
The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC), to finance the best value Green Deal option for consumers.

The MOU signatories include British Gas, Carillion, Clifford Chance, E.ON, EDF Energy, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Insta Group, Kingfisher, Linklaters, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets, Mark Group, npower, PwC, RBC Capital Markets and SSE.

The consortium is already working closely with Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the European Investment Bank and local authorities, with a view to maximising its assistance to the Green Deal market. Over the next few months many more new associate members are expected to join the consortium, including suppliers, installers, providers, local authorities, and industry and consumer representative bodies.

The GDFC will be a national aggregator that can provide finance to all Green Deal providers on an equal and open basis. By operating at a national level, it will minimise the operating and administration costs of Green Deals and will quickly be able to access the cheapest sources of finance in the market at the highest possible credit rating.

Source: hpnmag.com

More info on The Green Deal at www.green-deal.uk.com or Energy Smart for all you Plumbing Supplies and Cheap Boilers, Corgi Boilers Energy-Smart.org.uk

Scottish Minister commits to cutting renewables red tape

Robert Burgon: Looking to reform the Microgeneration Certification SchemeScotland will reduce bureaucracy to speed up the adoption of renewables, according to one of the country’s most prominent politicians.

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, told the World Plumbing Conference in Edinburgh that he was committed to reducing red tape and its associated costs to speed up growth in the renewables market.

Scotland has set a target of producing 100 % of its electricity and 11% of its heat from renewables by 2020. This means up to 200,000 homes will have to be retrofitted at the rate of 20,000 a year. It is estimated that 65% of the workload will be taken up by the plumbing industry.

However, the current adoption rate of renewable technologies is too slow to meet these targets, according to David McKenzie of Scotland’s Micro-renewables Working Group.

“We have a massive challenge on our hands, but nobody seems to know how to make it happen,” Mr McKenzie told the conference. “Plumbers need to move from being product installers to trusted service providers and advisers – consumers have a menu of options, but most of the time they just give up and stick with what they have got.”

Source: hpnmag.com

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SCL Elements Raises $2 Million in First Round..

Montreal – SCL Elements, a provider of building energy efficiency automation technology for commercial buildings, has raised $2 million in its first round of venture capital, which was led by The Westly Group.

Founded in 2009, SCL Elements offers integrated wired and wireless technology for HVAC, lighting & metering applications. These include controllers, gateways and web building management system that allow facility managers, contractors and OEM manufacturers to deploy building automation systems.

SCL Elements products are IP-compatible and support multiple wireless protocols, as well as the Modbus and CANbus wired protocols.

Its systems are installed in retail stores, offices, schools, universities, factories, warehouses, heritage buildings, laboratories and government buildings in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Source:smartenergy.net



For more info or get your Energy Efficient Products at Energy Smart call 0845 230 3320 or visit us online @ www.energy-smart.org.uk

Energy suppliers are to be responsible for installing smart meters in all households in the UK by 2020.

Plans for smart meters for millions of homes have been unveiled with trials suggesting the £8bn scheme may help people save £28 a year.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change wants to see 47 million meters in 26 million properties by 2020.

It is hoped the technology will help people cut their energy bills by paying more attention to usage.

Smart meters have a visual display allowing customers to see exactly how much electricity and gas they are using and relay the data to energy firms automatically.

Energy use

Trials of smart meters have resulted in some people moderating their energy use.

"Smart meters will put the power in people's hands, enabling us all to control how much energy we use, cut emissions and cut bills," said Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt.

Source: bbc.co.uk

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Renewables - PTS launches Renewables Brochure

PTS has launched a comprehensive Renewables Brochure to help installers make the right choices when it comes to specifying energy efficient products.

The 56-page brochure contains product information from
leading manufacturers and highlights the latest energy saving product
ranges available in all PTS branches.
Covering all areas of renewable technology,
the brochure features solar thermal, solar PV, heat pumps,
biomass boilers, rainwater harvesting,
heat recovery and ventilation and hot water storage.

Nicky Clegg, head of marketing for PTS, said: “The 2011 Renewables Brochure has been designed to be as informative as possible, providing essential information about the latest energy efficient technologies to help installers select the right products for the job.”



 Taking time to understand the latest energy efficiency legislation can be difficult for busy installers, so the Renewables Brochure also includes the most up-to-date government initiatives such as Feed-in-Tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive, the Green Deal and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Nicky added: “We believe that the new Renewables Brochure is the ideal way to keep our customers up-to-date with industry changes. Going forward PTS will remain active in supporting its customers by providing the latest news and developments in an informative and helpful way.”

The Brochure enhances a range of PTS initiatives including a number of Renewable Specialist branches, which ensure excellent stock availability, while its dedicated Renewable Energy Branch in Aylesford offers advice and training courses. Customers can also subscribe to PTS’ GreensSav£ers e-newsletter via the PTS website to stay up to speed with the latest legislation and promotions.

Source: hpnmag.com

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BPL Global Releases New Version of its Connected Energy™ Smart Grid Solution Suite

A smart grid technology company, announced today the release of Version 3.5 of its Connected Energy™ (CNRG™) smart grid solution suite for advanced distribution automation of the electrical network.


 The suite enables integrated management of smart grid solutions from substations through customer premises. Based on a common architecture, a broad range of smart grid solutions designed for the distribution grid can collaborate. Cross collaboration of smart grid solutions automates decisions and responses in the grid to enhance reliability and efficiency and delivers the promise of the smart grid.

This approach enables BPLG's solutions to bridge "islands of intelligence™" created by the independent deployment of specific smart grid solutions such as advanced metering, demand management, and/or substation automation.
The result is improved ROI for each of the smart grid solutions through leveraged infrastructure, shared information and integrated management.

"The Connected Energy™ smart grid solution suite enables utilities to plan and execute their long term smart grid roadmaps on a unified system architecture," said Pete Londa, CEO of BPL Global. "Utilities can sequence deployment of solutions to maximize their investments in smart grid technologies from substations through customer premises such as renewable energy, smart meters, load management, energy storage, asset monitoring and substation automation."


Source: prnewswire.com

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Grimsby continues its support of plumbing king

So far Tom has also been recognised as the ‘Northern Hip-Ex Apprentice of the Year’ and come out on top in the northern heat of the ‘skillPLUMB’ battle, organised by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for the building services engineering sector.

Tom, 25, left the competition standing at the Manchester-based semi-final of skillPLUMB, scoring 96% on his practical assessment. Tom will now join five other finalists in the national final of skillPLUMB, which is set to take place in September.

Information sourced from Plumbzine.
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SkillPLUMB finalists announced

The 10 competitors who will compete in the 2011 SkillPLUMB UK final have been named.

All will go head-to-head at Leeds College of Building on September 14-16 in a challenging practical task spanning the three days, in the quest to be crowned SkillPLUMB champion.

The task involves the installation of a simulated small central heating system with copper pipework, condensing boiler jig, wash hand basin, shower control, towel rail and simulated WC with soil stack and connections – all to an exact specification and a strict timed schedule.

This year the competition will be held side-by-side with SkillELECTRIC, SkillFRIDGE, SkillPIPE and the 10 competitions that comprise SkillBuild in a joint event that will see around 150 trainees compete in front of hundreds of visitors.

The finalists are:
• Reece Bradley – Barclays Coalville/Stephenson College, Leicestershire
• Tim Coney – Gaswise/Grimsby College
• Lee Cuthill – DI Jones Heating Engineers/Yale College Wrexham
• Alex Henning – Gower College Swansea
• Phillip Kempsell – KEJ Services/Bedford College
• Tom King – Brian King Plumbing & Heating/Grimsby College
• Gregory Lines – SW Turner/Stourbridge College
• Sam Love – Festival Housing/Worcester College of Technology
• Raymond McWilliam – Speyside Plumbing Services/Moray College, Scotland and SNIPEF Training Services
• Ross Temple – Killen Plumbing Services/South West College N. Ireland

SkillPLUMB has the UK Copper Board as its premier sponsor and is organised by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building services engineering.

For more information on SkillPLUMB, visit: skillplumb.org.uk

For plumbing supplies contact Energy Smart.

UK to take on the world in plumbing and heating

A talented young plumbing and heating engineer has been chosen to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011 in plumbing and heating.

Shane Trevitt, 22, who works for NG Bailey, was chosen to represent the UK after a tough four-day selection competition earlier this month. He will now step up his training to make sure that he is ready to compete at WorldSkills.

WorldSkills London 2011, which takes place at ExCeL from October 5-8, 2011, will be the world’s largest international skills competition with young people from across the globe competing to be the ‘best of the best’.

At the competition, 1000 competitors from over 50 countries will compete in 46 skill areas over four days. The event will also offer visitors impartial advice and guidance on careers and apprenticeships.

Skills minister, John Hayes, said: "Those representing the UK at WorldSkills will play a hugely important role in bringing the value of vocational skills and practical learning to national attention. I offer my warm support and congratulations to every member of the team.

 “To support the ambitions of young people everywhere in our country, we have created a record number of apprenticeships, and we are building the best skills training system we’ve ever had."

During WorldSkills London 2011, Shane will compete against the best from all over the world and they will be judged on their level of skill, accuracy and speed in completing projects.

From now until WorldSkills London 2011 in October, each competitor will be in training supported by a dedicated training manager. Their training will focus on preparing them for the WorldSkills environment by acclimatising them to working under time pressure and in competitive conditions.

Shane said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011. I hope this opportunity will allow me to showcase how apprenticeships can lead to successful employment and career opportunities. I know the next few months will be tough as I will be in training for the event and I really hope the whole of the country gets behind Team UK for WorldSkills London 2011 like they do our sporting teams!”

The members of Team UK have been and will continue to be supported in their training by Edge, the independent education foundation, the Premier Supporter of Squad and Team UK and Brathay Trust, the Premier Training and Development Partner of Squad and Team UK. APHC also sponsors Team UK in plumbing.

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Female plumber named best local trader in London

Plumber Carrie Andrews has been named as the best local trader in London by recommendation website, Which? Local.

Based in Tulse Hill, Carrie, who runs Plummy Plumbers gained five star reviews and was praised by her customers for her “efficiency, thoroughness, and reliability”.

Reviewers also enthused about her friendly nature, with one commenting that she was “a pleasure to have in the house”.

More than 20,000 recommendations were made by Which? members for the Which? Local Business of the Year award. The award recognises local traders that provide a great service or go the extra mile for their customers.

Plummy Plumbers now joins seven other regional finalists for Which? Local Business of the Year. The overall winner will be announced on June 23 at the Which? Awards in London.

Pete Tynan, Which? Local manager, said: “Word of mouth counts for a lot when choosing a local trader, and the reviews on Which? Local show how much people value great local businesses.

“With a fantastic number of rave reviews from its customers, Plummy Plumbers is a worthy finalist for London. But of course, there can only be one overall winner, which we look forward to announcing at the awards ceremony in June.”

For plumbing supplies contact Energy Smart.

dodgy gas engineer tried to sneak out of court disguised as a WOMAN

A crooked gas fitter dressed-up in drag in a bid to sneak away court undetected.
Shamed Martyn Crute had just been fined £43,000 after a court heard that he carried-out dodgy installations without meeting safety standards.

But his attempt to avoid any negative publicity backfired spectacularly when he was spotted wearing a wig, dress and a pair of black high heels by a film crew from Anglia TV. 

What a drag: Crooked Crute tries to avoid the cameras after realising he's been rumbled
High-heeling it: But gas fitter Martyn Crute's attempt to disguise himself as a woman didn't fool the keen-eyed Anglia TV crew they filmed him as he shuffled out of Lincoln Crown Court and his antics subsequently appeared all over the TV news bulletins.

The Court heard employees of UK Oil and Gas Ltd, including director, Martyn Crute, carried out gas fittings and service pipework in several domestic properties between 23 February 2008 and 19 November 2008, despite not being registered with the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI).

The company, which operated shops called Embers in Horncastle and Sleaford and has since ceased trading, also installed two gas combination boilers in an unsafe manner potentially risking people's lives.
A large number of complaints were received about work UK Oil and Gas Limited undertook including from 14 rented properties and one from an elderly couple who had their boiler condemned - costing them hundreds of pounds to fix on top of the original installation costs of more than CB£2,000.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Martyn Crute for breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 while UK Oil and Gas Limited of Carre Street, Sleaford were charged with breaching three sections of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. 

Both parties pleaded guilty and were handed fines totalling £8,000.

Plumbing apprentice - 2011 SkillPLUMB competition

Calling all apprentices – the 2011 SkillPLUMB competition is looking for the industry’s most promising talent to be named the UK’s best plumber.

During the competition, organised by SummitSkills, entrants will be assessed on a series of challenging practical tests reflecting their day-to-day work. Regional heats will be held around the country, culminating in a grand final in September.

This year will see SkillPLUMB finalists competing side-by-side with those from SkillELECTRIC, SkillPIPE and SkillFRIDGE at a prestigious event that will also feature the UK final of construction competition SkillBUILD.

“Taking part in SkillPLUMB is not only highly motivational for employees but also drives them to achieve higher standards back in the workplace,” said Neil Collishaw, head of skills competitions and awards at SummitSkills. “Past competitors have gone on to become an even greater asset to their employers and a inspirational role model for their peers.”

Information sourced from Plumbzine.

For plumbing supplies including energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart today.

EnergySmart goes mobile - order discounted boilers by text.

Energy Smart, in partnership with Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS), launched a new marketing campaign today which will change the way plumbers order boilers.  The SMS solution will enable plumbers to text Heat to 86688 at their standard network rate. This will prompt a phone call from one of our customer services advisors who will ensure the heating engineer gets the latest offer as well as processing their order within a matter of minutes.

The key advantages of this new campaign are that it takes the administration out of the ordering while offering instant savings.  The process also acknowledges the “on the road” nature of the job and will reduce time spent standing around in Merchants.

Mike Goldsmith, Managing Director of EnergySmart commented, “We are very pleased to launch this new customer-focussed approach to our plumbing customers and believe that it will save the installer time, therefore money and offer significant convenience.”

Energy Smart provides plumbing supplies and discounts on a range of high efficiency boilers and products promoting carbon emission reduction. Combine these savings with same day pick up from your local PTS branch or free next day delivery to an address of your choice and we believe we offer the best value on or off the web.

To find out more information, please contact: Redvers Paterson, t: 01376 531 531 or 07794 103 723.

For plumbing supplies, boilers prices including efficient products check out Energy Smart. Also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Additional Notes:
Energy Smart is a campaign managed by CEN Services.  CEN is an environmental organisation delivering a range of services to engage householders, businesses and communities in environmental and social improvement.

We have a long track record of successful project delivery in energy and carbon management, energy efficiency, sustainable construction and design, sustainable travel and low carbon technologies. Founded in 1997, we now have over eighty employees in London and the South East, and are part of the Climate Energy group.

Our success is based on a partnership approach, and we work across the UK with local, regional and national government bodies as well as with commercial organisations and charitable groups.

Heating Plumbing Supplies Group now owned by staff

Heating Plumbing Supplies Group is now totally owned by the staff and management of the company with no outside shareholders.

The successful management buy out (MBO) follows the announcement of record sales and improved company profits for 2010.

Sales were £39.6 million in 2010 up from £33.3 million in 2009. Profits were up over 50% from £1.2 million in 2009 to £1.81 million in 2010.

Managing director, Ron Walker, said: “We are delighted to announce such excellent results and to have completed a successful management buyout of the company.

“We are especially pleased that 50% of our staff have taken the opportunity to invest in the company which reflects the amazing support and dedication the company enjoys from all its staff.

“We look forward to continuing the successful development of the company following our MBO and will continue to expand our branch network in the coming years where we can find the right people and suitable opportunities,” he said.


Sourced from Plumbzine

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Biasi spearheads VAT scrappage campaign

Biasi UK has launched an online e-petition campaign to lobby the coalition Government to scrap VAT on all renewable products and high efficiency boilers.

Targeting those in the heating industry as well as professionals across all business sectors, the 'Scrap the VAT' campaign has evolved from the company's belief that one of the main barriers to the selection and installation of renewables and high efficiency boilers is down to the cost. By scrapping the VAT, these products will become more affordable and their use will become more widespread. In turn, this will result in reduced energy consumption and emissions as well as saving money on fuel bills for cash-strapped homeowners.

Biasi md Gren Ward said: "It is well known in the heating industry that boiler replacement is, for most people, a distress purchase and is not normally driven by a straightforward desire to upgrade and improve their heating provision. 

"If the Government is truly serious about encouraging uptake on these products to achieve our emissions targets and helping people to heat their homes in the most efficient and cost effective way possible, the best method of achieving this is to instantly remove the VAT on renewables and high efficiency boilers. The success of last year's boiler scrappage scheme demonstrated how such initiatives can make a big difference to people's thinking and purchase decision making.

"In addition, this would also have the knock-on effect of boosting the heating industry at a time when many of the public sector cuts are having such an impact on the trade.

"As well as installers and heating engineers, contractors, specifiers, merchants and the general public, we'd also encourage all our heating manufacturer colleagues and equipment suppliers to get involved in the Scrap the VAT campaign by signing up and spreading the word to encourage others to register their support."

According to the Energy Saving Trust, boilers account for around 60 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions from an average home heated by gas. It says that, by replacing an old G-rated with a new high efficiency boiler and using the latest heating controls, it is possible to reduce emissions and save the householder as much as £225 per year. In addition, use of a solar water heating system can reduce water heating bills by as much as £85 in a year; and solar PV can generate around 40 per cent of a household's annual electricity needs.

For more information on the scrap the VAT campaign and to sign the e-petition, go to www.scrapthevat.co.uk

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Smart Advice to Avoiding boiler breakdowns

More than 30% of boiler breakdowns that took place over the winter could have been avoided through regular maintenance work, according to a local fuel company.

Tincknell Fuels services over 10,000 boilers a year and in the cold weather last December received more than 1,000 calls in two hours from people who had broken boilers or needed fuel.

The main problems were caused by frozen fuel lines, sludge in the systems and lack of servicing in the coldest winter since 1979.

Robert Tincknell, managing director at Tincknell Fuels, which has depots in Avonmouth, Gillingham, Wells, Exeter, Plymouth, Newquay, Southampton and Bridgwater, said:“Now we are moving into spring and we have had time to analyse the activity from November 2010 to January 2011, where some days saw 30cm of snow falling overnight.

“Importantly, one of the issues our report has shown is that at least 30% of the breakdowns we were called to could have been avoided if people had kept on top of servicing and boiler maintenance throughout the year.

“A high proportion of the boilers that broke down had not been serviced for some years and in these cases the weather was the final straw.”

Tincknell Fuels advises homeowners to keep on top of their boiler maintenance with the following tips:

• Have regular servicing from a reputable company, where oil lines are changed every two years and the boiler is set up using an electronic gas analyser
• Make sure that any water that has got into the tank is monitored
• Clean out sludge from heating systems
• Regularly check the level of oil in your tank to ensure you don’t run out which can then require the lines to be bled through
• Ensure that tanks are filled at the end of the summer to avoid running out at peak times.

Information Sourced from hpmmag.com

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New boiler installation VAT campaign gathers pace

Support is growing for the industry campaign seeking to persuade the government to cut the rate of VAT charged on high-efficiency boiler installations.

Boilers are subject to the full 20 per cent rate but other energy-saving equipment, such as controls, insulation, combined heat and power systems, biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar panels attract a 5 per cent rate.

The reduced rate applies to energy-saving installations in all residential properties and commercial buildings used by charities. Installations of these systems in new properties are zero VAT rated.

Leading figures are calling for this to be extended to boilers and passive flue heat recovery systems.

Last year’s boiler scrappage scheme saw sales of domestic boilers rise by 5.3 per cent in the final quarter of last year, according to the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council. However, the market has fallen back again since the start of 2011.

“The government could surpass the impressive results achieved by the scrappage scheme quickly, cheaply and with minimal administration costs if it just cut the rate of VAT on high-efficiency boilers,” said Baxi marketing director Sarah Brook (pictured).

Ms Brook said a temporary cut until the Green Deal scheme comes into effect in October 2012 would help the industry bridge a potentially difficult funding gap.

Peter Thom, chair of the Heating Strategy Group of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, has petitioned Chancellor George Osborne but was still awaiting a reply as this issue went to press.

For energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart today

Smart meters slammed!

The government's plans to install 53 million new smart meters in 30 million homes and businesses in the next seven years has been likened to "building a space shuttle to pop to the shops", according to one company involved in the process.

Hans Kristiansen is chief executive officer of Orsis, a Harrogate-based company that has already installed over 5,000 smart meter solution installations in the UK and counts several schools, local authorites and government departments among its clients.

He said: "Following the government's 'Reponse to Prospectus Consultation', which was published last Wednesday (March 30), it's clear that the planned technical specifications for the smart meter system, if approved, are too complex and complicated.

"This will result in unnecessary costs and, given the government's poor track record in implementing large scale technology projects, will cause unnecessary delays too.”

Hans continued: "Every householder uses tools and appliances in their homes that have an unnecessarily high level of technical or functional complexity built into them, whether its their washing machine or PC. This results in extra cost; and increases the probability of failure. Worse still, given the speed at which technology innovates, much of this is redundant after a short time.

"The government is in danger of repeating this mistake with smart meters and we are in danger of building a space shuttle to pop to the shops.

"We believe that it would be preferable to use a ‘back-office’ approach such as that used in the mobile phone industry because the technology is already available, is less costly to install and has a reduced risk of failure. Crucially, this will give the industry a better chance of meeting the government's declared installation target of 2019.” 

 

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Baxi supports growing campaign to cut boiler VAT

Baxi supports the growing industry campaign to persuade the Government to cut the rate of VAT charged on high efficiency boiler installations and passive flue heat recovery systems.

At the moment, boilers are subject to the full 20 per cent rate, but other energy saving equipment such as controls, insulation, combined heat and power systems, biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar panels attract a special lower rate of five per cent. The reduced rate applies to energy saving installations in all residential properties and commercial buildings used by charities. Installations of these systems in new properties are zero VAT rated.

"A temporary cut until the Green Deal scheme that comes into effect in October 2012 would help the industry bridge a potentially difficult funding gap.  The beauty of giving a quick boost to boilers is that the Government will see immediate results," said Sarah Brook, marketing director of Baxi.

"Gas consumption and carbon emissions will fall; householders will enjoy smaller bills and many jobs in the heating sector will be preserved.  And it could boost UK manufacturing as most domestic boilers sold here are also made here."

The HVCA is also backing the campaign and its head of sustainability David Frise said cutting the VAT could be a well-timed move. "With rising inflation and increasing global uncertainty about energy prices, this would send a strong signal from the Government that the best investment you can make at the moment is in energy efficiency."

Information sourced from http://www.baxi.co.uk/

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Plumbing new - PTS makes life easier for customers...

PTS has extended its renewable specialist branches as a distribution solution to improve lead times and make life easier for installers sourcing energy efficient products.

Three additional branches are now open in Warrington, Plymouth and Coatsbridge and mark the start of a rolling programme of openings set for 2011.

Supporting the original Aylesford renewable branch, the new branches are unique in being dedicated to stocking and distributing renewable products in convenient regional locations, meaning customers can purchase and have renewable technology delivered in a similar timescale as traditional products.

Kelvin Stevens, managing director for PTS, said: “As customer demand for renewable technology increases, installers will be under pressure to source the right products quickly and effectively. This is where PTS can help. We want to make life as easy as possible for our customers and see no reason why they shouldn’t be able to order their renewables at their local trade counter and receive them via next day delivery with their other conventional purchases.

“By implementing this new logistics solution, customers can rely on PTS to be a one-stop-shop for everything they need, no matter what sort of job they are working on. We are looking forward to opening more regionalised renewable specialist branches as the year progresses.”

PTS is also looking to expand its specialist external sales knowledge of renewables in the coming months, providing customers with additional advice and guidance of these new technologies.

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Dorian Harvey - South West’s Apprentice Plumber 2011

Dorian Harvey, 20, from Illogan near Redruth was awarded with a Milwaukee Power Tools set worth £350.

“I’m overwhelmed. I was up against some awesome competition, everyone did really well," he said.
"I’m an apprentice in the family firm, Heatwave Heating, and I’m proud to be going home to tell my dad I did it for the company. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over and now I can look forward to the national finals in May.”

It’s the second year a Cornwall College apprentice has won the regional competition. Danny Teare went on to win the national title in 2010.

Organised by HIP UK - the UK’s leading regulatory body for electrical contracting and leading construction industry publisher SNG, the event saw the best young plumbers and electricians from across the South West competing for the coveted title of best in the South West and a place in the national finals.

The finals are set to take place over two days, May 11 and 12, in Swindon where Dorian will be up against the best apprentices in the UK battling it out for the title of UK Apprentice Plumber of the Year 2011 and a prize of trade vouchers to the value of £1,000 for himself and £500 for the College.



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Taxman outlining a tax "amnesty" for plumbers, gas fitters....

The main story that is dominating industry chatter this week centres on the taxman offering plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers an opportunity to come clean on their tax affairs, outlining a tax "amnesty" for tradesmen.

Under the Plumbers Tax Safe Plan, traders who have tax to pay, which they have not yet told H M Revenue & Customs; have until May 31 to tell the department of their intention to disclose what they owe. If they make a full disclosure, most will face a low penalty rate of 10%, with a maximum of 20%, rather than up to 100%, and threat of prosecution, which can otherwise apply.

Elsewhere in other news, Sharp is calling on the government to consider its decision to review the Feed-in-Tariff for installations over 50kW; the Construction Products Association has written to the Chancellor in advance of his Budget statement this month, encouraging him to introduce a range of measures that will help deliver the government’s growth strategy and speed up the country’s economic recovery; and the ‘Wolf Commission on Youth Education and Training’ report on apprentices is the “blueprint for the future of Britain,” says Pimlico Plumbers’ boss Charlie Mullins.

Source Plumbzine

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Social landlords must comply with gas regulations to avoid prosecution....

Social landlords must comply with gas regulations to avoid prosecution in case of an explosion, says Matthew Lake

On average there are four gas explosions each year in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive might conclude that those explosions were the result of unavoidable and tragic circumstances.

However, if a death occurs the police might prosecute the landlord of the property - potentially even for suspected corporate manslaughter - if it discovers a breach of gas safety regulations.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require landlords to protect tenants’ safety by ensuring regular inspections of gas appliances are undertaken by suitably qualified persons on the Gas Safety Register.

While a breach of the provisions may not be the cause of the explosion, this will certainly not assist a landlord which becomes the subject of a regulatory investigation following an explosion.

To ensure compliance with the regulations, landlords should undertake regular audits and maintain a register of those they employ to work on gas appliances and flues to ensure they are on the Gas Safe Register (which replaced the Corgi registration scheme from 1 April 2009).

For registered providers of social housing it will often be the case that they have entered into long-term service contracts before the transition from Corgi registration to the Gas Safe Register took place. Installers’ Corgi registration numbers were available to landlords at the point of registration on the Gas Safe Register so an audit should be a fairly straightforward exercise to undertake - but an important one.

Matthew Lake is a solicitor in the property litigation team at Weightmans LLP
matthew.lake@weightmans.com

Plumbing news - Energy efficient boilers and renewable technologies

Hove MP, Mike Weatherley and Brighton Kempton MP, Simon Kirby visited their local PTS trade counters to learn more about a range of technology and to discuss its wider importance to the UK economy with PTS managing director, Kelvin Stevens, and policy manager at the BMF, Brett Amphlett.

"It's encouraging to see newly-elected MPs taking a keen interest in how renewable technologies can improve the UK economy as we believe that more Government support and incentives are needed to really make this sector take off." said Stevens.

"This was a great opportunity for us to express our belief in the importance of taking emitted and embedded carbon out of buildings whilst communicating the concerns felt by the installers we talk to every day.

"As a nation we rate the worst in Europe for wasting energy, but by working with merchants like PTS, the Government can make renewable technologies more enticing for homeowners to adopt, which in turn provides a whole new revenue stream for the UK's plumbing and heating installers."

Mike Weatherley MP said: "We need to explain and persuade our constituents to carry out energy-saving work. With ever-increasing demand for electricity and other forms of energy, efforts on conservation and efficiency to combat fluctuating temperatures - and save money on bills - are incontrovertible".

The day was another in the Builders Merchants Federation's industry and parliament programme. Such visits bring MPs together with the building materials' supply chain to gain insight and understanding of each others' world.

For further information on trade discounts on boilers and energy efficiency contact Energy Smart

Scottish Boiler Scrappage Scheme - £1million in funding

Scottish Boiler Scrappage Scheme

Scotland has one of the most ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets in the world. The installation of an efficient heating system is one effective way of reducing your household energy bills and CO2 emissions. There are currently an estimated 250,000 homes in Scotland that have boilers of the least efficient type (efficiency of less than 70%).

To help address this, the Scottish Government has announced £1million in funding for the boiler scrappage scheme for owner/occupiers in Scotland. Scrappage schemes work by helping to meet the cost of replacing inefficient equipment with new more efficient alternatives.

What are the eligibility criteria?

What are the benefits?

Upgrading your boiler can result in:

•     Lower running costs
•     Reduced CO2 emissions
•     Lower energy bills

For example, this means that by upgrading an existing boiler with a SAP2005 efficiency of less than 70% to an Energy Saving Trust Recommended one, your household heating bill should drop by about a quarter – a saving on average of £190 a year, or £235 for a 3 bed semi-detached house.

•   You must be replacing a working boiler with a SAP2005 efficiency rating of less than 70% as detailed on www.sedbuk.com. If you wish to clarify if a system is eligible, please contact the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012.
•  However, if you are aged over 60 and have a boiler that is not working but has a SAP2005 efficiency rating of less than 70%, you may still apply.
•  You must be installing an Energy Saving Trust Recommended (ESTR) boiler or a Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited microgeneration technology. (Please note, an A-rated boiler does not automatically qualify as ESTR). You can find a list of ESTR boilers on our website or should you require further assistance please contact the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012.

•   The property where the boiler is to be installed must be a domestic address in Scotland.
•   You must be the owner/occupier of the residential property (in Scotland) in which the new boiler will be installed.
•   You must have received a written/verbal quotation for your boiler replacement before making an application.
•   You must make an application and receive your voucher before having the boiler replaced.
•  Work on the installation must not have commenced before the date on which the rebate voucher is  received.
•  You have not received, nor will you be receiving, an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant or  home loan offer, and/or any CERT funding towards the installation of your new boiler.
•  The installer must be Gas Safe registered (for gas installation) and should be a member of a recognised industry body such as CLE, SNIPEF or OFTEC. Installation of a microgeneration technology must be carried out by a person qualified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

The scheme is now open for applications. see the following link for further information: Energy Saving Trust

Please obtain a written/verbal quotation from your installer before making your application.

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PTS (Plumbing Trade Supplies) 320 PTS outlets stock 25 most popular spares

PTS continues its mission to make life as easy as possible for busy installers thanks to its ever growing spares service.

Since the launch of its own dedicated delivery service and the opening of the first standalone spares branch in 2008, PTS’ service now features six express delivery vehicles and 140 outlets, making it simple for customers to get the parts they need in the shortest amount of time. In addition to the branches which offer over 10,000 spares lines, all 320 PTS outlets now stock the 25 most popular spares so installers can get everything they need from one quick trip to their local trade counter.

Martyn Farrelly, Operations Director Spares, said: “We have had nothing but positive feedback from installers who now receive spares within hours of ordering, enabling them to honour commitments to their own clients. The express service allows orders to be processed immediately, with parts delivered to site on a daily basis for a unique ‘full time’ service which customers instantly reacted enthusiastically to.

“The whole growth of PTS’ spares offering demonstrates how listening to our customers is a vital part of who we are as a leading merchant whilst ensuring that we remain focused on providing services and product areas that are important to installers.”

For further information call PTS on 01455 551210, visit www.ptsplumbing.co.uk or text PTS or SPARES to 83332 to find your nearest branch.



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