Plumbing Supplies, Energy Efficient Smart Boilers, Plumbing News

2012-03-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

Sentinel have released their new Rapid-Dose.
The brand new domestic water treatment from sentinel sets the bar for similar products.

It now uses a simple to use plastic adaptor and a clear dosing tube to aid the ease of use.

So now you can use Rapid-Dose quickly and easily, you can also watch the contents of the can flow into the system so you can see better when you can stop applying.

The new plastic adaptor keeps things totally mess free, which makes the whole process quick and simple letting you carry on working when your up against it.

So It’s quick, mess-free, simple to use and the can is even recyclable.

To add, you don't need to draw off the water or release system pressure, unless the system is above 2.3 bar,also you don't have to wait for the system to cool.

The contents is the same industry proven Sentinel you may have worked with before,but instead it was previously in the liquid form, so if you have ever used Sentinel before then you will no that you can be confident that Sentinel Rapid-Dose will do the job effectively.

If you would like to visit the Sentinel website click the link following www.sentinel-solutions.net.

2012-03-05T03:37:00.000-08:00

A plumber in suffolk has been jailed for working on gas appliances when he was not registered.

Paul Jowett who lives in Pakefield, Lowestoft, admited he was guilty of five breaches in the gas and health and safety regulations in 2009 and 2010. The Health & Safety Executive said that Mr.Jowett carried on working even after getting a written warning in April 2010.

Ipswich Crown Court.

After the hearing, a Health & Safety Executive inspector, said: "When unqualified workers try to bypass the law they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.

"To make matters even worse, Mr.Jowett was told to stop working on gas appliances and took no notice."
mr. Paul Johnston, who is the Chief Executive of the Safe Gas Register, said: "If you're employing an engineer, you should always make sure that person is Gas Safe registered.
"Don't just take their word for it, check they are on the register and check their ID when they arrive."

new training for gas and oil burners

2012-03-02T03:52:00.000-08:00

Nu-way’s training centre in Droitwich is carrying out four courses for plumbing engineers and distributors on gas and oil burners

The course is a in depth look at the maintenance and servicing of gas and oil burners, these courses also includes commissioning and faultfinding techniques.Courses will take place in the classroom and workshop areas,engineers will be able to get plenty of hands-on experience with the Nu-way range of gas, oil and dual fuel burners for domestic, commercial and industrial use.

This is a really great course for any plumbing engineers that would like to learn more or even for just a refresh about gas and oil burners.every body that comes along will receive detailed course notes to help you through out and youll also receive a certificate on completion of the course.

If you would like to find out more you should checkout the website below
http://www.nu-way.co.uk/

and heres a list of dates for courses that are coming up soon.

• March 6th and 7th: Maintenance and service of M Series Oil Burner

• March 13th and 14th as well as April 11th and 12th: Maintenance and service of Class C&D Light Oil Pressure Burners

• March 20th and 21th also on April 17th and 18th : Maintenance and service of Forced Draught Gas Burners

• April 3rd and 5th: Maintenance and service of M Series Gas Burners.

Xpelair and Redring are to show latest high efficiency products at Ecobuild

2012-03-01T05:21:00.001-08:00

Xpelair Ventilation Solutions and Redring are coming together at the Ecobuild to show off there variety of high efficient carbon reducing ventilation, showering and hot water solutions.

You will be able to find Xpelair and Redring on stand number S3223 at the upcoming ecobuild show.

They will have a range of energy efficient products including the new Solace, their compact heat recovery units,next gen centralised mechanical extract units and also their new Xplus 2ECRF and its battery free controller.

And not forgetting that Redring will be their with them promoting their new energy efficient shower that has a 'eco' button and also a time setting to try and make it as efficient as possible as well as this being at the stand they will be promoting their CPD courses on the day.

If you would like to read more about Xpelair you can visit them at www.xpelair.co.uk
and also if you would like to find out more about Redring you can find them at www.redring.co.uk

Manager fined £22,500

2012-02-29T06:45:00.001-08:00

The managing director at a St Helens gas supply firm has been fined £22,500 after he and an employee suffered serious burns in an explosion.

John Webster and another employee sufferd burns to their faces, hands and legs at North West Gases.Also a third employee sustained minor injuries as a result of the explosion, which was powerful enough to lift the roof off the building.

The court heard that Mr Webster and another employee, who didnt want to be named, were attempting to remove the valve on an LPG cylinder when the explosion accured on
April 10, 2008.

Mr Webster had failed to ensure the cylinder was empty and also that there was no potential ignition source before starting work.

So as a result of Mr Webster's neglagence, gas escaped from the cylinder and ignited. The resulting fire and explosion set Mr Webster's clothing alight and his employee was thrown across the building. Both men were treated in a specialist burns unit and the employee suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

visit energy smart today for industry leading energy efficient boilers http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

World plumbing day is nearly here

2012-02-28T05:53:00.000-08:00

To mark this years World Plumbing Day, the team at UK Copper Board have created a competition to test the knowledge of the nations plumbers.

All Plumbers and student plumbers alike from across the country are invited to visit the UK Copper Board website and test their copper pipework knowledge during the week leading up to World Plumbing Day – March 5 to 11.

All those plumbers that correctly answer all of the questions will then be entered into a prize draw to win a fantastic digital camera.

World Plumbing Day is an international event on March 11th,that celebrates all that is great about plumbing and how it became so important to everyday life

If you would like to enter this great competition, visit : http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/.

Or if you would like more information on World Plumbing Day, you can visit http://www.worldplumbingday.org/.

Worcester's all new spares website

2012-02-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Worcester, Bosch Group has increased its on line offerings further with the launch of their new spares website.The website has been designed to give installers the information they need on spare parts with great exploded diagrams to make it easier to find parts quickly.

As the cost of living rises, more and more people are choosing to repair their boiler instead of investing in a new model, which has increased the demand for spare parts.

if you need a spare part check their web site out www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/sparesstockists.

visit energy smart today for industry leading energy efficient boilers http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

shadow minister visit's plumb centre

2012-02-15T05:10:00.002-08:00

The shadow minister for energy and climate change Luciana Berger recently visited plumb centre to talk about sustainable energy in the plumbing sector.

During the visit the shadow minister met with a group of installers and specifiers who were on a training course.
They expressed their concerns over current financial incentives and the challenges of convincing homeowners to invest in renewable in the current economic climate also Ms Berger was given a tour of the building which showcases many of the low carbon technologies which are currently available.

For Plumbing Merchants providing energy efficient boilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

practical installer is back at the excel london

2012-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Plumb Centre has joined manufacturers from across the renewable industry to create the live display area. 36 live presentations will be spread out over three days.

Each display will provide a view into some of the technical considerations when installing renewable technologies, they will talk about some of the myths that surround renewable technologies and showing how many of the products that are on the market now will be important in delivering a sustainable future.so if you want to be able to see the action you need to get down to the excel London on the Tuesday the 20th and Thursday the 22nd of march 2012.

For Plumbing Merchants providing energyefficientboilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

PTS have released thier 2012 brochure !

2012-02-10T08:31:00.000-08:00

PTS have just released their new brochure full of all the latsest barthroom suites,furniture,showers,and fixstures.The brochure contains all the most upto date items to create a truley beautiful bathroom and is full of high quaility images to help you pick the right products for you.

so if you want to get your hands on a PTS brochure you can visit your local PTS branch.
or you can visit there site http://www.ptsplumbing.co.uk/

For Plumbing Merchants providing energyefficientboilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

The future of plumbing....

2012-02-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

Reading threw some recent news today i came across a young man called Michael driver. Michael is one of many young people today that are looking for work in the plumbing industry.

But after leaving college with a level 1 NVQ in plumbing under his belt
he is still searching for work 18 months later! So unsurprisingly Michael hasn't had much choice but to resort to job seekers allowance so that he can continue to travel to the job centre.

Michael said he has applied for over 190 jobs and has only managed to get himself a months temporary placement in the whole time he has been searching.

It does make you think about the future of the trade if company's cant take apprentices on.

For Plumbing Merchants providing energy efficient boilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

2012-02-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

In July 2010, a Vaillant auroTHERM exclusive three panel solar collector set and an ecoTEC 637 condensing boiler was installed at Woodlands bed and breakfast in Glossop, Derbyshire.

The installation followed the recommendation of a Vaillant solar panel system by Vaillant approved solar installers, Gas Care UK.

Woodlands’ tea rooms are now exclusively powered by the Vaillant auroTHERM solar panel system.

Brian Mairs and his wife Julie, owners of the bed and breakfast, were very pleased with the benefits that the new system has brought. “Our electricity bills have been horrendous for years. After having a conversation with Dave Wright, the director at Gas Care UK, we made the decision to have a Vaillant solar panel system installed”, Brian explained.

Dave Wright, Director at Gas Care UK, said: “Vaillant is one of our installer partners; we regularly use Vaillant products and trust the quality of the brand. Solar power was the ideal solution for Woodlands - as a guest house it has a high usage of heating and hot water. The solar panels can provide the heat source for the water and heating – so the owners shouldn’t have to pay gas or electricity bills. For this business, the investment in solar energy will pay for itself.”
Brian said: “The project has been partly-funded by an interest-free loan from a government body. It’s great to see that people like us, who want to invest in such projects, are being given a helping hand. Even in cloudy weather, the solar panels absorb the sun’s radiation, which means that the system is almost constantly running.

“This system is 90% more efficient than our previous boiler system and, in less than a year, we’ve already saved £850 in bills. We would recommend a Vaillant solar panel system to everyone; we are very pleased with this project.”
For more information on Vaillant, call 01634 292300 or visit: www.vaillant.co.uk
For Plumbing Merchants providing energy efficient boilers see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

2012-02-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

Yell’s web design team has released a new infographic urging plumbers to use the internet to boost their business.

‘Stop the leak’ highlights the opportunity for plumbers to market themselves and gain more customers by having a website. It also outlines the active customer base they may miss out on if they do not adapt to the online world.

Google statistics show that there are 823,000 searches for the keyword ‘plumbers’ nationwide, every month. UK plumbers who do not have a website could be missing out on a large number of these ‘in market’ consumers.

The infographic highlights the regular demand for plumbers with many Google searches being location-specific; there are 40,500* of these queries each month for London plumbers alone.

As stated in the infographic, 58% of all purchase decisions now begin with a search engine**. The internet is becoming the main research tool for anyone looking for a product or service, so plumbers without a website could find themselves being left behind.

Many plumbers feel that the best way to market themselves is by word of mouth and do not realise the potential value of an online presence***. These businesses fall into the 54% of small enterprises that do not have a website****.

Yell’s infographic shows various ways that plumbers can use online channels including email, web content and advertising, to turn search queries into real customers.

Marketing.yell.com, the online marketing resource from Yell, is aimed at giving free advice and information to small and medium sized businesses on how to market their businesses online. Yell provides web design services and has built more than 600 websites for plumbers.

For energy efficient boiler see http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/

Plumbers unprepared for move to energy-efficient homes

2012-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

The report calls for more investment in 'upskilling' heating engineers and installers to cope with the shift to low-carbon heating. Photograph: Public domain

Plumbers are almost wholly unprepared for the "drastic change" to the way the UK's homes are heated as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions, leading engineers said on Thursday, meaning householders could need to turn to architects and engineers at a potential cost of over £20,000 per house.

In a report published on Thursday, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) also warned that government plans for insulation and green energy are not adequate for the changes needed for a shift to low-carbon heating. They called for a massive switch to renewable energy such as solar water heaters and wood-burning stoves to a street by street effort to upgrade insulation in Britain's draughty homes.

About a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions come from heating residential buildings, largely with gas. To meet future carbon reduction targets, the amount of fuel used must come down drastically and millions of homes will have to use new technology such as heat pumps.

The lack of necessary skills among plumbers and heating installers is proving a major brake on the UK's ability to make this switch, the RAE found. The study found examples of inexperienced or underqualified installers causing serious problems.

One household paid thousands more than it should have because a heat pump had been wrongly connected - instead of energy bills falling as they had expected, the bills soared from £30 to £250 a month. It cost thousands to fix. In another case cited by one of the study authors, solid wall insulation was badly installed in some old housing stock, causing condensation to collect on the walls and rot floor joists.

The authors called for more investment in "upskilling" heating engineers and installers, and a coordinated approach across the UK that would enable houses to be upgraded at a lower cost.

"We can no longer just muddle through," said Scott Steedman of the RAE. "We need to make drastic changes."

The engineers were wary of government plans to upgrade homes through its much-vaunted "green deal" policy, which will come into force late this year. Under the scheme, households will be offered loans to improve their properties' energy efficiency.

However, individual households will be responsible themselves for choosing to sign up to the scheme, which will be offered by a wide range of providers from energy utilities and supermarkets and large retailers to one-man-band plumbers and builders.

Rather than take this approach - which relies on people taking a long-term view of their future energy costs by agreeing to pay back loans over years through additions to their bills - it would be much more efficient to offer insulation street-by-street and housing estate by housing estate, the engineers said. This could work by asking householders in a particular area to opt out of a bigger scheme to insulate each building, rather than having to opt in.

"Street by street, group by group, estate by estate [would work]," said Steedman. "The green deal needs to be implemented very carefully or it could be just a mad scramble for DIY equipment. It has to be done in a considered way, to standards. This is a big investment and it has to be made in the national interest."

The authors also found that the UK could not rely on heat pump technology, as other studies have suggested, because it would lead to a 50% increase in electricity use. Heat pumps need electricity to work, but generate more energy than they use.

They also found that relying on large-scale renewables on the electricity grid, and switching houses over to electric heating, would not work because of the difficulty of meeting peaks in demand. "To attempt to meet the whole of such a load by renewables based on wind, tides or sun would require a level of installed capacity that would be almost impossible to build and that would be standing idle for most of the summer months, making energy very expensive," said the report.

But if houses can be upgraded and low-carbon heating systems installed, the UK is likely to save billions and generate new jobs. "Managing the UK's [heating] energy systems in a way that reduces CO2, avoids expensive imports, ensures energy security, does not exacerbate fuel poverty, supports job creation and works with - rather than against - the market will be hugely difficult," said Roger Kemp, professor of engineering at Lancaster University. "Government is only just coming to terms with the complexity of these multiple demands on policy."

News source guardian.co.uk

For energy efficient plumbing materials see www.energy-smart.or.uk

Ecoflam burners specified for ‘contractor range’ of boilers

2012-01-11T01:46:00.000-08:00

The MAX OIL burner from EcoflamEcoflam has supplied its MAX OIL burners to TR Engineering for the Trianco range of Contractor SE Kitchen/Utility boilers.

The MAX OIL burners were chosen for their performance, high efficiency and quiet operation. The Contractor SE Kitchen/Utility range of floor standing boilers is available in outputs from 14kW to 65kW.

Commenting on Ecoflam, Peter Beighton, manufacturing director, TR Engineering, said: “We’ve had a long and well-established relationship with Ecoflam for many years and have always found the company’s products to be manufactured to the highest standards. The MAX OIL range of burners is no exception and we are really pleased with their performance in the Contractor range of SE boilers.”

Mark Bingley, technical manager, Ecoflam UK, said: “The drive for energy efficiency and compliance with the new Building Regulations means that more and more new boilers are being developed for the oil market. With our many years’ experience working with manufacturers, we are able to deliver the right burners for the job which are energy efficient, reliable and easy to service.”

The MAX OIL range of low NOx oil burners is suitable for domestic and commercial applications. Available in outputs from 17kW to 546kW, the range features an efficient fan ventilation system - making it compatible with a wide variety of boilers with high combustion chamber pressures.

To make maintenance easy, the MAX OIL has a single bolt burner fixing with the capability to firmly secure it to the flange in three fixing points. Plus, the hinge flange also allows access to the burner head without losing burner settings. Additional features include an air damper with progressive micrometric air regulation, easy to assemble combustion head and monoblock electrodes for simple nozzle installation after maintenance.

For more information, call Ecoflam UK on 01386 556092

For energy efficient plumbing supplies see energy smart www.energy-smart.org.uk

Plumbing News: Beat the big freeze

2012-01-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

Frozen condensate pipes were a huge problem last year and many households were caught out during the severe cold weather spell – which in some areas went down to -20°C.

This has resulted in a large increase in the number of calls to boiler manufacturers and heating installers from householders with condensing (high efficiency) boilers where the condensate drainage pipe has frozen and become blocked with ice. This then causes the condensate to ‘back up’ into the boiler and can cause a complete shutdown.

British Standards, Building Regulations etc. currently allow condensate drainage pipes to be run either internally or externally, or a combination of both.

These documents give guidance on how to install the pipes in order to reduce the possibility of freezing. However, this guidance may not be sufficient to prevent freezing in extreme conditions - with widespread and prolonged very low temperatures.

In view of the possibility that UK weather patterns will show more “extremes” in future due to the effects of global climate change, the following guidance updates previous recommendations on condensate drainage pipe installation.

All other technical requirements for condensate drain installation given in British Standard BS 6798:2009, or in boiler manufacturers’ installation instructions should still be followed.

HHIC technical manager, Glyn Thomas, said: “These guidance documents have been developed in close consultation with HHIC member companies who manufacture and install boilers.

“They give additional information for installers on ways to avoid freezing of condensate drains, developed in the light of recent experience during prolonged spells of very cold weather in the UK - and for householders on possible actions to take if they have problems with frozen condensate drains during the winter ahead.”

HHIC’s Isaac Occhipinti said: “December temperatures have fallen every year for the last five years. Winter 2010 was the chilliest spell since 1979 with the coldest December on record. Our changing climate has put additional pressures on householders heating systems. That is why HHIC has issued official guidance for installers in case the high level of frozen pipes occurs again due to extreme weather.”

To find out more about the HHIC guidance, visit: http://www.centralheating.co.uk/checklists/frozen-condensate-pipes/frozen-condensate-guidance-installer.

For energy efficient plumbing supplies and cheap boilers contact energy smart www.energy-smart.org.uk or like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Energy efficiencies of instant water provision

2011-12-01T04:10:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-11T05:36:00.000-08:00

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

For plumbing supplies see www.energy-smart.org.uk follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Plumbers urged to fight global water crisis…

2011-10-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-11T03:49:00.000-07:00

An industry-led consortium has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop the business plan for a not-for-profit organisation,
The Green Dea l 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

2011-10-10T02:06:00.000-07:00

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

See Energy Smart for more info and get all your enviromental friendly products here, click www.energy-smart.org.uk

SCL Elements Raises $2 Million in First Round..

2011-10-05T03:24:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-09-26T01:41:00.000-07:00

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

To read more or get Energy Smart today go online www.energy-smart.org.uk all your Plumbing Supplies and Cheap Boiler needs!

Renewables - PTS launches Renewables Brochure

2011-09-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-13T02:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-07T03:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

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.

For more information follow us on facebook @ www.facebook.com/energysmartuk or visit our website www.energy-smart.org.uk

Female plumber named best local trader in London

2011-07-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-05-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-19T01:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-04-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

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.”

For cost efficient and energy efficient products including smart boilers check out Energy Smart today!

Baxi supports growing campaign to cut boiler VAT

2011-03-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

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/

For cost efficient and energy efficient boilers join the Energy Smart scheme www.energy-smart.org.uk

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

2011-03-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

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.

Save money on your boilers through the Energy Smart scheme. Energy Smart provide the most competitive rates on energy efficient boilers. For further information see our website energy-smart.org.uk also like us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/energysmartuk

Dorian Harvey - South West’s Apprentice Plumber 2011

2011-03-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

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.

Check out our Facebook page and keep up to date. Become a fan http://www.facebook.com/energysmartuk For plumbers save money with Energy Smart.

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

2011-03-09T02:16:00.000-08:00

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

For energy efficient boilers save money with Energy Smart view boiler discounts online at www.energy-smart.org.uk

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

2011-02-23T05:36:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-14T03:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

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.

For energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart

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

2011-01-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

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.

For energy and cost efficient boiler contact Energy Smart today

Boiler news, make sure you have your boiler serviced regularly

2011-01-19T04:39:00.000-08:00

Some interesting news worth reading...

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to a thatch cottage in Winchcombe Road, Sedgbeberrow, to extinguish a boiler fire at 11.40am on Friday, January 14.

Four firefighters in breathing apparatus used two hose reels to put the fire - which started in the ground floor boiler cupboard - out by 1.45pm.

Station commander Mark Strutt said: “The occupants were alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm fitted in the cottage and had managed to get out themselves and save the family dog before we arrived.
“Knowing they were safe, our main priority then was to prevent the spread of fire to the thatched roof, and by cutting away and using a thermal imaging camera, we were able to contain the fire to the ground floor with only minor damage to the first floor.”

While the boiler at this property was relatively new, Station Commander Strutt advised that everyone should have their boilers serviced regularly to minimise the risk of fire.

He also stressed the importance of having a working smoke alarm fitted on every level of a house.

For Energy efficient boilers at the best prices in the market place save energy and stay smart with Energy Smart

Staying warm in winter - be Safe and Energy Smart

2011-01-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

For very important information relating to staying warm and more importantly safe this winter please see the following information:

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety:
Any fuel-burning equipment or appliance, including wood stoves, fireplaces, space heaters, barbecue grills, furnaces, water heaters, boilers and ranges, has the potential to produce CO, a poisonous gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating.
When breathed, CO combines with the blood and prevents it from absorbing oxygen. CO can be produced by incomplete combustion, often the result of improperly adjusted or poorly vented appliances. Annual check-ups of these appliances help ensure proper and safe operation of these types of appliances and equipment. To stay safe:
•    Have your gas central heating unit checked annually to make sure the heat exchanger is not cracked or rusted and that the burner area is clean.
•    Follow manufacturers' operating instructions properly for gas heating equipment.
•    Do not use stovetop burners or ovens to heat a room since they are not designed for this use.
•    Make sure to follow the blue flame rule. Natural gas flames should burn blue except natural gas fireplace logs which burn orange to have a more realistic wood burning look. Make sure the fireplace damper is open at all times when using gas logs.
•    Crack windows slightly if using unvented space heaters.
•    Consider buying a CO detector as another line of defense against CO poisoning. CenterPoint Energy recommends buying one with an audible alarm and continuous digital display; make sure it is tested to the national standard for residential CO detectors (UL2034 or IAS NO. 6-96).

If you smell gas:
•    Leave immediately and tell others to do the same.
•    Do not use electric switches, telephones (including cell phones), or anything that could cause a spark.
•    Call CenterPoint Energy from a safe location. Do not use e-mail or the Internet to contact the company about a leak, and never assume someone else has reported the leak.
•    Alert your neighbors. CenterPoint Energy checks suspected natural gas leaks at no cost to customers.
•    Never try to repair a natural gas leak yourself. Leave all repairs to a trained technician.

Vaillant ecoTec high efficiency boiler hits one million!

2011-01-05T04:51:00.000-08:00

Energy Smart can confirm that Vaillant is celebrating the production of its one millionth ecoTEC high efficiency condensing boiler for the UK market, at its factory at Belper in Derbyshire.

The one millionth boiler produced was an ecoTEC plus 831 high efficiency combination boiler.
Vaillant is awarding £1,000 of holiday vouchers, shared equally by the householder and the installer of the one millionth ecoTEC boiler.

As every boiler has its own unique serial number, the winner will automatically be identified when registering their Vaillant boiler guarantee either over the phone, online or by post.

The Vaillant Group is an international family-owned company with a tradition of more than 135 years. In its core business of heating technology the company is the second-largest European manufacturer in this branch. In addition, the Vaillant Group is active in the branches of ventilation and air-conditioning technology.

For the best energy efficient boilers at the best prices in the market place contact Energy Smart today!

Glow Worm and Worcester Bosch join the Low Carbon Solutions Scheme

2010-12-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

Energy Smart can inform you that Plumb Center has announced key revisions to the A1 Low Carbon Solutions Fuel Switching Scheme which promise to give qualifying oil heating installers something to look forward to in 2011. The new and improved scheme will see installers, who are registered with the scheme, walking away with £100 cashback for every qualifying fuel switch they complete.

The installer incentive comes in addition to the grant funding of up to £520 which installers are able to access for their customers through the scheme. Being able to access this funding provides installers with an advantage over their competitors, allowing them to offer more competitive quotes and in turn to pick up more business.

The A1 LCS Scheme has been around for a number of years and although the details of the scheme have changed, the premise has remained constant - to encourage the installation of low-carbon, high-efficiency heating systems in the privately-owned residential housing sector.
Homes where an electric or coal-fired heating system is replaced with a new less carbon intensive gas, oil or LPG A-rated boiler - purchased from Plumb Center, a key partner of the scheme - are all eligible to apply for the grant.

Eight leading boiler manufacturers are involved in scheme - Worcester Bosch, Valliant, Baxi Potterton, Vokera, Alpha, Glow Worm, Ideal and Grant UK.

For cheap energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart today.

Plumbing Trade Supplies - second in BBC Three’s ‘Young plumber of the year’

2010-12-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

PTS customer Charlie King battled other plumbers from across the country and came second in BBC Three’s ‘Young plumber of the year’ thanks to a nomination from his local Plumbing Trade Supplies branch manager.

PTS Romford Branch Manager Barry Jones put 21 year old Charlie, from Entire Plumbing Ltd, forward thanks to his creative ability and determination to have his own successful business. BBC Three’s ‘Young plumber of the year’ celebrates talent across the UK, with the winner chosen by a panel of industry experts.

Charlie started out as an apprentice and it wasn’t long before he was working to get his own plumbing business off the ground, buying his first van at the age of 17 and starting his company at 18. Now fully established, Entire Plumbing Ltd installs everything from bathroom suites to solar heating systems.

Barry Jones, PTS Romford Branch Manager said: “I’ve been working in the heating and plumbing industry for 17 years and for me, no plumber has stood out as much as Charlie. He is incredibly motivated and determined which I have a lot of respect for.

“Charlie knows a lot about the industry and is already a keen user of renewables. He has been a very loyal customer of ours and PTS will be supporting Charlie all the way. He has done well to have made it to the final four and truly deserves the recognition for all his hard work.”

Charlie added: “I’m proud to have been recognised nationally for my work. Barry’s faith in my ability has given me the confidence to push myself further and I’m incredibly grateful that PTS nominated me out of all its customers to go into this competition.”

For plumbing accessories and cheap boilers contact Energy Smart today

Plumbing News, Swindon Apprentice wins BBC Young Plumber of the Year

2010-12-09T06:37:00.000-08:00

A former Swindon College apprentice has won the BBC Young Plumber of the Year Award.

Aimee Patterson, 23, competed against hundreds of applicants for the title of Britain's best young plumber on BBC 3 last week.

Aimee, who completed her plumbing apprenticeship at Swindon College in 2008, was "over the moon" to have won.

She said: "I've got so much passion for the industry and I love what I'm doing.

"And this proves that women can do it in the industry and that we are just as good as anyone else."

Televised at the beginning of December the BBC 3 programme set the young plumbers a series of challenges.

Toilet test

The two day competition tested skills such as unblocking a toilet, soldering a "nightmare plumbing maze" and designing and constructing a fountain.
BBC Young Plumber of the Year
Despite winning the title Aimee doesn't believe that girls make better plumbers

"The worst challenge we had to do was a quick-fire question round which was horrible," explained Aimee.

"And when I got to the final we had to make a fountain - now lots of friends are taking the Mickey out of me and asking if I can make a fountain for their garden."

As the only girl shortlisted to compete for the title, the 23-year-old also had to prove herself against comments that she had "only got through because she was a girl".

"There was a comment made by one of the other contestants that I wasn't as good," she said.

"But if I'd thought I'd got through just because I was a girl I'd have gone straight away.

"I wanted to be treated just the same as all the other guys because I like to think that I am just as good as the guys."

Girl plumbers

Despite being described by the programme's judges as "outstanding" and a "great role model for the industry", Aimee doesn't believe that girls make better plumbers then boys.

"I think we're different - I wouldn't say we're any better," she said.

"I think we think about things differently and have a more methodical way.

"But I hope I've proved a point and that there are a few people out there that will now want to do plumbing because it's a brilliant industry."

PTS Plumbing Supplies tackle top running challenge

2010-12-09T03:39:00.000-08:00

A team of PTS employees pulled on their running shoes to compete in the Great South Run on 24th October in Portsmouth, raising around £700 for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Passing the finish line after a tough ten miles were PTS Haslemere Branch Manager Andrew Marchant and PTS Camberly Assistant Branch Manager Matthew Armstrong-Forbes. Both runners had been training hard for months before the challenge, raising money through the support of friends, family and PTS customers and suppliers.

Andy Marchant, Branch Manager at PTS Haslemere, said: “This was the first sponsored run I had ever done so it was a real challenge, but our team wanted to support the great work of the CF Trust. I am now preparing for the London Marathon in April 2011 and I hope we can rely on the same support from everyone that helped us to raise such a massive amount of money this time around.”

Keen runner and PTS Sales Representative for Leicestershire Duncan Foley also represented the North of England when he took on the Great North Run on Sunday 19th September in Newcastle, Gateshead. Duncan will be joining Andy in support of the CF Trust at the 2011 London Marathon. The CF Trust is the UK’s only national charity dedicated to all aspects of Cystic Fibrosis.

For Plumbing supplies at the best rates available see www.energy-smart.org.uk

Help stop the silent killer, says company

2010-11-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

They call it the silent killer – and in the UK, around 50 people lose their lives to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning every year.

But now appliance repair company 0800 Repair, is helping upto five hundred local people beat the menace of carbon monoxide, by giving them free detectors when they have their gas appliances serviced.

Phil Pallister, Managing Director of 0800 Repair’s gas division said: “There have been many terrible tragedies where people have died in their own homes from carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Common sources of carbon monoxide poisioning include faulty central heating systems, gas appliances and fires. If appliances aren’t operating properly or if flues and chimneys get blocked and the fumes cant escape and are inhaled by people in the home, then this can lead to fatal consequences.

“We extended our appliance repair services to cover gas this summer, but as winter is drawing in we are keen to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of having your gas boiler, cooker and fire serviced regularly.”

Starting this month, 0800 Repair is offering hundreds of free carbon monoxide detectors to customers who get their boiler serviced or checked by the company.

The company is already well-known in the area thanks to its eyecatching black and yellow vans – which have a 7ft screwdriver on top.

The company has linked up with the Sunderland branch of national company Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS) for the safety awareness campaign.

For Energy efficient boilers contact EnergySmart

High Performance Boilers from EnergySmart

2010-11-18T03:44:00.000-08:00

High Performance Boilers

Busy families need a boiler heating system which fully supports their lifestyle and provides perfect comfort levels. Featuring a stainless steel heat exchanger, the Ultracom2 range boiler provides excellent heating and hot water comfort and boasts low energy consumption reducing both your costs and your carbon footprint.

Offering a variety of combi, open vent or sealed system boiler appliances in a wide range of outputs, the Ultracom2 range offers exceptional reliability and performance. SEDBUK A rated, with a NOx Class 5 rating (the best possible), the Ultracom2 range also offers complete flexibility with a wide range of control options. The innovative production process of the complete Ultracom2 range is controlled and optimised through a seamless assembly monitoring system always ensuring the highest product quality standards.

Access all areas
Designed with hassle free installation in mind, the brand new Ultracom2range of High Efficiency combi and system boilers offers a spacious internal design with easy access to all components without the need to remove the side panels meaning no side clearances are required.

Combined with one way wiring connections and a unique, simple filling loop design meaning you don’t have to remove any parts, installation and servicing is both straightforward and quick. The High Definition plain text display ensures hassle free and simple commissioning, whilst the advanced stainless steel heat exchanger reduces noise so much, the Ultracom2is so quiet you’ll barely know it’s there.

Flexible controls
With a choice of plug in analogue, digital or external eBus controls the Ultracom2offers complete flexibility providing perfect home comfort for every application. Also featuring a unique receiver slot located inside the boiler, the Ultracom2and the new Climapro2RF wireless programmable room thermostat are the perfect
combination for advanced heating control.

Buy the best boiler at the best prices on the web – visit EnergySmart today!

Plumbing Merchants PTS support British motocross

2010-11-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

Leading heating and plumbing merchant PTS has pledged its continued support to the AMCA British Motocross under 18s champion, Jack Jones, with a sponsorship deal designed to keep his bike in top winning condition.

Jack works for his father’s company, Burton Gas Ltd and has been a customer of PTS’ Burton-on -Trent branch for four years. After following Jack’s rise to racing fame, Matt Cudworth, Manager of PTS Burton offered to join boiler manufacturer Viessmann in sponsoring his bike in preparation for the AMCA 2010 Motocross Youth Championships.

Matt said: “Jack and his father Barry are familiar faces in the Burton branch and we are thrilled to be able to help keep him on the road by sponsoring his bike. We wish him every success as he continues to make his mark in the Motocross championships and look forward to seeing him rise up the ranks even further.”

Jack adds: “The sponsorship money that we have received from PTS is being used to keep my bike in tip top condition. We often need new tyres and keep a good stock of brakes and accessories to see us through the races that I attend so this support is invaluable.

“I’m really grateful for all the support that I get from the PTS branch in Burton and always look forward to going in store to update the team on my continued wins.”

For energy efficient cost effective boiler contact visit Energy Smart

Plumming news | Grant Aerona Air Source Heat Pump

2010-11-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Energy Smart can confirm that Grant UK took home two prestigious trophies at the 2010 ‘OFTEC Awards for Excellence’ at the Richoh Arena in Coventry. The evening included a Gala Dinner with special guest speaker, writer and comedian Barry Cryer OBE.

Outshining the competition, Grant was presented with the coveted ‘Training Centre of the Year 2010’ award recognising their hard work and dedication to training engineers across the country. This is the sixth prestigious award the Academy has won, since it opened in January 2003.

Based in Wiltshire, the Grant Training Academy has an extremely comprehensive course portfolio featuring tuition on oil-fired equipment installation and servicing, renewable training for solar thermal, solar PV, air source heat pumps and WRAS Certification, as well as several free of charge Grant product courses. There is also a new MCS Guidance course – ideal for companies wishing to gain MCS accreditation.

Additionally, the Grant Aerona Air Source Heat Pump came runner up in the new category of ‘Innovative Product of the Year’. Anna Wakefield, Marketing Manager for Grant UK commented: “We are thrilled to receive this level of industry recognition for our Aerona Air Source Heat Pump. Having been in development for over 18 months and the official launch only in January this year, the award is testament to Grant's commitment to appliance quality, reliability and peace of mind for those purchasing any of our renewable technologies.”

Plumbing info: Vaillant are opening a new Centre of Excellence in Cambridge

2010-11-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

Plumbing information: Vaillant are opening a new Centre of Excellence in Cambridge on the 18th November 2010.

The centre of excellence is located within the Cambridge IQ business park, which is actually part of the local wildlife reserve. With conservation and sustainability as its key messages, the park is the perfect setting for Vaillant to promote its energy saving technologies.

The new training centre enables Vaillant installers from the East Anglia and Essex areas the opportunity to train on the full Vaillant product range, plus providing a perfect meeting place for customers and visitors wanting to find out more about Vaillant.

For the best Vaillant products at the best prices visit www.energy-smart.org.uk

Plumbing supplies - Glow-worm Heat Pump

2010-11-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

EnergySmart can confirm that Glow-worm are extending their straightforward and installer friendly Clearly Heat Pumps range with the introduction of a brand new 5kW air to water heat pump (AWHP).

Creating the next generation of air to water heat pumps from Glow-worm, the new Clearly Heat Pumps 5kW system with an electrical back-up heater, is designed especially for new build houses with a low energy requirement.

Clearly Heat Pump 5kW provides a highly efficient heating and domestic hot water solution which can contribute towards achieving level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The system has full MCS accreditation meaning that it is eligible for possible future RHI funding.

The new 5kW heat pump features a slimline, modern design, housing the latest electronics in a compact monobloc unit measuring just 900 x 880 x 345mm. Offering an impressive a COP of 3.79 (A7/W35) and using non ozone depleting R410a refrigerant, the new 5kW heat pump also incorporates a modulating DC fan, operating at between 300 and 750 rpm, keeping any noise to a minimum.

Significantly for installers, no F-gas qualifications are needed to install the unit, and no separate system expansion or additional buffer vessels are required. The unit and all components are easily accessible enabling straightforward installation and servicing.

The unit also incorporates an inrush current limiter enabling installers to fit the system with a standard 20 amp breaker, and an electronic expansion valve to give precise flow regulation of the refrigerant liquid for optimised COP.

The indoor Hydraulic Module SA separates the heat pump circuit from the main central heating system, so there is no need to fill the entire central heating system with glycol antifreeze, making installation and servicing even easier. The hyrdraulic module also incorporates a 20 litre buffer vessel, a 12 litre expansion vessel, a central heating circulation pump, filling valves for the glycol circuit, PRV and an inline heater, adjustable, up to 6kW.

As the outdoor unit itself utilises Glow-worm's eBus communication protocol for advanced system communication, the Clearly Heat Pumps 5kW unit can be teamed with a suitable Glow-worm high efficiency boiler and an alternative hydraulic module (Hydraulic Module HB), to form the Glow-worm Clearly Hybrid system.

Combining the use of the heat pump with the latest generation of Glow-wormâ€™s Ultracom2 High Efficiency boilers creates the UK's first hybrid renewable domestic heating system that combines traditional and renewable technologies to always choose the most cost efficient method of heating the home at all times.

With rapidly changing consumer attitudes and government initiatives such as Feed in Tariffs (FiT) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) making the proposition of installing renewable heating technologies more attractive to homeowners, both Clearly Heat Pump 5kW and the revolutionary Clearly Hybrid system present the perfect opportunity for installers to take advantage of the changing consumer landscape and movement towards new heating technologies.

For Boilers at trade prices visit www.energy-smart.org.uk

Plumbers – Some Useful Information to Trade Heating Installers

2010-10-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

While upgrades to controls in existing heating systems, other than at times of boiler replacement, are not specifically required under the building regulations it is good practice for all homes to have a set of controls that at least complies with the minimum standards in the Building Regulations – a boiler interlock, room thermostat, programmer, thermostatic radiator valves and a hot water cylinder thermostat. These will ensure that the existing heating system is not operating inefficiently and allow the occupants to make further reductions in their energy costs through behaviour change.

Heating installers should recommend controls upgrades as required to meet these standards when visiting homes for maintenance and repairs. UK Government is committed to reducing energy use in homes and householders should be reminded that 84% of energy use in homes is from heating and hot water.

Wireless controls are a convenient choice for controls upgrades; allowing ease of installation and minimal disruption by taking away the requirement for wiring runs.

Control may be provided by any boiler management system that meets the specified zoning, timing and temperature and boiler interlock control requirements.

One zone must cover the ‘living area’ and heating zones will often be divided to cover ‘living’ and ‘sleeping’ areas, or upstairs and downstairs. There are usually significant opportunities for energy saving by matching zones to the lifestyle of occupants (for example with home offices) and installers should look for opportunities to set up zones beyond the minimum requirements.

A 2006 report by Nationwide showed that most four-bedroom detached houses fall into this category with the average floor area of such properties being 157m2 (the average for five-bedroom detached was over 200m2.) Older houses can be larger than modern ones, with the average of all pre-war detached homes being over 150m2.

Energy efficiency and energy saving boilers see our website www.energy-smart.org.uk

Reduce your carbon footprint and save money!

2010-10-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Sentinel products are available through Energy Smart, the efficient boilers can reduce your carbon footprint and save you money.

Sentinel, Europe’s leading water treatment specialist has become the first company in the heating and plumbing sector to be given the right to use The Carbon Trusts’ carbon label. And not just on one, but two of its top selling products, showing Sentinel are committed to A1 carbon solutions. The Carbon Label Company’s primary objective is to support companies worldwide to measure, certify, reduce and communicate the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their products and services.

Sentinel has gone the ‘extra mile’ in its commitment to the environment and carbon reduction by being the first company in the heating sector to achieve a Carbon Trust Certification for carbon reduction. It has had a carbon footprint carried out on two of its biggest selling products both available at massive trade discounted prices when purchased through the Energy Smart website; X100 system protector and corrosion inhibitor and the X800 system cleaner. Both X100 and X800 products are carbon footprint products which are below the normal GHG emissions for similar products.

Integrated sustainability solutions provider Sustain carried out the carbon footprint assessment of both products using life cycle assessment techniques. Sentinel, by working with Sustain, has been able to calculate the carbon emissions generated in the production and distribution of these products. The outcome is that if you clean a typical dirty central heating system using Sentinel X800 Jetflo, and treat it with Sentinel X100, you can restore efficiency by an average of 2.6%. This equates to an annual energy emission saving of 38kg CO2 for a typical home, a great start at increasing carbon footprint savings.

An example is that 38kg CO2 is the equivalent of switching on a 60 watt light bulb for 1,000 hours. For further information relating to Energy Efficient Boilers look on our website www.energy-smart.org.uk

Boiler efficiency can be restored by using water treatment products

2010-10-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

We all take our boiler efficiency within our heating systems a little bit for granted. Switch them on when we need heating and hot water. Switch them off when we don’t. But the heating system in a home is responsible for a huge percentage of the fuel we burn – whether its oil or gas or solid fuel. So doesn’t it make sense for the heating system to be as efficient as it’s possible for it to be – so it uses as little fuel as possible, costing you as little as possible, and provides heat as efficiently as it can? Maximum boiler efficiency results in cost savings and greater heating effectiveness.

A simple way to achieve this is to use high quality chemical water treatment products to flush through your system to get the system clean and to add to the system once its clean to keep it that way. Sentinel water treatment products are acknowledged throughout the heating and plumbing sector as the best you can get and the chemicals they offer will clear blocked pipe work, radiators and pumps and valves of the rust deposits – black magnetite sludge – that settles in the system and also if the property is in a gard water area - 60% of the UK, the lime scale deposits that build up on the heating surfaces in the boiler.

Adding one of Sentinel’s Boiler system cleaners – X300, X400 or X800 depending on how old the system is and how heavily blocked it may be, will see the debris in the system flushed out of it and once the water flowing through the heating system is clear, you need to add Sentinel X100 to the system which inhibits and protects the system – with its Triple-Tech technology - ensuring that all the different metals in a heating system – steel, copper and aluminium are protected from the problems that a system without chemical water treatment products will suffer from. Sentinel’s system cleaning products restore boiler efficiency.

To buy energy efficient boilers online save money today and visit www.energy-smart.org.uk

Plumbing courses could be more profitable than other qualifications

2010-10-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

An online source has suggested the jobs achieved by people who take vocational training such as plumbing courses can often lead to better salaries than other more conventional qualifications.

A post to an Independent article on the newspaper's website, saying that vocational education has in the past been incorrectly categorised as being "easy" qualifications to complete.

The writer suggested that GCSEs, A-levels and degrees can sometimes be taken more seriously than plumbing courses, even though the latter has the potential to deliver a more profitable career.

More apprenticeships could lead to greater interest in plumbing courses

A recruitment expert has also suggested that companies could benefit from arranging more apprenticeships, which may lead to more attendees on plumbing courses.

With the every increasing awareness of environmentally friendly technologies Plumbing is just one of the industries that continues to gain the interests of ambitious students, introductions of energy efficient boilers, solar technology and wind turbines means that the public are becoming far more awear of environmental issues. The expertise gained on green energy courses could help firms to save money, since one source has suggested there are more than just environmental benefits to certain innovations.

General manager of the Carbon Trust Footprinting Company (CTFC) Euan Murray claimed that the most carbon emissions are often produced in unlikely places and cutting them down can lead to financial savings.

He suggested that professionals who have taken green energy courses will be best placed to work out the optimum way of making operations more environmentally friendly.

If you are a qualified installer and looking for the best online energy efficient boiler prices click on the following link www.energy-smart.org.uk

Boiler Discounts available to Plumbers from EnergySmart.org.uk

2010-10-09T00:58:00.000-07:00

The EnergySmart boiler discount scheme provides our clients with the best value boilers available, making the replacement of boilers and installations of new and efficient central heating as economical as possible.

To make the maximum possible impact our scheme provides boilers through EnergySmart direct to any installers in the Country, as well as to the members of our Installer Group on all our installation programmes, with the aim of encouraging them to specify condensing boilers.

This is because most boilers are distressed purchases (i.e. an old boiler has broken down in mid-winter), and the Boiler manufacturers have relatively weak consumer brands. This means that consumers generally conduct minimal research before they purchase a new boiler, leaving the decision of which boiler is best up to the installer.

Since the launch of the UK-wide scheme in 2003 over 200 installers have registered with EnergySmart, to take advantage of the scheme click on the following link... Boiler Discount Scheme.