EnergySmart goes mobile - order discounted boilers by text.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heating Plumbing Supplies Group now owned by staff

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

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

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

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

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

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


Sourced from Plumbzine

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

Biasi spearheads VAT scrappage campaign

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow us on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/energysmartuk 

Smart Advice to Avoiding boiler breakdowns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information Sourced from hpmmag.com

For additional information relating to boiler maintenance and trade news follow us on Facebook or visit our website

New boiler installation VAT campaign gathers pace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For energy efficient boilers contact Energy Smart today

Smart meters slammed!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Baxi supports growing campaign to cut boiler VAT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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