The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) says trained installers can have a vital and effective role in improving the efficiency of heat to help reduce energy bills.
CIHPE said the expertise of heat engineers and plumbers will be needed to build understanding about how to more effectively heat properties and other buildings as energy prices are expected to continue to rise significantly this year. The comments have been made as the government committed this week to provide £15bn in funding to help cover bills for an estimated eight million low-income or fuel-poor homes.
new Energy Bill
There was no mention within the funding for any new national plans to ramp up incentives to install lower carbon heating systems or improve the energy efficiency of homes as continues to be requested by a range of industry bodies and campaigners.
The planned publication of a new Energy Bill is expected instead to set out any new aims for reducing national demand for fossil fuel heat.
Treasury commitments
The Treasury has opted instead to introduce further grant support to help cover the direct cost of heating homes
The Treasury has opted instead to introduce further grant support to help cover the direct cost of heating homes. Among the measures announced is a single £650 payment that will be provided to 8 million UK households claiming Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Pension Credit, or other benefits to help alleviate the impacts of further increases in energy bills.
Another step will be to double the payment of an energy bill discount to £400 in October, while also removing the previous requirement for the money to be paid back.
Energy Profits Levy
The funds will be generated through an ‘Energy Profits Levy’, similar to plans backed by opposition parties, that would apply to the profits of gas and energy companies and is expected to generate £5bn a year in tax.
This levy will not apply to the electricity generation sector as the government looks at options for market reform to support the planned electrification of heat and rebalance energy prices in favor of renewable power over gas.
funding
CIPHE chief executive Kevin Wellman said the institute welcomed the targeted support that will provide grants to vulnerable households as opposed to a previously announced £200 loan to partially cover bills.
However, he expressed concern that the £15bn funding alone would be insufficient to address the threat facing millions of homes in the UK at risk of fuel and water poverty that could leave them unable to afford functions such as heating.
Heating efficiency
CIPHE said that installers, in particular, can offer vital support to improve the efficiencies of heating
CIPHE said that installers, in particular, can offer vital support to improve the efficiencies of heating and other building engineering systems.
The institute added, “From ensuring boiler settings aid efficient use to upgrading controls, or fixing dripping taps, saving water and energy is all in a day’s work.”
energy-saving devices
“Never assume that clients are aware of how their systems work, or the importance of energy-saving devices such as Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) and controls. A five-minute chat about saving energy and water efficiency could help save hundreds on bills.”
Back in March, the Edinburgh Boiler Company, a Scotland-based heating specialist, announced a month-long fuel poverty prevention scheme. This involved sending the company’s qualified engineers to visit homes across the Lothian region of Scotland to perform free central heating health checks to ensure that fitted appliances are working as efficiently as they can.