BEAMA Demands Heat Efficiency Focus Within New Energy Bill

Industry bodies say any legislative focus on trying to deliver cheaper and cleaner sources of energy must include a focus on improving the efficiency of homes and low carbon heat. UK government proposals to introduce a new Energy Bill must include fresh provisions to encourage building efficiency and low carbon heat support, industry body BEAMA argues.

The association said that it backed wider energy industry calls to ensure that any fresh legislation will deliver meaningful changes to ensure the creation of a low carbon energy system for heating and powering homes by 2035.

Transition to cheaper, cleaner, and secure energy

The calls follow this week’s Queen’s Speech that pledged to create a new Energy Bill intended to guarantee a “transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy”. The proposed legislation was included among the government’s main priorities for the year.

BEAMA argued there was now a vital need for legislative changes long before 2035 that would expand investment in tackling rising energy prices and ramp up lower carbon sources of power generation and heating.

It added that energy costs were putting unprecedented pressure on manufacturers, industries, and investors to ensure energy security in the UK. These pressures were being felt as the UK looks to meet it legal targets to fully reduce or offset the country’s total carbon emissions by 2050.

Introducing effective legislation

Investment in flexible energy services, energy efficiency, and extensive supply chain planning will save money in the long run

Introducing effective legislation as soon as possible would help ensure the growth in the manufacture and market for low carbon heating systems, along with the energy needed to power such solutions, BEAMA argued. 

The association said this should be backed with initiatives to make the existing UK housing stock more energy efficient with regards to heat.

It stated, “Investment in flexible energy services, energy efficiency and extensive supply chain planning will save money in the long run.”

Net Zero by Design

BEAMA cited a report it published last October, entitled ‘Net Zero by Design’, as providing evidence of the savings that consumer can make from simple improvements in heating controls and the efficiency of existing gas boilers.

The report said that measures such as these would help homes in moving to cleaner heating systems and help save money in the more immediate term. They should therefore be backed with strong guidance for consumers and engineers, the report added.

Focus on improving buildings in terms of efficiency

Dr. Howard Porter, BEAMA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said any legislation outlining the importance of low carbon heat systems should be backed with a focus on improving buildings in terms of efficiency.

Dr. Howard Porter said, “There are many improvements that can made now, both to reduce energy usage and allow building owners more influence in their future energy costs.”

Cost effective ways of making homes more energy efficient

Colin Timmins, Director of Technology Sectors with BEAMA said, that it was critical that cost effective ways of making homes more energy efficient were found at a time where the government is looking at its Energy Bill and efforts to address the high costs of fuel.

Colin Timmins said, “Research we have carried out provides a compelling validation of the benefits of heating controls in fuel consumption and we hope this can support more informed decision making in strategies going forward.”