ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 35 HEAT PUMPS “Considering the aspirational targets that have been discussed by the Committee for Climate Change to have a million heat pumps installed by 2030, the UK heat pump market could play a considerable part in the country’s economic recovery. “However, it’s important to note that the ambition needs to grow. We need to rapidly move on to a wider expansion of this for the many, many o-grid households dependent on oil, LPG and other properties using aging gas systems elsewhere, if we are to tackle the 40% of UK carbon emissions generated by home heating.” Angela McGinlay, Managing Director, Daikin UK , also welcomed the news but said she would be looking for more support in the Chancellor’s autumn statement. She said: “It’s good to see homes at the heart of this new eco-package. New incentives will lead more UK homeowners to explore renewable, green alternatives to fossil fuel heating and ensure technologies such as heat pumps are rightly recognised as part of the mainstream solution to decarbonising our built environment “With the planned phase out of fossil fuel boilers from new homes after 2025, this package was needed to provide a boost to the much-needed reduction of carbon emissions from the UK’s existing housing stock. “But if the government is to truly live up to its rhetoric of ‘bouncing back better’ then it will need to go much further. France’s recently announced eco-spending package is £13bn, Germany’s £36bn and Italy’s generous ‘eco bonus’ tax breaks. Heat pumps are just one of a myriad of technologies and measures included all fighting over the UK’s relatively paltry pot. “Today is a step in the right direction. We’ll be looking for more come the autumn statement.” The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) applauded the plans, announced alongside a further package to support apprenticeships. It said the £2bn Green Homes Grant would help homeowners improve the energy e›ciency of their homes, with a further £1bn to be invested in making public buildings such as schools and hospitals more energy e›cient and £50m allocated to improve social housing. The government’s ‘kickstart’ scheme includes £2,000 for every employer who takes on an apprentice and £1,000 to any willing to take on new trainees. Firms will also receive £1,500 if they take on an apprentice aged over 25. “This is all very welcome spending that will help to generate a pipeline of work for SMEs in our sector,” said BESA’s Director of Legal and Commercial, Debbie Petford . “It is a bold plan that will address the twin challenges of cutting carbon and creating meaningful employment.” Paul Wakefield, Managing Director of Grant UK, said: “Not only will the scheme hopefully deliver economic benefits with job opportunities in our sector, it also provides individual households with the chance to assess their homes and make changes to improve its energy e›ciency. Measures, such as loft or wall insulation and double or triple glazing, can greatly improve a property’s existing energy performance. “Furthermore, some households may wish to go one step further and consider installing energy-saving home improvements in preparation of upgrading their heating system to a hybrid or renewable heat source, such as an air source heat pump. Consequently, households could not only benefit from reducing their energy wastage but they could also futureproof their homes with green heating technologies as a result of this initiative.” John Bradley, Managing Director of Homevent, a division of Elta Fans , urged homeowners and contractors to consider the provision of adequate ventilation as part of any thermal improvement works under the scheme. He said: “Anything that helps reduce heat losses and carbon emissions from a home has to be welcomed. However, new or additional insulation and more airtight windows can reduce the natural ventilation in a property to the point where it creates an environment conducive to mould growth and increased pollutant levels.” GrahamWright Angela McGinlay Bean Beanland Debbie Petford John Bradley Max Halliwell Paul Wakefield