Efficient boilers save more on bills than previously thought

Posted on by Posted in Heating

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The Energy Saving Trust (EST) has published updated figures on the amount of fuel – and money – homeowners can save by installing energy efficiency measures in their home.

According to this year’s updated energy saving figures, homeowners who upgrade from D-rated boilers to A-rated models, along with the relevant controls upgrades, can save £160 on typical fuel bills, compared to the £105 saving that was estimated in 2013.

Upgrading from an E-rated boiler is now estimated to save £190 instead of £155, while installing a room thermostat and TRVs will save between £70 and £150, instead of the £80 the EST estimated last year.

Some other energy efficiency measures have seen their savings estimates downgraded compared with last year’s figures. Installing 270mm of loft insulation in a house which previously had none was predicted to save £180 last year, but this figure has now been cut to £150, while external wall insulation is now though to only save around £270 instead of £490.

Double glazing has also had its savings cut, with B-rated glazing installation now predicted to save between £80 and £110, instead of £170.

These figures have all been based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house but,for the first time, the EST has published energy savings based on a range of different gas-heated homes, from a detached house through to a mid-floor flat.

These findings may have an impact on the Green Deal’s ‘Golden Rule’, which requires that households should always save more through the installation of these energy efficiency measures than the annual cost of the Green Deal finance used to fit them.

Commenting on the figures Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said:

“In recent years we’ve seen a marked increase in interest from householders seeking information about energy efficiency. With householders taking a much keener interest, we’re now giving more detailed information as we know there is a genuine appetite for it. Our figures now show potential monetary savings for five different home types from a detached house to a mid-floor flat, and a range of options depending on whether someone is topping up their loft or insulating for the first time, or switching from a G-rated boiler to an A-rated, or a D-rated to an A-rated.

“We’re considered to hold the gold standard for energy saving statistics and it’s vital that householders get the latest impartial information to inform their decision-making.”

The figures also show that 62% of the average household’s bill goes towards heating homes (both space and water heating). In an uninsulated home, the walls are the worst offenders for heat loss, with a third (33%) of all lost heat going through the walls. The roof was named as the second worst offender for heat loss with just over a quarter (26%) going through the roof.

Mr Sellwood added:

“It’s not rocket science to say that the cheapest energy is the energy not used. There’s been a lot of debate about green taxes, fracking and coal and nuclear powered stations. Pound for pound, making our homes efficient unequivocally remains by far the most cost-effective thing to do to help reduce energy demand, tackle rising fuel bills and make our homes warmer and healthier.”

Full details of the EST figures can be downloaded in pdf format from their website.

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Simon Osborne: Installers need to get up to speed on the rules of the Renewable Heat Incentive

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

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Installers need to get up to speed on the rules of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to ensure new and existing customers aren’t left out of pocket when the scheme is introduced in the spring, says Simon Osborne, head of product and channel management at Baxi. 

In December 2013, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published further details of the domestic RHI, outlining the tariffs available and the criteria for those eligible for payments.

As expected, DECC has included a provision for legacy applications. This means that homeowners who have had a biomass boiler, air source heat pump, ground source heat pump or solar thermal system installed since July 15, 2009 may still be able to claim for payments under the scheme. These customers will need to act fast though, as legacy applications will only be accepted in the first year of the scheme – thereafter, only new installations will qualify.

For installers who have fitted qualifying products since July 2009, it is worth contacting past customers to ensure they are aware of the new RHI scheme and to offer some further information, so they have the opportunity to sign up before the 12-month deadline expires.

The scheme will be accepting applications from people whose installations were not part-funded by the Renewable Heat Premium Payment first, followed by applications from part-funded installations three months later (voucher must have been applied before May 20 2013) and finally all legacy applicants will be eligible to apply from autumn 2014.

After the scheme goes live in the spring, it will be crucial that installers give their new customers information about the RHI in a timely way. Applications for technologies installed after the launch date must be submitted within a year of commissioning otherwise those homeowners will miss out. This could cause major issues if the installer has presented an affordability case for a renewable heating solution including the guarantee of payments secured through RHI.

And it’s not just the 12-month deadline that installers need to be aware of as the RHI tariffs could actually drop from one quarter to the next as part of measures to ensure the government scheme stays within budget.

The so-called digression policy only affects new customers, and means that DECC will drop the tariff by ten per cent if a ‘trigger’ figure for the number of applications received for a particular heating technology is reached. If the jump is significant enough to hit a ‘super trigger’ number of applications, the tariff drops by 20%. This drop in tariff could have a significant effect on homeowner budgets and the new price p/kW could be significantly lower than the numbers initially presented by the installer.

Installers can give prospective customers advanced warning of when tariff decreases may be imminent by proactively checking the monthly updates of progress towards the triggers that will be published on the gov.uk website.

The RHI is great news for people who have already made the move to renewable heating and will provide additional incentives for those considering it. However, for the scheme to work in practice, installers must effectively become energy advisors to customers to ensure they are reaping the rewards of the RHI and not being left out in the cold.

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The Green Deal and ECO set to grow

Posted on by Posted in Renewable Energy

mtwDespite the slow start for the Green Deal in 2013, MTW Research has published new findings that energy saving building product sales are set to rise by 30% in 2014, as Green Deal and Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) measures return to growth. 

The new report found that while sales of the Green Deal and ECO products declined in 2013, prospects for 2014 are significantly more positive. MTW forecast Green Deal assessments are likely to exceed more than 100,000 per month in 2014, with the number of measures installed also rising rapidly.

Sales of energy efficient building products through the ECO scheme are also quantified in MTW’s report, with double digit growth forecast as energy providers increase activity in order to meet their obligations. The report identifies more than 50 product sectors which are likely to benefit from ECO and the Green Deal in 2014 onwards. The research found that providers are likely to widen the scope of measures on offer to households, broadening the range of products, which are likely to grow in 2014 and 2015.

The report also underlines the potential for the Green Deal and ECO, forecasting key product sales to 2018. Discussing the findings, MTW’s director, Mark Waddy, said:

“In terms of market potential, there are clear indications that 12 million measures installed in ten million homes is possible – much of this enshrined in law. The scope for manufacturers, distributors and installers to capitalise on this growth market is significant, with more than £1.2 billion being spent on energy saving products through the Green
Deal and ECO in the next few years.”

With sales set to increase across a wider range of products, the research found that ECO is likely to provide the single most significant boost to the domestic energy efficient products market in the medium term.

Mark added:

“Going forward, ECO and the Green Deal are unlikely to be just about boilers and insulation, though of course these remain very important.

“The market will continue to broaden and grow in terms of products being installed, representing a changing market with rapidly increasing opportunities for suppliers and installers. Our best case scenarios suggest that eco building product sales are forecast to grow by 90% in the next few years.”

The report offers a detailed perspective into recent events for the Green Deal and ECO, but more importantly forecasts a burgeoning market across a range of building product markets from lighting, HVAC, showers, taps, controls, doors and windows, microgeneration, insulation and others. The report illustrates the very slow start to the Green Deal, but also demonstrates that the tide has turned for the scheme and forecasts a rapidly rising number of ‘live’ Green Deals in the next 12-18 months.

Examining conversion rates of assessments to measures installed, MTW suggest that monthly double-digit growth is likely for Green Deal products for some time to come.

The report also provides total UK market sizes for a wide range of energy saving building products, with sales in 2014 topping £5.2 billion and rising fast. The Green Deal and ECO installations are rapidly accounting for a larger proportion of these sales each year, according to MTW, reflecting a market that the UK building products industry cannot afford to ignore.

The report and accompanying contractor database is available now from MTW Research’s website: www.marketresearchreports.co.uk

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Eco showers help reduce water use

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

eco_showers_help_reduce_water_useDesigned to limit the flow of water to an efficient, usable level without detracting from the showering experience, Triton offers a range of eco showers available in both electric and mixer options.

Offering up to 50% reduction in water usage when compared to conventional showers, they provide a simple way to save water in the bathroom and a useful addition for those looking to achieve the upper levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The 8.5kw Triton T8OZ Fast-Fit Eco shower (pictured) limits water usage to just six litres per minute. It also incorporates eight water entry points and six electrical cable entry points, allowing it to replace most electric showers without the need to re-tile. Triton has also developed the T8OZ Slimline Eco electric, which provides the same waste saving features in a slimline unit with sleek, tapered curves.

Other options include the Dart Eco Concentric mixer shower which limits water usage to a maximum of nine litres per minute and offers optional easy-fit push fittings to assist with installation in the event of concealed pipework. Installers can also offer a choice of exposed or built-in temperature and flow rate control features, which give the shower a high quality appearance.

Triton’s Unichrome Dove Eco shower further limits water usage to a maximum of just six litres per minute and has a striking bar design.

Triton MD Lorna Fellowes comments:

“The bathroom is one area where the homeowner can make an instant impact on their water consumption. By educating their customers on the potential long-term savings that can be made following the installation of an eco shower, installers can capitalise on the growing market demand for water-saving appliances in the home.”

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Burj Al Arab – The Victorian Style Bathroom Suite

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

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Didn’t you just fall in love with your bathroom suite when you stayed at the Burj Al Arab?  Oh, you haven’t stayed there?  Whew!  Okay, me either.  We can dream, right?

If you haven’t seen what the bathrooms at the Burj Al Arab look like, you’re missing out.  They’ll have you dreaming about a full-fledged Victorian style remodel of your own bathroom.  The designers spared no expense when they created the bathroom suites of this incredible hotel.  Each bathroom is the very definition of opulence, and while you may not be able to completely recreate their look, there are exquisite elements you can bring into your home to emulate that luxury.  Let these products inspire you to create the bathroom of your dreams!

 

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Stunning details are the key to creating a Victorian look in any room of your home.  Anything plain, simple, or modern just won’t do.  This striking towel rail would fit beautifully in a Victorian bathroom with its gold finish and carved rope detailing; even the feet are ornamental.

To complete the look above, you’ll also want classic gold basin taps.  These Vintage Gold finish taps such as this below would blend beautifully with this vintage style decor.

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The impressive showers of the Burj Al Arab are special partly because of the beautiful mosaic tile work and partly because of the shower style that you rarely see anymore.  It’s much more common to see new and modern styles of showers.  Take a cue from the Burj Al Arab and take a step back in time with the Tre Mercati Imperial Concealed Thermostatic Shower Valve.  This gem will not only help you complete your Victorian look, but it has modern amenities.  It will allow you to preset a maximum water temperature for safety in your home as well as automatically shut off in the event of a water failure.

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Another feature of your bathroom to consider is the mirror, as mirrors are often focal points in a room.  You could go with a mirror with a large, ornate gold frame around it or you could go with something more unique.

Other elements to consider are light fixtures and color schemes.  The lights in the bathroom suites of the Burj Al Arab evoke images of torches with flames.  You could also consider small chandeliers or equally decorative lights.  Victorian décor is also classified by rich, saturated colors.  Deep reds, blues, and purples will look royal alongside gold accents.

What is it about the Victorian style that you love most?

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