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Boiler Legislation Impact on the Heating Industry

Boiler Legislation Impact on the Heating Industry

Boiler Legislation Impact on the Heating Industry

The past two years have been increasingly difficult for all industries, including the heating and plumbing industry. The heating and construction industries have been one of the few that have continued to work to some capacity – making thousands of employee's key workers during the pandemic. One thing that our industry has always been excellent at is adapting to change, so we see this challenge as no different to others we’ve faced before. A great example of this was the legislation switch that said that all gas boilers installed in the U.K. must be condensing boilers. Let's have a look at the boiler legislation impact on the heating industry so far.  

UK Legislation states all new boilers should be condensing boilers

You may already know this, but condensing boilers extract additional heat from the waste gases produced by the boiler. Heat exchangers are used to condense water vapour to liquid water, which recycles some of the heat which would otherwise be wasted making it relatively efficient. The mandate that all new gas boilers must be condensing, was introduced back in 2005. It has since contributed massively to reducing CO2 emissions. On average, condensing boilers run 20% - 30% more efficiently than standard conventional boilers. Although there will still be some waste as with any appliance, since 2005 there have been around 20 million more condensing boilers installed. These changes, including updates to building regulations to use high efficiency condensing boilers have resulted in an estimated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by around 1.3 tonnes a year which is a huge step forward for our industry.  

Carbon Zero

In 2005, many boiler manufacturers and consumers had to adapt to this new mandate. It looks like we will have to do so again. Currently, the government is looking at more ways to reduce carbon emissions.  They’ve set a target of installing only hydrogen boilers by 2025. With over 85% of U.K. homes using gas central heating, it’s no surprise that this will have a huge impact on the environment and the U. K’s natural gas emissions. The government have set out a 20-20-20 package. Greenhouse gas emissions will be cut by 20%, the increase of renewables used by 20% and a 20% improvement in energy efficiency.

The situation should improve as people embrace more energy efficient heating.  With the adoption of new regulations and new energy efficiency minimum standards, the target seems achievable. As the government pushes for new builds, these energy efficiency measures will help climate change targets.  

 

Out with the old

To hit the target and reduce carbon emissions, homeowners and landlords are being encouraged to replace older boilers (of which there is thought to be around 4 million) which can be over 30% inefficient. Not only is this lack of energy performance damaging the environment but also wastes money for the consumer. When was the last time your boiler was replaced? In terms of helping the environment replacing your old boiler with a brand-new boiler is an energy efficient way to reducing fossil fuel usage and in turn move towards low-carbon heating. If you are looking to get a new boiler installed, then make sure that you have a gas safe heating engineer or installer take care of the job. Not only is this a legal requirement but also ensures that you are building control compliant.

Although your older boiler might seem to be running well, it might be time to consider upgrading your central heating system. You shouldn’t wait for an old boiler to give up before considering upgrading, especially with the way things are now. You can be part of the solution and replace your boiler with a new boiler to start contributing to a reduced carbon U.K. The good news is that because condensing boilers work more efficiently than the traditional type of boiler. You can also save money on your energy bills. Mr Central Heating stocks a range of energy efficient boilers available online and instore.  

Reduce carbon emissions with a Nest thermostat

      Nest Thermostat E - Mr Central Heating  

  1. Google Nest Thermostat E

Another great way that you can start thinking about a reduction in your carbon emissions is by using smart controls. By fitting a Nest Thermostat E from Google, you could save money, up to £75 and 330kg of carbon a year, due to its adaptable learning schedule. The great thing about the Nest Thermostat E is that it turns off when you’re not there. It will also sense when you are home. By working for you and your routine, heat and energy isn’t wasted and results in a highly efficient output. This is a great way to help reduce your overall carbon footprint. You can also use the Nest App on your smart phone. This works with Nest products which will help you save energy when using your heating system. Using an app allows you to use remote control to run your home when you are home/away.

 

Nest Learning Thermostat - Mr Central Heating  

 

  1. Google Nest Learning Thermostat

Smart controls that can automatically switch on/off when householders are out are much more energy efficient than old thermostats that rely on you to program in an auto-schedule. Smart controls can also work with traditional system boilers, condensing boilers and combi boilers. If you’d like to control your hot water with the same thermostat and get all the great benefits as above, then perhaps the Google Nest Learning Thermostat would be for you which offers a lot of automation benefits in terms of running your central heating system. Luckily, we stock both these smart thermostats. You can read more on our website. Find out more about how the Google Nest can provide some additional energy saving measures in your home.  

 

There have been a lot of successful changes in the way people use and think about their heating since 2005. So far, we’ve managed to reduce carbon emissions and follow the government guidelines. However, there is a long road ahead with new goals; all of which we should contribute to. Try not to get left behind or caught out. It's better to make these changes before it is too late.  It’ll save you money, time and the planet in the long run.   Looking for more ways to make an impact? Check out our Going Green Pinterest mood board for some inspiration.