BSEE
Green investment to boost the residential renewables sector
With investment in green refurbishment set to play a key role in the Prime Minister’s plans to migate the economic impact of COVID19, the residenal renewable heang sector is poised to deliver a valuable source of revenue for building services
companies. Here Iain Bevan, commercial manager – Heang & Renewables at Daikin UK, explores the factors that are driving private homeowners and commercial landlords alike to adopt domesc renewables.
being primed to fuel the financial recovery from the coronavirus crisis. The £2 billion Green Homes Grant, for example, is part of a raft of investment in construction, which will see the Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements to make over 600,000 homes across the country more energy efficient.
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The scheme will cover green home improvements ranging from insulation and replacing inefficient single glazing, to the installation of renewable, low-carbon heating systems such as solar thermal technology and air- source heat pumps. Available to both homeowners and landlords, the grants can contribute up to £5,000 towards the renovations, with an additional budget for households on a reduced income or in receipt of certain benefits, which offers renovations worth up to £10,000. The scheme, which is due to operate until March 2021, is expected to drive a significant upturn in interest in renewable heating sources, making them a more affordable reality for many homeowners and landlords. Daikin’s Altherma range of heat pumps, for example, are eligible for Green Homes Grant funding, meaning end users could save up to £5000 upfront off their installed system. What’s more, the move comes against a broader backdrop of factors that are encouraging more widespread adoption of domestic renewable heating systems – a trend that forward-thinking building services companies would be well advised to consider. Ever since the UK government announced its objective for the country to become carbon- neutral by 2050, change has been inevitable. Arguably, this is set to be the biggest change that the domestic heating industry will have witnessed to date. Even before the government’s announcement in June 2019, consumer attitudes and behaviours had begun to change – the reality is we have all become more aware of our individual impact on the environment, with many of us making greener, more sustainable lifestyle decisions.
You may be asking what makes this different to other times in the past, when the potential of renewables was already clear and yet government initiatives were unsuccessful in kick- starting the market. Well, right now we are seeing a number of factors coinciding – the shift in people’s mindsets, greater investment in the green economy, a planned phase out of fossil-fuel powered boilers by as soon as 2025 and the carbon neutral 2050 deadline.
onstruction has always been a major factor in kickstarting economic growth and judging by Boris Johnson’s mantra of ‘Build, Build, Build,’ it seems that the industry is once again
PUMPS
suppliers may also offer help to those installers wishing to obtain F-Gas, making it worthwhile to explore the options available and see what support is on offer.
Ultimately, housebuilders, engineers and homeowners will all have to start seeking out renewable heating alternatives, with the heat pump market predicted to grow substantially. To put this into context, it is estimated that there are currently around 1.5 million traditional boilers installed every year. In order to meet the 2050 carbon-neutral deadline, the Committee for Climate Change (CCC) has forecast that the domestic heating industry will need to shift from traditional boilers to installing an estimated one million heat pumps each year by 2030, just one boiler life-cycle away, essentially replacing the current boiler demand.
So, where does this leave building services companies? While many will already have valuable experience in the domestic heating sector, it is important not to be left behind by this shifting tide. Extending their capabilities to include domestic renewable heating solutions such as heat pumps now, is essential. This will help to prepare companies to take full advantage of the new market demand.
In order to truly make the most of this new business opportunity, a one-off training course on heat pumps is unlikely to be sufficient. In fact, you may have already tried to upskill your business to include heat pumps but, whether due to insufficient support or consumer demand, perhaps haven’t pursued this further. What is needed is comprehensive training and support, both at a product and business level.
It is also important not to be put off or feel intimidated by the need for F-Gas – the certification required in order to handle or install systems containing refrigerant. There are heat pumps available that have a closed refrigerant circuit, meaning you do not need the certification to install. Some heat pump manufacturers and
28 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2020 Read the latest at:
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One such example of support is Daikin’s recently launched Sustainable Home Network - a partnership programme created as part of its wider Energy for Change campaign and designed to help heating installers prepare and futureproof their business for the changing market. Participants will first enter the scheme as a Sustainable Home Installer, where they will receive access to a comprehensive and carefully structured training programme based around Daikin’s Monobloc heat pump, which does not require F-Gas to install. In addition to this, they will also be provided with continued support, including site visits and marketing materials. Unlike other programmes, the Sustainable Home Network goes beyond simple product training, and is instead designed to help installers grow and develop their business. Progression is at its core, with participants encouraged to advance through its tiered structure. Beyond the initial Sustainable Home Installer level, there are further development tiers such as the Sustainable Home Experts, which can install the wider product portfolio, and the Sustainable Home Centres, there to provide local support for engineers and consumers alike. Members are encouraged to progress through these tiers as their experience, knowledge and confidence grows. As the renewable market grows and our traditional fossil-fuel powered boilers are slowly replaced, the face of the domestic heating industry is set to change for good. While this may, on the surface, present many building services engineers with a challenge, with the right level of preparation, training and support, the growing heat pump market also offers a very real and exciting opportunity for growth, revenue generation and business development. Daikin is currently running introductory online sessions for engineers interested in joining the Sustainable Home Network. To find out more, visit:
www.daikin.co.uk/en_gb/energy-for- change/
heating-installers.html.
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