NEWS & APPOINTMENTS
Heat network customers to benefit from fairer energy prices
Appointments
Les Corbett joins Pastorfrigor GB
Industry expert Les Corbett has joined the Essex based commercial refrigeration business Pastorfrigor GB Ltd as engineering manager.
Les has a vast amount of experience in the RAC industry, having held a number of key roles in service, maintenance, installation, commissioning and design and development for refrigeration cabinet and plant manufacturers, both in the UK and South Africa. He has designed and project managed the building of state-of-the-art refrigeration cabinet test facilities, designed and developed a full range of low temperature and high temperature cabinets for leading grocery supermarket chains and has great experience in developing products in China specifically for the UK market. Formerly a director of Corsway Refrigeration Services Ltd, a role which he held since 2017, Les Corbett has also worked at The Alan Nuttall Partnership Ltd, Carter Retail Equipment Ltd, and SPG Ltd. At Pastorfrigor, Les will head up the technical team and be the main point of contact for all engineering related requests from customers. He will be working closely with factories to help develop great products for the UK market and provide a strong aftersales service to customers.
Hundreds of thousands of heat network customers could benefit from fairer energy prices under new government plans. Under the proposals, homes and businesses supplied by heat networks would receive greater consumer protections currently only afforded to those on traditional gas and electricity contracts. This would ensure fairer prices through their inclusion in a potential future price cap on energy bills, consistent standards for quality of service and supply of heat, backed up with regular and clear bills. From 2025, Ofgem will be able to step in
where homes and businesses have problems with disproportionate pricing, poor customer service and poor reliability.
Ofgem’s actions could also include fines for poor service and ensuring operators pay compensation to customers if there is a supply outage.
People in vulnerable circumstances, such as the elderly or those living with health conditions, would also be better protected, with heat network operators required to keep a register of these customers. Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “We’re investing millions to build new heat networks, reducing emissions and providing low-cost heating to communities across the country. “Heat networks allow people to heat their homes more cleanly, while cutting their costs and reducing carbon emissions. “They are also an important tool in our push for greater energy security and independence. “As more homes and businesses are connected to these innovative systems, it’s only right we ensure consumers are properly protected, pay a fair price for their energy, and are given the best service possible.”
A third of British consumers lack awareness on greener heating
Over a third (34%) of British adults still aren’t aware of the most environmentally friendly way to heat their homes, despite the government’s ambitious goal of reaching Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 – according to new research from Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos. Home heating is still responsible for around 17% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and around 80% of domestic heating comes from gas. To combat this, the UK government is targeting lower carbon alternatives, including heat pumps, through programmes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
In a survey of 1,000 UK adults in June 2023, nearly half (42%) of Brits said they do have some interest in installing heat pump technology. However, understanding of heat pump technology is still low. Only 13% of respondents are currently aware of the environmental benefits that heat pumps offer, and 71% know little to nothing about how heat pump technology works. More broadly, over a third (34%) don’t know the most environmentally friendly ways to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Despite government efforts, UK heat pump uptake is currently far below the target of 600,000 annual installations by 2028 set by the UK government – just 60,000 were installed in 2022. To make the Net Zero target a reality, increasing consumer awareness and understanding will be vital.
The cost-of-living crisis is a compelling factor influencing heat pump uptake. In fact, 64%
of respondents said the main reason they were interested in, or had already installed, a heat pump was to save money on their energy bills over time. At the same time, the factor deterring almost half (49%) of respondents from installing a heat pump is perceived high initial costs to purchase and install a system, followed by perceived high running costs (29%). Russell Dean, Mitsubishi Electric’s Residential Products Group Director, said: “Heat pumps
are a vital technology on the road to Net Zero, but their full potential is currently not being realised in the UK. To make Net Zero a reality, the government must do more to raise awareness among households on how they can lower their energy usage with heat pumps, and dispel any fears around cost and performance of the technology.” Jessica Long, head of Ipsos ESG Consulting, said: “Our research shows, that heat pump uptake is reliant on government intervention, both in the form of educating the public about the benefits of heat pumps, and providing cost-effective opportunities to install these systems. For the majority of people, their environmental choices are driven by co-benefits and in the current economic climate cost efficiencies will be a big part of any energy choices people make.”
4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2023
Les said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the team at Pastorfrigor. Commercial refrigeration and air conditioning is a hugely important arena, and I am excited to see what we can develop together.”
Aermec appoints Andrew Hawes
Industry stalwart Andy Hawes has joined Aermec as general manager, technical services as part of the company’s further expansion and vision to make Aermec UK a Centre of Excellence within the HVAC industry “We are excited to announce Andy Hawes’ appointment. He is known for creating a strong transformative culture that drives innovation, but he also has a record in supporting customers and helping them to leverage their assets by creating solutions that deliver,” says Paul Lawrence, managing director of Aermec UK.
Andy has over 35 years’ experience in HVAC industry. He is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of CIBSE and the Institute of Refrigeration, a member of ASHRAE as well as
the Institute of Acoustics and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control. Commenting in his appointment Andy said: “Aermec offers a great proposition, global scale and expertise, deep knowledge and experience across many industry and commercial sectors including mission critical applications where the company is recognised as a leading expert in data centre cooling.” “The HVAC and building services industry is going through some dynamic changes with
growth in digital technologies, decarbonisation, and AI. It is an extremely exciting time to be taking on this role and by working closely with our customers we can develop solutions that can grow and enhance their businesses and help achieve their net zero ambitions,” adds Andy.
The Hudson Group appoints “industry guru”
Hudson Group, the independent group of specialist cable containment companies, has appointed industry guru Trevor Tomkins as group technical consultant to work across and represent the three businesses which comprise the Group - RMS, Armorduct and Milton. In his role, Trevor, who has been in the electrical and cable management sectors for over four decades, will bring his years of experience to support customers across the Group, primarily focussing on projects in corrosive and hazardous environments.
This is with the aim of developing Milton into the main technical consultancy function of the wider Hudson Group, providing expert guidance and experience across the extensive range of cable management products and services. Trevor will be responsible for meeting with consultants, engineers and end-users to
provide technical information and recommendations around the Hudson Group’s cable management systems as well as outlining the capabilities the systems provide and offering innovative solutions when used in major heavy industrial, infrastructure and renewables- based projects. Trevor will also offer certified training sessions around how to use these systems to maximum effect. Trevor said: “There is a huge potential market for Milton’s products in the UK which is why it is such a strategically important time for me to join the business. I’ll be working closely with consultants and engineers to leverage Milton, as well as RMS and Armorduct, as the leading choice for bespoke cable management systems.”
Read the latest at:
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