DOMESTIC BOILERS
An easy fi x for rising bills and emissions?
Adam Taylor, heating & plumbing product specialist from Builder’s merchants, Beesley & Fildes, discusses the potential of electric boilers as an aff ordable, easy to install alternative to both gas and air source heat pumps (ASHP)
A
s we await the Government’s energy strategy, it is clear that rising gas prices and the security of our energy supply are issues that will be key economic, social and political themes this year. The energy
cap for domestic properties came into effect on 1 April and the Government is already warning that there may be more price rises to come. At the same time businesses unable to benefit from the cap are also faced with the challenges of increased costs and continued price volatility. Meanwhile, the climate crisis remains urgent. With challenging carbon emissions targets to achieve, the UK Government is keen to nudge homeowners, landlords and homebuilders towards alternative approaches to heating our properties over the next few years. There is a keen appetite, amongst both consumers and businesses to embrace renewable energy and look for technologies that are cleaner as well as more cost effective and reliable, but what’s the answer? So far the Government is backing air source heat pumps (ASHPS) for domestic properties. A grant scheme has been made available to encourage their take-up but, even with the financial incentives, the upfront costs are high and the pay back period is considerable. Moreover, ASHPs are not suitable for all properties, they require electricity to operate the pump, and they can be difficult to retrofit. While there does need to be a focus on
transitioning domestic heating systems to more sustainable options, there also needs to be more creativity and pragmatism applied to this issue. Homeowners, landlords and developers that have the right resources and conditions in their properties can choose to invest in ASHPs and
other renewable energy sources. Those who do not, also need an affordable way to heat their homes – and hot water supply – using renewable energy where possible. Electric boilers offer an affordable, easy to retrofit, fit and forget solution for doing just that.
An easy alternative
The need to transition from gas to alternative energy sources for heat and hot water is environmental, financial and political, which makes for a compelling need to find viable solutions. But any transition is easier if we can find an alternative that is similar enough to what we’re used to, while still providing the advantages of something different. Electric boilers provide that potential. For existing properties, electric boilers can be
installed using legacy pipework and radiators. In effect, the electric boiler is a like-for-like switch for its gas predecessor. This not only minimises disruption for the homeowner or landlord, but also reduces the installation costs and avoids any additional costs
www.heatingandventilating.net
22 May 2022
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