INDUSTRY NEWS
INEFFICIENT ELECTRIC HEATING CAUSING AN ENERGY BILL CRISIS
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utdated electric heating systems are trapping hundreds of thousands of UK households in fuel poverty. Fuel poverty charity National
Energy Action (NEA) and UK ground source heat pump specialists Kensa are calling for urgent action to protect consumers and aid those struggling to aff ord basic heating. Millions of people in the UK are living in fuel
poverty, with at least 13% of households in England aff ected. However, this fi gure jumps to nearly a quarter among households relying on electric heating. The situation is particularly diffi cult for these homes, which have an average fuel poverty gap – the additional income needed to not be fuel- poor – of £857, more than double the national average of £417. This gap is caused by the ineffi ciency of direct electric heating, such as night storage heaters, and the rising cost of electricity, which has jumped to 24.5p per kWh. As energy prices rise again this winter, electrically heated households could see annual heating costs close to £2,500 – signifi cantly higher than the £1,717 cap for dual fuel homes set by Ofgem. Many households will be unable to aff ord this, emphasising the urgent need for more effi cient aff ordable solutions. Maya Fitchett, Policy Analyst at National Energy
Action, said: “This winter, the increase in the price cap will mean an estimated six million households are living in fuel poverty across the UK, unable to heat and power their homes. We have known for too long that a disproportionate number of these fuel poor households rely on ineffi cient electric heating, making them particularly vulnerable to price increases.
“Ofgem’s price cap will mean that customers
reliant on electricity for all or most of their energy needs will see additional increases of approximately £70 compared to Direct Debit customers. This means many of these households cut back their energy use to dangerous levels, some don’t heat their home at all. “It doesn’t have to be this way. When installed
alongside appropriate insulation measures, low- carbon technology, such as heat pumps, can help households to signifi cantly reduce energy costs. Often this technology is too expensive for many of the people National Energy Action (NEA) try to support, but the Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund can be essential in supporting low- income tenants to benefi t from this technology. This is also vital to make progress towards statutory fuel poverty and net zero targets.” Stuart Gadsden, commercial director at Kensa, said: “Since 2020 continuous spikes in energy prices have left millions of UK consumers reeling at the sight of high energy bills, with many struggling to aff ord to even turn on their heating. “The fuel poverty gap has been rising, and households with direct electric heating are seeing the gap widen most. Networked heat pumps can provide a much-needed lifeline for these people, shielding households from unstable energy prices and cutting heating bills by over £1,200 a year. “Social housing landlords have made important
commitments on fuel poverty alleviation and the climate. With the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, they have a clear pathway to fund these vital projects, improve heating for their tenants and potentially lift them out of fuel poverty all together.”
CARRIER SOLUTIONS UK CELEBRATES 20-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH COOL DESIGNS
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arrier Solutions UK is celebrating its partnership with Cool Designs Ltd (CDL), distributor of Toshiba HVAC products. CDL has played an integral role in Carrier Solutions UK’s success, providing expertise, market knowledge,
and commitment to customer satisfaction. “Our close relationship with Carrier Solutions UK for the sales of Toshiba HVAC solutions has allowed us to understand each other’s business inside and out, resulting in a fi rst-class customer experience that CDL is known for,” said Darrel Birkett, managing director of Cool Designs. “We are proud to be a long-standing carbon-neutral company that has always championed energy effi ciency. Partnering with Carrier Solutions UK (Toshiba HVAC solutions) is a business that leads the market in effi ciency and design and is a natural fi t for our values and our focus on net zero solutions.” “We are incredibly proud of our enduring partnership with CDL,” said David Dunn, managing director for UK & Ireland, Carrier RLC EMEA. “Their dedication to customer service, sustainability, and promoting innovative Toshiba HVAC products has contributed drastically to Carrier Solutions UK’s reputation as an industry leader. We look forward to many more years of collaboration and innovation together.”
6 November 2024
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