SUSTAINABILITY
Retro-fit industry must grow to meet UK emissions targets
conditions – including in-situ stress testing - Maris says that JG Speedfit fittings are designed to meet this requirement. “For example, all products in the range come with extended warranties - some up to 50 years - indicating the high level of confidence in the performance and durability of the technology,” he says. “One of the reasons for this confidence is the fact that the plastic is hard wearing and, in contrast to copper fittings and pipework, won’t corrode over time. So, while our products are plastic, they are very different to the single use products that give plastic a bad name. Equally, the fittings are easy to disassemble without damage meaning that - unlike soldered pipes - they can continue to be used when a system is re-configured, another important requirement for sustainable products.”
Building faster and better In addition to reducing raw materials usage and helping conserve water, Maris explains that push-fit is faster and helps build better, more reliable systems. The technology can cut installation time by up to 40% compared with traditional methods such as soldering, compression and press-fit. “This is a significant amount, especially at a time when construction is set for a boom. In the UK, for example, the UK government has set a target of 300,000 new homes to be built each year, and it’s clear that push-fit technology can help accelerate installation. This equates to less time on each job and more speedy completion of projects, helping builders and contractors work more productively,” he says.
In plumbing terms, push-fit technology has proved immensely versatile – not just in new builds, but also in repair, maintenance and improvement work too, where it can be used to replace existing pipework – which
is often complex – with tidier, space-saving configurations. In addition to this benefit, it allows buildings to be repurposed and upcycled quickly, a key trend in sustainable development. The simplicity of the technology and the fact it doesn’t require specialist tools also means it can be installed by almost anyone, allowing skilled plumbers and installers to focus on more complex and demanding tasks. Quite apart from encouraging a more efficient use of resources, this also helps offset some of the challenges caused by the well-documented skills gap in the sector.
Supporting the industry Push-fit has come a long way since it was first introduced and has proved its value as a hugely influential and truly sustainable tool. But sustainability is a continuous journey, and Maris says that RWC remains focused on making sure that push-fit technology continues to deliver benefits for years to come.”This includes R&D and new product development, but there are other factors which contribute towards a sustainable solution – including reliability of supply and on-going support throughout the product’s life cycle.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2021
A new paper published by Bankers for Net Zero and the Green Finance Institute sets out a plan for scaling up the retrofit industry to decarbonise an estimated 29 million homes - a plan fundamental to the UK reaching its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Heating and powering homes makes up 23% of the UK’s carbon footprint and con- tribution to climate change. Scaling up the retrofit industry will tackle these emissions while creating green jobs and supporting thousands of small to medium sized busi- nesses across the UK. The paper - ‘Tooling up the Green Homes Industry: Financing the Retrofit Supply Chain’ - provides six high-potential solutions for the investment and finance industry, and relevant business groups, to act on: l Increase access to sustainability-linked loans for SMEs l Create dedicated “Green” or “Transition” SME funds l Add green criteria to existing public finance schemes and use guarantees to “crowd in” private capital l Create advisory hubs that bring together customers, suppliers and finance providers l Create the rules and protocols to enable more accurate, real-time assessments of property performance l Strengthen the ecosystem of SME accel- erators and growth hubs The paper also shares key principles for new government policy in this area: l Front-load market support – using the funds already committed to the decarbonisa- tion of social housing and public buildings to pump prime the market l Set out a clear regulatory pathway for energy performance standards for all build- ing types l Set out an overarching strategy for apply- ing an adequate and consistent carbon price to every tonne of CO2 emitted in the UK The paper also calls for the UK govern- ment to raise the minimum threshold for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings required to lease or sell a property. Raising this requirement will drive private sector investment from landlords and homeowners across the board, complementing public sec- tor investment to accelerate adoption. The paper is available here: https://volans. com/project/bankers-for-netzero/
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