Insidethis issue 3 APRIL 2024 VOLUME 62 ISSUE 3 Editor’s
Viewpoint by Chris Jones
Not a perfect world
The UK market for heat pumps continues to deliver mixed results. At the time of going to press, the government has announced the latest fi gures for its Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) which saw applications jump by 75% in February compared to the same month last year, yet the National Audit Offi ce has recently issued a report that suggests that sales fi gures are falling well short of targets (see page 4). While demand for heat pumps might be on an upward curve, it seems that most experts agree that the prospect of the government achieving its ambition of seeing 600,000 units a year being fi tted by 2028 are next to zero – at least not without a dramatic change to regulations or a revision to current energy levies. Despite the generous subsidies available with the BUS, it seems
that switching from a gas or oil boiler to a heat pump system remains beyond the budget of most UK households, even if they are prepared to put up with the upheaval involved. Many might be attracted to the idea of investing in low carbon technology and doing their bit to cut down the country’s carbon emissions, but in these times of economic uncertainty who could blame homeowners for deciding that they have other priorities when it comes to spending their limited resources? There is the old adage of not letting the perfect become the
enemy of the good, and perhaps installers can play their part in enabling customers to reduce their energy use without having to pay thousands for a completely new heating system. In this month’s issue, our feature on Energy Saving Products highlights some of the latest ideas and advances in controls technology that can help to minimise energy waste without the customer needing to break the bank. After all, while it may not necessarily represent the perfect solution, a high effi ciency condensing boiler, suffi cient insulation and a sophisticated controls system can still tick a lot of boxes.
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Special Features 21
Energy Saving Products
An overview of some of the latest products and controls that can help to save on energy costs
Regulars
04 News Review 12 Talent Show 12 People on the Move 13 Merchant News 14 Letters 14 Gadgets & Tools 16 Point of View 18 Business Matters 19 Training Update
Training Update
35 Products in Action 36 Vans & Racking 43 Product News 46 Directory
Don’t forget to use our online reader enquiry service to quickly fi nd the web page you need
Read about the latest courses on page 19 29
Radiators & Towel Warmers
Why it’s important to be aware of potentially misleading heat outputs and an update on latest trends
37
Ventilation & Heat Recovery
How to abide by the latest regulations and advice on undertaking a successful MVHR installation project
Contributors Tracey
Richardson Point of View
16
Is there a better pathway to ensure that apprentices are skilled in the areas employers need?
Look out for next month’s issue
Chris Stammers Energy Saving Products
21
The energy saving benefi ts of underfl oor heating and its potential for wider adoption
PUBLISHING TEAM
Managing Editor Chris Jones Assistant Editor Carol Hitchcock Publishers Chris Evans / Russ Jackson Southern Advertisement Manager Nathan Wood Production Paul Forster Design Consultant Tim Plummer
Nicola Rivers Ventilation & Heat Recovery
37
Why over-heating is likely to become a more widespread problem in many UK properties
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