NEW SCHEME AIMS TO HELP CONSUMERS TO REDUCE THEIR DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS FOR ENERGY
B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, has welcomed the arrival of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); set to be introduced in April 2014 almost four years after the initiative was originally announced, it will help “off gas” properties reduce their dependence on fossil fuels for energy and cut the high cost of heating these homes.
16 December 2013 – B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association, has welcomed the arrival of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); set to be introduced in April 2014 almost four years after the initiative was originally announced. B&ES, who operate the free Heating Helpline consumer advice service, say there are one million gas boilers changed each year and 3.3 million homes in the UK that are “off gas”; that is, not connected to the mains gas grid.
Despite recent price increases, mains gas remains the lowest cost fuel and heating an off-grid home is much more expensive than a home using mains gas; it means off-gas homes are more likely to be fuel poor, and switching to renewable heating could help many of them save money on fuel bills and reduce emissions.
The Government therefore expects that many of the households that take part in the RHI will be off the gas grid where the price and availability of fuel has risen dramatically. These homes can cut their heating costs by installing renewable technologies that take advantage of “free” energy sources.
The three eligible renewable technologies in the RHI are heat pumps (air and ground source), solar thermal and biomass boilers. It will also be retrospective – if you have installed a renewable heat technology since 15 July 2009 you should be able to claim to receive payments going forward under the scheme. Payments to householders have now been fixed and will be paid at:
7.3p/kWh for air source heat pumps;
12.2p/kWh for biomass boilers;
18.8p/kWh for ground source heat pumps;
19.2 p/kWh for solar thermal water heating systems.
The Government believes that the RHI could encourage all households to consider using renewable technologies in their new heating systems; for example the payments might spur “on gas” households to consider the addition of solar thermal panels for part or all of their hot water requirements when they upgrade their heating system or even to move to heat pumps or a biomass boiler for all of their heating needs.
To qualify for payments the equipment must be installed by a company registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The MCS is an industry-led and internationally recognised quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). All MCS members are closely vetted by the scheme operator to ensure high quality installations and good business practice.
The Heating Helpline provides consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating. On the website homeowners can put in their postcode and it will produce a list of reputable heating engineers in their chosen area. Visit the Heating Helpline website at http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk or call 0800 810 8303.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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