Introduced in 2005 the new Building Regulations Part L has changed the scene as far as boilers are concerned. According to the new requirement, all boilers replaced or installed must be of high efficiency rating. This includes condensing and combination boilers which utilize a larger heat exchanger (or a secondary heat exchanger) to recoup some of the heat that would normally be released into the atmosphere with the exhaust gases. Since some of the energy can be reused, the boiler can generate the same amount of heat with less fuel.
This new requirement raised the bar not only in terms of energy efficiency but also in terms of the quality of the service and installation. Since the systems are more integrated and work off each component more closely, it requires the system installer to have deep understanding of the power demand, both input and output of each component (such as the boiler, the heating controls, the radiators and the hot water cylinder).
Industry research calculated that since the introduction of part L of the building regulations, the savings of carbon emissions made by the UK domestic heating market have been substantial. Recently conducted research puts the amount of carbon emission reduction at around 2.4 million tonnes. The researchers further calculated that if the industry did not apply the new Part L requirements, and continued installing SEDBUK D rated boilers, the carbon emissions from domestic heating would have grown by over one million tonnes since 2005.
At current levels there is still large potential for reducing the carbon emissions generated by the domestic boilers in the UK. There are around four million old boilers which are significantly less efficient than modern SEDBUK A rated boilers. Replacing such old boilers with an A rated boiler can reduce carbon emissions by around 30%. Each home in the UK produces an average of 5 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Across the whole population, domestic heating accounts for around 16% of the UK's CO2 emissions.
The government is attempting to encourage carbon reduction within the domestic heating market. It has introduced zero stamp duty on carbon neutral homes and requires all home sellers to produce a home information pack which includes a detailed energy performance certificate. However, the stamp duty waiver will not apply to the vast majority of the old housing stock which is where most of the carbon savings should be made. The shortcoming of the home information pack is that it only applies when the property is put for sale, and does not encourage improving the heating efficiency at other times.
There are other ways to take proactive action on reducing carbon emissions from domestic heating sources. One of the most effective among them is the renewable energy route. The UK government has set a target of building 3 million new homes by 2020. It is estimated that if 10% of these new homes adopted renewable energy solutions (e.g. solar thermal) to supplement traditional heating solutions (such as gas boilers), the savings would be around 150,000 tonnes of carbon on a yearly basis.
The government applied a combination of carrots and sticks to force the domestic heating market to reduce its carbon emissions. The plumbing and heating industry is largely keeping up with the trend with many companies investing in training and professional development on renewable energy technologies to address any market need in those areas. - 15431
This new requirement raised the bar not only in terms of energy efficiency but also in terms of the quality of the service and installation. Since the systems are more integrated and work off each component more closely, it requires the system installer to have deep understanding of the power demand, both input and output of each component (such as the boiler, the heating controls, the radiators and the hot water cylinder).
Industry research calculated that since the introduction of part L of the building regulations, the savings of carbon emissions made by the UK domestic heating market have been substantial. Recently conducted research puts the amount of carbon emission reduction at around 2.4 million tonnes. The researchers further calculated that if the industry did not apply the new Part L requirements, and continued installing SEDBUK D rated boilers, the carbon emissions from domestic heating would have grown by over one million tonnes since 2005.
At current levels there is still large potential for reducing the carbon emissions generated by the domestic boilers in the UK. There are around four million old boilers which are significantly less efficient than modern SEDBUK A rated boilers. Replacing such old boilers with an A rated boiler can reduce carbon emissions by around 30%. Each home in the UK produces an average of 5 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Across the whole population, domestic heating accounts for around 16% of the UK's CO2 emissions.
The government is attempting to encourage carbon reduction within the domestic heating market. It has introduced zero stamp duty on carbon neutral homes and requires all home sellers to produce a home information pack which includes a detailed energy performance certificate. However, the stamp duty waiver will not apply to the vast majority of the old housing stock which is where most of the carbon savings should be made. The shortcoming of the home information pack is that it only applies when the property is put for sale, and does not encourage improving the heating efficiency at other times.
There are other ways to take proactive action on reducing carbon emissions from domestic heating sources. One of the most effective among them is the renewable energy route. The UK government has set a target of building 3 million new homes by 2020. It is estimated that if 10% of these new homes adopted renewable energy solutions (e.g. solar thermal) to supplement traditional heating solutions (such as gas boilers), the savings would be around 150,000 tonnes of carbon on a yearly basis.
The government applied a combination of carrots and sticks to force the domestic heating market to reduce its carbon emissions. The plumbing and heating industry is largely keeping up with the trend with many companies investing in training and professional development on renewable energy technologies to address any market need in those areas. - 15431
About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about plumbers, central heating, London boiler, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
