COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (176) issued by The Government News Network
on 2 October 2007
From today
homeowners can ask for a free A-G energy rating for their boiler
with advice to help cut fuel bills, when the engineer visits.
Heating and hot water bills are the biggest energy costs
households face each month, yet many people are unaware the
average boiler is 'E' rated and could produce over 50
per cent more heat - making the recommended improvements could cut
fuel bills by hundreds of pounds and reduce carbon emissions.
The energy assessment includes a checklist of efficiency
improvements. For example, a family could save nearly £100 a year
just by taking a few a simple steps like getting a 75mm water
cylinder jacket, installing heating controls and insulating the
hot water pipes.
Longer term measures such as changing from a low G rated boiler
to an A rated one could save over £200 a year and cut up to 2.7
tonnes of carbon off a household's carbon footprint.
The Government has introduced free energy ratings for boilers in
time for people to carry out their annual maintenance check before
winter sets in, as part of its wider drive to help consumers make
their homes more environmentally efficient.
Communities Minister, Iain Wright said:
"With winter heating bills just around the corner now is the
perfect time to get a maintenance check on your boiler. Today the
Government has introduced an 'eco' friendly winter
warmer for consumers - this new energy assessment for boilers will
help households cut their fuel bills and carbon footprint too.
"So this autumn when the engineer visits ask him to check
your boiler so you can see how efficient it is and what
improvements and savings you could make.
According to the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council there are
still around 4 million old, very inefficient boilers in use in
homes, most of which will still be operating in 2010. Replacing
these would save two and half a million tonnes of C02 each year by 2010.
Roger Webb, Director, Heating and Hot Water Industry Council
(HHIC) said:
"This new scheme will be a useful tool in highlighting to
householders the importance of replacing their boiler with the
most efficient models. Consumer safety would also be improved if
householders were encouraged to replace their boiler as most
incidents of CO poisoning are caused by old, poorly maintained appliances."
Most businesses have rising energy costs. The Carbon Trust
estimates that hot water accounts for about 60% of total energy
bills for commercial and industrial buildings.
In addition to the energy assessment rating for office heating
systems new guidance published today will help facilities managers
to think about how to monitor energy efficiency and streamline
their energy expenditure.
For example turning down your heating by just 1C can save your
annual heating costs by as much as 8%. One company in Wales that
employs 65 people recently reviewed their heating system and
installed a new high efficiency boiler - it reduced their energy
bill by 18%.
Iain Wright added:
"Every business wants to keep their energy bills to a
minimum. This new energy assessment for commercial heating systems
can help them do that - and it will help reduce the company's
carbon footprint which we all know is really important for the environment."
Four year energy efficiency loans of up to £100,000 pounds are
available to eligible small and medium companies (SMEs) to help
them make changes sooner rather than later. It is also possible to
apply for tax relief via enhanced capital allowances - if a
business invests in energy-saving machinery it can write off the
whole cost of the equipment against taxable profits in the year of purchase.
Communities and Local Government is committed to changing the way
we have been building our homes and communities so that their
impact on the environment is reduced. We have already set out
that we will create an eco town in every region by 2020 - which
could provide up to 200,000 additional eco-homes. Last year the
Government introduced the zero carbon standard which Eco-towns
would have to reach - most new zero carbons homes will also be
exempt from stamp duty. In addition energy performance
certificates, which are being rolled out as part of Home
Information Packs, will now give people buying or selling their
property an A-G energy rating for the whole home.
Notes to Editors
1. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which the Government
began rolling out from August 1 provide an A-G energy rating the
whole property for the marketed sale of domestic homes as part of
the Home Information Pack. Commercial EPCs will begin to be rolled
out in April 2008.
2. Only 3m out 23m households put their homes up for sale each
year in England and Wales. This new checklist will mean those not
buying or selling their home can now get an energy assessment of
their boiler.
3. 75% of domestic gas and oil boilers have annual boiler service
visits. Nearly all solid fuel boilers are serviced and/or have
their chimney swept regularly.
4. Only 20% of new gas boilers installed in 2003 were A or B
rated. The Government has raised the energy performance standards
for new and replacement central-heating boilers - now 95% of new
gas boilers installed now are A or B rated condensing boilers.
5. Buildings accounting for almost half of the energy consumption
and carbon emissions in the UK.
6. Peter Thom, President IDHEE said:
"The Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental
Engineers fully support this initiative to raise awareness of how
inefficient and wasteful old boilers are. Faithful boilers can
last longer than 15 years, but they have a detrimental effect on
the environment. Installing a modern condensing boiler with new
controls can save up to 40% on fuel bills and carbon dioxide
emissions and don't forget that over 80% of energy used in
the home is for heating and hot water"
7. The Oil Firing Technical Association welcomed the introduction
of the new boiler ratings. Registration Services Director, Glen
Rae, said:
"OFTEC supports any initiative which helps installers to
inform householders of energy saving measures. The fact that the
checklist illustrates this clearly by showing typical cost savings
and CO2 reductions should be well received by both the trade and consumers."
8. For further information on the energy efficiency for boilers
campaign please visit: http://www.communities.gov.uk/boilers
9. For more information on Enhanced Capital Grants visit: http://www.eca.gov.uk/etl
10. For more information on interest free energy - efficiency
loans visit http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/loans
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400;
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk