Part L was introduced as part of the 2005 Building Regulations and it set a new standard with regards to energy efficiency. It called for all new boilers installed or replaced to meet the required standards for achieving high efficiency rating. Boilers such as condensing and combination (also known as 'combi') boilers which use extra large heat exchanger or a secondary heat exchanger qualify for this requirement. By extracting the heat from previously expelled gases, the high efficiency boilers reduce the required fuel to generate the same about of heat.
The new requirements are much more demanding than previously in terms of the professional level of the system designer, the installer and the service engineer. The new systems are more integrated than old systems as all components are specifically designed to provide the right output (in terms of power) or demand the right input (such as in the case of heating controls). The engineer has to have good understanding in order to maximize the efficiency of the system.
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 UK government is actively trying to encourage carbon reducing behaviour through legislation. The government introduced measures such as zero stamp duty on carbon neutral homes and instructed all home sellers to produce energy performance certificates as part of their home information pack. It is, nevertheless, important to put it in perspective, as there are very few carbon neutral homes in the country and the savings should be focused on the highly inefficient homes. There is additional criticism that home information packs only apply when homes are sold and make no carbon reduction related impact at other times.
There are several alternatives to adopt that can further reduce the carbon emission resulting from domestic heating within the UK. The most effective among them is the application of renewable energy technologies, such as solar water heating. If just 10% of the new homes that the government plans to build between now and 2020 adopt such technologies, it is estimated that around 150,000 tonnes of carbon emissions would be cut on an annual basis.
A combination of legislation and education can help the government achieve stretching targets of reducing the nation's carbon emissions. By following training professional development guidelines, the UK plumbing and heating industry is widely ready for the market to steady and move towards more energy efficient systems and renewable energy technologies. - 15478
The new requirements are much more demanding than previously in terms of the professional level of the system designer, the installer and the service engineer. The new systems are more integrated than old systems as all components are specifically designed to provide the right output (in terms of power) or demand the right input (such as in the case of heating controls). The engineer has to have good understanding in order to maximize the efficiency of the system.
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 UK government is actively trying to encourage carbon reducing behaviour through legislation. The government introduced measures such as zero stamp duty on carbon neutral homes and instructed all home sellers to produce energy performance certificates as part of their home information pack. It is, nevertheless, important to put it in perspective, as there are very few carbon neutral homes in the country and the savings should be focused on the highly inefficient homes. There is additional criticism that home information packs only apply when homes are sold and make no carbon reduction related impact at other times.
There are several alternatives to adopt that can further reduce the carbon emission resulting from domestic heating within the UK. The most effective among them is the application of renewable energy technologies, such as solar water heating. If just 10% of the new homes that the government plans to build between now and 2020 adopt such technologies, it is estimated that around 150,000 tonnes of carbon emissions would be cut on an annual basis.
A combination of legislation and education can help the government achieve stretching targets of reducing the nation's carbon emissions. By following training professional development guidelines, the UK plumbing and heating industry is widely ready for the market to steady and move towards more energy efficient systems and renewable energy technologies. - 15478
About the Author:
Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about plumbers, central heating, Chiswick boiler, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.
