| Introduced in 2005 the new Building Regulations | | | | efficient than modern SEDBUK A rated boilers. |
| Part L has changed the scene as far as boilers | | | | Replacing such old boilers with an A rated boiler |
| are concerned. According to the new requirement, | | | | can reduce carbon emissions by around 30%. |
| all boilers replaced or installed must be of high | | | | Each home in the UK produces an average of 5 |
| efficiency rating. This includes condensing and | | | | tonnes of CO2 per annum. Across the whole |
| combination boilers which utilize a larger heat | | | | population, domestic heating accounts for around |
| exchanger (or a secondary heat exchanger) to | | | | 16% of the UK's CO2 emissions. |
| recoup some of the heat that would normally be | | | | The UK government is actively trying to |
| released into the atmosphere with the exhaust | | | | encourage carbon reducing behaviour through |
| gases. Since some of the energy can be reused, | | | | legislation. The government introduced measures |
| the boiler can generate the same amount of heat | | | | such as zero stamp duty on carbon neutral |
| with less fuel. | | | | homes and instructed all home sellers to produce |
| The new high efficiency heating unit introduced a | | | | energy performance certificates as part of their |
| new level of professional requirements from the | | | | home information pack. It is, nevertheless, |
| system designer and the operative installing it. | | | | important to put it in perspective, as there are |
| Each part of the system (such as the boiler, the | | | | very few carbon neutral homes in the country |
| radiators, the hot water cylinder and the heating | | | | and the savings should be focused on the highly |
| controls) is fully integrated with the other | | | | inefficient homes. There is additional criticism that |
| components, to maximize the system's efficiency | | | | home information packs only apply when homes |
| and heating output. As such, the design has to | | | | are sold and make no carbon reduction related |
| account for each component's specific set up and | | | | impact at other times. |
| consider their input and output demands. | | | | Other levers that can be pulled to reduce carbon |
| Industry research calculated that since the | | | | emissions from domestic heating in the UK are |
| introduction of part L of the building regulations, | | | | related to renewable and sustainable energy. The |
| the savings of carbon emissions made by the UK | | | | government plans to build around 3 million new |
| domestic heating market have been substantial. | | | | homes between now and 2020. If just 10% of |
| Recently conducted research puts the amount of | | | | these new homes use solar thermal heating or |
| carbon emission reduction at around 2.4 million | | | | heat pumps along with traditional (gas or oil) |
| tonnes. The researchers further calculated that if | | | | boilers, around 150,000 tonnes of carbon |
| the industry did not apply the new Part L | | | | emissions would be saved annually. |
| requirements, and continued installing SEDBUK D | | | | There are several options for the government to |
| rated boilers, the carbon emissions from domestic | | | | reduce the carbon emissions from the UK housing |
| heating would have grown by over one million | | | | stock and meet the challenging targets it set. It is |
| tonnes since 2005. | | | | important to note that any relevant plan would be |
| At current levels there is still large potential for | | | | met with a prepared and professional group of |
| reducing the carbon emissions generated by the | | | | plumbing and heating companies that are investing |
| domestic boilers in the UK. There are around four | | | | in professional development and staff training for |
| million old boilers which are significantly less | | | | the new technologies. |