CLIENT REPORT SPRING ISSUE 2013
Foreword Welcome to this very cold spring issue. This Client Report covers the period from January – March 2013. Politically, it has been a fascinating time for the heating industry and not without positive results. Although the Renewable Heat Incentive delay was disappointing for us it may provide opportunity for the government to plan it more comprehensively. One of our main goals in 2013 is to influence DECC’s 2050 heat strategy and detailed work has begun. We are delighted to have two new members on board, NuFlame and Panasonic and it looks like this year will be an extremely rewarding one. Roger Webb, HHIC Director
CLIENT REPORT SPRING ISSUE 2013
Image: Chris Yates
Public Affairs
“How could anybody elect a prat who gets stuck in a zip wire?” Boris Johnson
Green Deal
Renewable Heating
HHIC was invited to the Green Deal Parliamentary and Stakeholder launch events. It was one of very few trade associations present at these high profile gatherings. Opportunities were taken for discussions with DECC Ministers including the Secretary of State, senior officials including the Acting Permanent Secretary and MPs. The cashback scheme was also launched earlier in January following previous interventions by HHIC.
HHIC has responded to an Energy & Climate Change Select Committee enquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). However, DECC has announced recently a further six month delay to the launch of the domestic RHI. April 2014 is the new date to kick-start the scheme allowing extra time to work on its design.
HHIC has continued to work with DECC on the implementation of the Green Deal with particular emphasis on how to promote the scheme to heating installers.
Heat Strategy HHIC has started a major project to help influence DECC’s 2050 heat strategy. We have employed Delta Energy & Environment to work with us. This is an evidence based project which will provide options towards low carbon heat pathways for 2027 when the government will publish its fourth carbon budget. It is based around the known housing stock together with realistic projections of the volumes, performances and costs of low carbon heating products that will be available by that time. DECC consulted with HHIC about the buildings chapter in DECC’s new policy options paper ‘The Future of Heating: Meeting the Challenge’. We also took part in a roundtable meeting with Greg Barker MP which coincided with the publication of this paper.
Energy Labelling and Ecodesign The European regulations for space and water heaters have eventually been adopted seven years later. While there are some formalities to be completed these are likely to be published later this year and the first tier of these new regulations will come into force in late 2015. The outcomes are generally good for the UK industry and we managed to achieve an important last minute agreement to retain third party verification for the energy efficiency performance of boilers. UK Energy Efficiency Mission HHIC attended a high profile launch in February 2013 which included a video link with Arnie Schwarzenegger and a speech by the Prime Minister. Its purpose was to demonstrate the government’s commitment to energy efficiency and for the UK to be the European leader in this field. We have also met with the Director of the DECC’s Energy Efficiency Deployment Office to discuss how heating can contribute to the energy efficiency drive.
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Public Relations
“ Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make.” Bill Bernbach, advertising pioneer and founder of DDB
HHIC Journal The HHIC Journal is continuing to attract high profile contributors from a variety of fields. This is quite an achievement from its humble beginnings as a small newsletter to an award winning publication. The Met Office, Tom Greatrex MP, Consumer Focus, Jean Michel Severino and a review of Tony Juniper’s new book all provide food for thought in the April 2013 issue. By attracting important thought leaders in the magazine this results in issues of the industry being debated. You can also read about what leading academics are doing and how this relates to product development and innovation. The bigger stakeholder picture is important, don’t you think? HHIC has a surprise for the next issue. A BBC naturalist has agreed to provide us with an interview for the next issue. He is very busy with filming at the moment but fingers crossed as it is quite a scoop. Public Relations HHIC’s usual PR activities such as our regular columns in HVP and HPM magazine present the issues of the industry. Issues covered in the trade press include the technical team’s new project on tighter measures to detect CO which was covered in Registered Gas Engineer, HVP, HPM, H&V news, Pham News, Installer Online and the HHIC Journal. Other subjects include the monthly statistics, business sustainability, gas fires, energy labelling, RHI and a ‘Look into Westminster.’
CLIENT REPORT SPRING ISSUE 2013
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HHIC C
MET OFFICE TOM GREATREX MP CONSUMER FOCUS GAS SAFETY TRUST Photographer: Robert Shuttleworth APRIL 2013 ISSUE 19
JEAN-MICHEL SEVERINO
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TONY JUNIPER
Technical
“ A coach once told me there are four factors that determine a players’ performance: his tactical awareness, his physical condition, his technical ability and his mental strength.” Gary Neville
Carbon Monoxide
Standards
HHIC met with members of CoGDEM to discuss the guidance as part of the roll-out of the initiative to check the CO levels of every gas boiler installed in the UK.
HHIC represented members on the following standards:
Flues in Voids HHIC is a member of the working group looking after flues in voids which met at the end of January at Camden House. As a result of the meeting, revised guidance is being published in April 2013. Fuel Industry Association HHIC chaired a meeting in January with BIS, DEFRA, DECC, DCLG, Scottish Government and other members of the Fuel Industry Association. This has provided an extremely useful forum for the participating trade associations and government due to its ability to cover cross cutting issues in one forum.
• The review of BS 6798 (Specification for installation and maintenance of gasfired boilers of rated input not exceeding 70 kW net) had further meetings in November and December to consider changes to the standard. • The BSI standard which deals with the use of gas analysers is being reviewed and HHIC was involved in the committee responsible for this work. • The BSI committee that looks after gas quality related issues in the UK has reviewed the pilot study being carried out in Europe on proposed changes to gas quality. The UK is currently excluded from these changes. • HHIC chaired the BSI gas fire committee which will be reviewing the product standards in 2013. EHI • HHIC also attended the Dept. 6 meeting for mCHP in February 2013. The main concerns continue to be around the requirements for connecting Microgeneration units to the Euro-pean electricity grid networks.
CLIENT REPORT SPRING ISSUE 2013
Membership
“ In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself.” Albert Einstein
Biomass Heating Group HHIC launched a joint Biomass Heating Group. DECC has indicated it would prefer a single trade association with whom to negotiate and act as a collective voice representing companies involved in the biomass heating industry. The first meeting is set for 21 May 2013. Judging
Benchmark
Roger Webb and Isaac Occhipinti took part in the judging process for the H&V news awards.
The Benchmark steering committee is moving closer to agreeing the format of a new Gas Boiler Commissioning Checklist to meet the new requirements for CO testing. This is expected to be formalised later in the spring. It is also engaged in discussions with warranty providers to explore closer links between warranty provision and the completion of the commissioning checklist.
Marketing Green Deal to installers The Marketing and Communications Group had a meeting in London with DECC officials involved in the press and marketing for the Green Deal. The meeting was a useful opportunity for HHIC members to put their questions and concerns about the Green Deal directly to the officials involved. A number of objectives were set and a further meeting has been arranged later in the spring.
Elections The elections for HHIC member group chairman are now underway. All members of the HHIC groups will be asked to nominate a chairman for 2013-14. The official group’s Chairs will be announced at the HHIC AGM in May. If you are unsure about the process and would like an opportunity to vote - please contact Isaac Occhipinti on 01926 513742 or Isaac@hhic.org.uk. HHIC welcomes Nu-Flame and Panasonic who have taken up membership for 2013.
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Contact list
HHIC Director
HHIC Deputy Director/
Communications
Membership Services
Roger Webb
Technical Director
Manager
Manager
roger@hhic.org.uk
Chris Yates
Jodie Wiltshire
Isaac Occhipinti
chris.yates@hhic.org.uk
jodie@hhic.org.uk
isaac@hhic.org.uk
Technical Manager
Administrator/Events
Glyn Thomas
Manager
glyn@hhic.org.uk
Natalie Flay natalie@hhic.org.uk
Heating & Hotwater
Telephone number:
Industry Council
+44 (0)1926 513777
(HHIC) Camden House Warwick Rd
Fax number:
+44 (0)1926 511923
Kenilworth
Twitter:
Warwickshire
@HHIC
CV8 1TH
www.centralheating.co.uk
HHIC is a division of Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA).
HHIC CR2013 ED004