Page 35 - Gi flipbook April 2019

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to 284,000km of pipeline, including
almost 85 per cent of homes. The WHAT THE REPORT SAYS
distribution networks alone are worth
over £17 billion and the industry THE REPORT SAYS new homes
contributes £2.37 billion gross value should be built to tight specifications
added (GVA) to the UK economy. that require low-carbon heating,
“The existence of the gas grid does ultra-high energy efficiency, and
not preclude other solutions for proper ventilation. It concludes
decarbonisation. Hydrogen can play that the housing sector is not doing
a valuable role as part of the heating enough to reduce emissions and
solution for UK buildings in combination that UK homes are not fit for a
with hybrid heat system solutions and future subject to higher average Finance and funding
more energy efficient homes. These latest temperatures, flooding and water There are urgent funding gaps
recommendations make that future less scarcity. It outlines steps that can be which must be addressed, including
likely and more difficult to achieve.” taken to transition from fossil fuels secure UK government funding
Mr McCluskey added: “The gas to renewables, including a national for low-carbon sources of heating
industry is committed to developing training programme to deliver the beyond 2021, and better resources
a range of low carbon solutions to building and construction skills for local authorities.
decarbonise the energy system now, required to meet the new challenges.
as well as recognising the need to IGEM has welcomed the report’s
ensure public engagement and safety The Committee’s report says action recommendations regarding the
considerations long into the future.” is needed in the following five areas: skills gap and agrees action must be
The Energy and Utilities Alliance’s Performance and compliance taken to train designers, builders and
CEO Mike Foster, joined IGEM in The way new homes are built and installers in low carbon heating, energy
criticising the report, slamming the existing homes retrofitted often falls and water efficiency, ventilation and
Committee on Climate Change for short of stated design standards. thermal comfort in order to design
“living on another planet, not trying to Skills gap homes fit for the future.
save the one we have” in his response. The chopping and changing of IGEM also welcomes the
Mr Foster took a deliberate swipe UK government policy has led recommendations around
at the CCC’s Chief Executive Chris to a skills gap in housing design, compliance in light of the 2018
Stark, for what he describes as “rank construction and in the installation Hackitt Review of building
hypocrisy” in advocating other people of new technologies. regulations and fire safety. In
can’t have a gas boiler while he Retrofitting existing homes recognition of the indifference
continues to do so. Ensuring existing homes are low- around build quality and confusion
Mr Foster, who as a former carbon and resilient to the changing over roles and responsibilities,
government minister voted for the climate is a major UK infrastructure IGEM, together with the other
Climate Change Act, said: “The authors priority, and must be supported as Professional Engineering Institutions
of this report are living on another planet such by the Treasury. and the Engineering Council, is
when they should be giving realistic Building new homes developing a contextualised standard
options on how to save this one. Some of New homes should be built to be for Chartered and Incorporated
the suggestions simply don’t reflect how low-carbon, energy and water Engineers working on High Risk
people actually live in their homes. efficient, and climate resilient. Residential Buildings (HRRBs).
“We absolutely have to reduce our
carbon emissions, but we need to
take people with us on that journey.
Banning gas boilers is a stupid thing it is rank hypocrisy for the CEO to be hydrogen into homes beyond the
to do. We need to change the type of using a gas boiler while advocating emergency control valve. As part of this
gas to a low carbon version, such as others can’t. The excuse that it would programme, appliance manufacturers
biomethane or hydrogen. The focus be difficult and therefore expensive to are developing new boilers, cookers and
should be on future-proofing homes replace his own boiler is a bit rich; he fires to run on hydrogen.
not banning something prematurely. earns considerably more than average.
So gas grid connections, using If he can’t afford to put his money
biomethane or hydrogen should still be where his mouth is, then how can At the time of going to press, Chancellor
Philip Hammond had announced plans for
part of the mix, not banned. others be expected to pay? new standards “mandating the end of fossil
“That way we keep the convenience “And this matters, because if the fuel heating systems in new homes from
and affordability of a gas boiler without public start to turn against action on 2025 delivering lower carbon, and lower
the carbon. Instead, it seems, the climate change because of the antics of fuel bills too”.
Committee listen to their friends from this Committee, then the very poorest In his spring statement, the Chancellor
the heat pump industry and plug their and most vulnerable on our planet will said new properties would use alternative
appliances instead. Ironically, that suffer the most. For me, that is simply systems, such as heat pumps, to help the
means using electricity generated in gas- unacceptable.” UK reduce its carbon emissions.
fired power stations. I have to question IGEM is already working with the However, Hammond appeared to row back
why the Committee are so keen on fitting Department for Business, Energy and on implementing the full recommendations
from the Committee on Climate Change’s
heat pumps when so many other, more Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on its £25 report, which called for new homes to have no
economically viable options exist. million Hy4Heat programme, which gas for cooking or heating from 2025.
“I have to also make the point, that is looking at the potential to introduce

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