Radiator being filtted by Warm Front installer

All those involved in the construction industry need to recognise the role that heating and equipment can play in meeting the demands of the Government's legislation for clawing back the advance of climate change.

The Government’s draft Climate Change Bill was launched in October 2007.

Speaking at this time on Britain’s Low Carbon Future, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Environment, said “The UK was the first country ever to use carbon emissions trading, the first to put climate change at the heart of a G8 presidency, the first to call a debate on climate change in the UN security council, and now we will be the first country in the world to put forward a legally binding framework for reducing emissions over time”.

In this respect, the energy efficiency targets set out in the Bill are particularly ambitious. They include making the UK’s targets for a 60% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and a 25-32% reduction by 2020 legally binding.

Also included in the Bill is the target for most new homes to be zero carbon – with extra insulation, solar panels or wind turbines and energy efficiency appliances – by 2016. From April this year, a Carbon Emissions Reduction Target will require the energy companies to invest more in energy efficiency in their customers’ homes. It will mean that over the next three years, over £2.5bn will be invested to support measures such as energy efficient appliances, insulation and low energy light bulbs.

Efficient heating is a key ingredient to achieving maximum energy efficiency for all types of buildings. This has led to considerably increased activity in the energy efficiency grants market.

For example, the Warm Front Grant – originally introduced in 2000 – was amended in 2005 to include central heating for all clients and oil central heating for those not on the gas distribution network.

The Warm Front grant provides a package of energy efficiency and heating measures up to the value of £2,700 (except where oil central heating is installed or repaired, where a maximum grant of £4,000 is available) for homeowners or those who privately rent their home, providing they meet the Warm Front eligibility criteria.

If the property has previously received any measures under Warm Front, the value of the grant available to the existing household will be less the value of all works previously completed in the property under Warm Front since June 2000.

From August 2006 a £300 rebate off the cost of installing a new central heating system for all householders aged 60 or over, who own or privately rent their home and who are not in receipt of a qualifying Warm Front benefit, became available. The rebate, which forms part of the Warm Front Scheme, can only be used by householders who either have no heating system or one which is inoperable.

Energy suppliers also provide grants for the installation of energy efficient boilers under the Government’s Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) scheme – the obligation on energy suppliers to deliver carbon savings through action in homes.

Depending on the individual local authority, grants and offers for homeowner or private tenants to install heating improvements according to their incomes are available. Some members of the Grant Aided Heating Installers Network (GAIN) also install solar panels and wind turbines, which are subject to grants from the Government Low Carbon Building Programme to help provide hot water and electricity.

GAIN works with heating installers and managing agents to upgrade the professionalism of the industry serving the grants market. It aims to deliver costeffective and energy efficient heating solutions throughout the UK, working with managing agents, Government departments and agencies to address future challenges. GAIN members aim to deliver the highest levels of technical and safety performance, whilst embracing customer and service excellence.

One of its chief aims is to encourage a higher level of professionalism from heating installers which goes beyond the need to operate under a technical registration scheme – Corgi and/or NICEIC. Working towards this higher level of professionalism for heating contractors serving the grant market, the Association has introduced a new Code of Conduct by which all members agree to abide.

There is a growing demand for trained, professional heating installers in order to meet the continually increasing workload.

Members are not restricted to grant work and are now moving in to the commercial market where their expertise and professionalism can be utilised for significantly improving energy efficiency.

GAIN has now joined the Trade Association Forum, which is linked with the CBI (Confederation of British Industry). Amongst the facilities now available to GAIN members is ready access – at a discount – to employment, health and safety, and tax advice, via Croner’s Business Support Helpline.

The Grant Aided Heating Installers’ Network currently has contractor members throughout England and Wales and invites all professional organisations serving the grant market throughout the UK to join.

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