Tougher boiler efficiency standards
The UK Government has published proposed changes to Part L1b of the Building Regulations, which focus on boiler regulation in England.
The Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) released the document on 8 December. It is currently available for public perusal.
Prior to the publication of the report, several weeks of consultation took place. Manufacturers, installers, and suppliers were encouraged to comment on the proposed changes during this period. BEIS will review the comments and finalise the result of the consultation period.
The document, titled ‘Heat in Buildings – The Future of Heat’, concerns the proposed introduction of higher boiler efficiency standards for residential properties. It also covers performance improvements for residential and commercial central heating systems.
Increasing Efficiency Standards
According to the report, over 1.2m new boilers are installed in homes in England every year. Efficiency has improved substantially due to technological advances. The government wants the new standards to reflect this.
This will help householders to reduce their energy usage and thus their energy costs. In addition, it will benefit the standard of home living and reduce CO2 emissions.
The document states that gas fuel accounts for 80% of heat generation in homes across England. This is unlikely to change anytime soon. Therefore, improvements in the efficiency and performance of gas boilers are necessary.
Any boiler installed in a home must currently have an SEDBUK efficiency rating of 88%. The document proposes changing the rating system to the Energy Related Products Directive (ErP). This is the energy rating methodology used by the European Union.
The government proposes that all new domestic boilers should have a minimum rating of 92% ErP. In addition, they should feature a thermostat, timer, and weather controls as standard. New changes could be in force from October 2017.
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