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HVAC Investment Amongst Government’s Green Industrial Revolution
December 4th, 2020
Last updated: August 11th, 2022
Industry chiefs have applauded the Government’s ten-point plan to drive a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’, by recognising the strategy as a ‘multi-faceted’ approach to decarbonisation and the climate crisis. And furthermore, the HVAC industry, while undergoing changes itself, can play a central role over the next decade with an extensive roll-out of sustainable hydrogen gas production and a dramatic increase in domestic heat pump usage.
What is in the Government’s Ten-Point Green Strategy?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently outlined the UK’s commitment to offset its carbon emissions entirely by 2050, via a ten-point Green strategy. The headline focus of the strategy was:
- Creating 250,000 so-called ‘Green jobs’ focused on reducing carbon emissions
- Creating a town 100% powered by hydrogen energy
- To install at least 600,000 heat pumps in domestic homes annually by 2028
- Quadrupling existing energy capacity created through offshore wind to 40GW by 2030.
- Re-think transport policy on-ground and in-air to support these sustainable developments
- Committed to introducing new funding mechanisms to make London a global centre for Green finance and developing clean technologies
- Green Homes Grant subsidy scheme to be extended for another twelve months to support energy efficiency improvements via insulation or heat pump installation.
The previous PM Theresa May made the net zero carbon commitment by 2050 and the implementation of heat pump technology is the first step in making homes and public buildings more energy efficient by the end of the decade. It is estimated that 50,000 jobs will be created in the sector by attempts to make use of the low carbon electricity produced by the heat pumps.
Increasing Use of Hydrogen Energy in the UK
Demand for hydrogen gas to heat homes and meet industry needs, requires the realisation of 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity. This forms part of a £500m package set aside to trial various uses of hydrogen in domestic settings. A programme has been set out to first create a ‘hydrogen neighbourhood’ by 2023, then a village by 2025. Finally it is envisaged that the first ‘Hydrogen town’ – where hydrogen energy alone can support tens of thousands of homes – can be created by the end of the decade.
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) agreed that retro-fitting existing homes in the UK was critical to meeting the net zero carbon targets, and hence welcomed the general approach of the Government’s ten-point strategy. This is particularly important given that the UK’s housing stock is considered to be amongst the “draughtiest in Europe”.
This wide-ranging package of Green measures was welcomed, although the UKGBC did comment that it wanted clarification on what portion of a £100 billion infrastructure budget set aside for the current parliament, was being used to support the work outlined to make UK homes more energy efficient.
Food Van Health and Safety: Our Guide
Food vans have become a vibrant part of the UK’s food landscape, whether it’s at a festival or outside a bar or pub. Food vans offer everything from gourmet burgers to exotic street food but they all need to consider food van health and safety including regulations.
Ensuring the safety of your customers and staff is not only a legal obligation but also crucial for maintaining a good reputation and avoiding costly errors. When it comes to food, you can’t be too careful. This guide will cover essential health and safety considerations, including equipment maintenance, staff training, PAT testing, and other critical areas.
Read moreFire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: Explained
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force in January 2023. In the wake of the Grenfell Inquiry, there have been many changes made to legislation to try and make residential buildings safer. The changes come in the form of regulations made under article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (Fire Safety Order).
The Government’s website explains that “The Fire Safety Order applies to all premises including workplaces and the common parts of all multi-occupied residential buildings.” Already, there are restrictions and rules in place for commercial buildings, and the need to have a risk assessment completed and regularly updated, but this will mean that the responsibilities are much more clear.
Let’s get into what the new Fire Safety regulations mean, and some of the key takeaways and work that may now be required to stay compliant.
Read moreAre you a maintenance customer of J H Shouksmith & Sons Ltd?
If you are a customer of J H Shouksmith & Sons Ltd you will not have any cover for your buildings maintenance, repair and compliance needs from Monday 7th November 2022 when they cease those operations.
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