Government needs to urge wider uptake of heating controls

Supported by Laura Sandys MP, the event was attended by a wide range of key industry figures. Presentations by Salford University and New Experience were followed by a lively discussion on how to ensure that the potential benefits of heating controls are realised in practice.

"We currently estimate that there are around 11 million homes without suitable heating controls,” says Colin Timmins (pictured) from BEAMA. “This new research shows clearly how controls provide a cost effective solution to those people struggling to stay comfortably warm, without incurring excessive fuel bills."

Alongside the event, BEAMA published a white paper outlining how Government policy could be tweaked to avoid missing opportunities to support the greater uptake of controls in UK housing, in particular by:

·       Amending Part L of the Building Regulations in 2016 so that the installation of TRVs is mandatory with a boiler replacement while a system is drained down.

·       Ensuring that controls play a more prominent role in the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.

·       Introducing a specific target in the DECC Heat Strategy to improve controls in homes so that all homes have a minimum standard.

·       Increasing the saving value ascribed to TRVs in the SAP methodology in light of this new evidence from the Salford University tests.

A user guide was also published to help householders operate their existing controls more effectively to achieve both comfort and efficiency. These documents, together with further details on the Salford University research, are available here.