Government targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions cannot be met without an improvement of the energy efficiency of the UK housing stock, which accounts for around 27% of all UK emissions. In turn, heating and hot water account for an estimated 84% of domestic energy consumption and 71% of CO2 emissions. It is clear, therefore, that the domestic heating and hot water sector has a significant and critical role to play.
It is one of the strengths of the heating and hot water industry that there are a number of different solutions available to enhance the energy efficiency of domestic heating systems, and the future heating sector is likely to comprise a range of solutions including both traditional boiler-based systems and newer microgeneration technologies such as solar thermal, heat pumps, micro-CHP and solid fuel heating systems. In addition installation and correct use of heat and hot water controls represents an opportunity to increase the energy efficiency of all heating systems.
Although the sector has driven some major successes (almost all new or replacement boilers are energy efficient condensing ones), the heating and hot water industry has the potential to make an even greater contribution towards meeting Government targets. However the fact is that in 2010 the majority of UK homes do not have adequate energy efficient heating technologies installed. The heating and hot water industry has a vision of how the sector can address that situation and thereby make a major contribution towards Government targets, initially focusing on 2020. That vision offers a 2020 landscape that is very different where we are today, with the great majority of UK households having energy efficient heating technologies in place.
Contents1. Executive summary2. The Heating and Hot Water Taskforce 3. The policy context 4. The UK housing stock and energy use 5. Condensing boilers and passive flue gas heat recovery 6. Hot water storage systems 7. Heating and hot water controls 8. Solar thermal 9. Heat pumps 10. Micro CHP 11. Solid fuel technologies 12. Summary of issues arising and barriers to the market potential 13. Actions required to achieve 2020 vision Appendix A: Glossary - Government policy, regulations and other initiatives Appendix B: Questions for the Microgeneration Strategy Consultation |