H&V News this week includes an article on the subject (Page 3) which alludes – no doubt to heighten reader expectations – there is a looming battle between DEFRA and the ODPM on the degree of exemption to be permitted. It is suggested DEFRA favour 10% exemption, whereas ODPM favour 20%. There is also mention of alleged experts being involved.

I would expect real experts to reach roughly the same conclusion based upon the same data. If not then we can reasonably assume other factors, not mentioned, are influencing the debate. Of course, we already know that thus confidence is immediately undermined in the objectiveness of the alleged experts and other players involved.

The Chairman of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes heating strategy group is quoted as suggesting a compliance rate of 80% (hence 20% exemption) is too lenient ‘since most technical and cost problems could be overcome’. What the latter is based upon we are not told. No doubt they decided 100% compliance is unpalatable and simply nodded in 90% as a basis for discussion, argument or battle.

There is the usual snide dig at Installers based no doubt upon familiar ignorance, where the sentence ‘Otherwise people could well be driving white vans right through the legislation’ is provided to ensure there will be an acceptable scapegoat available, when the strategy inevitably fails, as everyone knows it will, except perhaps the people who created it.

Actually when you read the article, the whole thing is muddled. Starts off well enough but does not lead anywhere. Perhaps we can assist.

For the benefit of lay visitors, there are two technical matters which may, in relatively few cases, demand extra care in the choice of condensing boiler and/or location of condensing boiler.

Pluming

Condensing boilers are high efficiency appliances thus the hitherto appalling waste of heat through the flue is significantly reduced. Therefore flue emissions are much cooler. As flue emissions are cooler they condense on impact with external air and become visible. That’s all there is to it.

Boilers could therefore be sited where pluming will not be visually intrusive or one of the many boilers chosen with substantial flue options. Flues may therefore terminate in a different location if the boiler is required to be installed in a specific position.

In some cases, observance of the above measures will add cost to a job.

Condensate drainage

All condensing boilers produce a steady trickle of water as a by-product and that discharge needs to be safely conveyed to drainage through plastic pipework. In some cases this will add cost to a job.

I would suggest the unit cost of high efficiency boilers per se is not an issue as prices have been driven down. Arguments hinge essentially on the two technical issues raised and pluming is likely to be the dominant influence.

So, how do the experts arrive at 10% and 20% ? – Pure guess must be the answer. Figures generated by aspiration rather than extrapolation. That said, technically, there is unlikely to be any situation where a condensing boiler could not be installed. Given all the flue and condensate drain options available, exceptions, if any, are likely to be a small fraction of 1%, though I doubt even that.

In other words I agree that technical problems can be overcome. Indeed I am suggesting there are no technical problems at all, only technical differences but we are used to change.

Exemptions presumably are therefore to be based purely on additional installation cost. Some ancillary components and some labour. How that will be judged or ‘easily overcome’ remains to be seen.

How it will be policed also remains to be seen and there is an irony to the word policed. I know an unqualified police officer who has just installed his own boiler and then asked me to fix it and do a gas safety check. Obviously I have refused. If I go near that boiler I am legally responsible for it as that is the way the law is written. He has acted in contravention of the Building Regulations, Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations; Not a white van man but a well marked van man.

That is what DEFRA, ODPM, HHIC and EEPH are up against. The battle is not between DEFRA and ODPM, it is between Her Majesty’s Government and the electorate. Energy Efficiency has no priority with the large majority of the population. With some yes but not with the large majority.

What the public spend their money on is their business and none of mine but I will never subsidise energy efficiency. I have already taken a Best Practice course but nothing at all happened to back us up. Even the trade press avoid the subject like the plague ?

If Her Majesty’s Government want energy efficiency measures to be adopted they must have the backbone to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure their (not our) measures are heeded. It is difficult to comprehend their lack of resolve. Barely comprehensible strategies are developed in the naïve hope it will impact upon the consciousness of the population. The more complex it gets, the easier it is to avoid because few understand the nuances and by avoiding the subject are less likely to disclose their confusion.

Meanwhile the EEPH and other misguided individuals should take a course in good manners or risk losing what little goodwill remains in the population of professionals who have to bridge the divide between energy efficiency needs and consumers with no stomach for increased costs.