Biasi blasts lack of government support

The Government's indecision over promoting renewables could prove to be costly.

The Government's indecision over how best to support the adoption of renewable technologies is hampering the industry from manufacturers through to installers, according to Gren Ward, Managing Director of Biasi.

"Thus far we have relied too heavily on one or two pioneers to really get the market moving, but all government gestures to date have either been too small or too complicated! There's no question capital cost and the uncertainty over installation is putting people off the idea at this current moment, but there are some steps I feel coud make massive inroads.

"Take legislation, for example. We move mountains to make things safer, but when it comes to protecting our environment - it's down to choice. I'd like to see a law that states that all new-build properties must have 20% of their energy supplied by renewable technologies. The emphasis so far has been to put pressure on the homeowner to take an interest in renewables. Why not give these pioneers a VAT break on all their renewable purchases? We could fund this 'break' with a simple rise in stamp duty when it comes to purchasing a property with high emissions. Home Information Packs are already mandatory to market a property; these could be extended to cover the property's emission outputs.

"The industry can take control of its own actions. Too many systems installed in the UK do not benefit from modern controls, probably the easiest and most cost-effective way to improve a boiler's efficiency. Controls, such as wireless time and temperature controls, are fast becoming easier to install and offer more functionality, and features such as zoning allow us to heat only the areas of the property in use.

Manufacturers already invest large sums of money in training facilities, but rewarding these additional skills in installer approval schemes would help get the message across."

 

Source - Installer  

Posted Date: 20th May 2010