A round-up of the latest self-build and home renovation news, products and events.
The government has announced that its proposed gas boiler ban has been pushed back 10 years. Homeowners were initially informed that oil and LPG boilers would be phased out by the year 2025, in a bid to reduce Britain’s carbon emissions. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced that the ban has been pushed back to 2035, providing homeowners with additional time to replace their fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump, or other low-carbon alternative.
In light of the news, MyBuilder.com (a platform that matches homeowners with reliable tradespeople as well as allowing them to post feedback for work done) carried out a survey that reveals seven out of 10 UK homeowners support the 10-year delay, with 69% backing Rishi Sunak’s decision. However, the research also discovered that 71% of Brits don’t know how much replacing their boiler system would cost, while 48% don’t know if the ban even affects them. Worryingly, 61% of those sur veyed said they didn’t know what a heat pump is and 65% stated that the current financial incentives are not enough to encourage them to make the switch.
Smart savings
According to a new Netatmo user survey, 90% of UK users have saved energy by installing the company’s Smart Heating Solution. Netatmo surveyed 2,400 customers to learn more about how they use their smart heating system. Almost 89% of UK users claimed that the Netatmo Smart Heating Solution has allowed them to feel comfortable, despite turning down their heating. As for the reasons for purchasing the equipment, 82% stated they wanted to easily control their heating, 44% wanted to save energy and 30% hoped to monitor and analyse their consumption. Interestingly, nearly 59% of UK participants claimed to have saved up to £215 on their annual energy bills.
FAN CLUB Octopus Energy has announced an innovative ‘Fan Club’ local tariff. The world-first scheme will reduce energy bills for those living near offshore wind farms, when it’s windy locally. Eligible customers will be able to gain up to 50% off their electricity when their local offshore wind farm is producing ample wind-powered electricity. The new tariff will initially be available to those living along the east coast, between Grimsby and Skegness, but Octopus aims to roll out the tariff in the near future.
ENGLAND DECLARED THE MOST DIFFICULT PLACE TO FIND A HOME A new report by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) reveals that the United Kingdom has fallen far behind other developed countries when it comes to the condition, affordability and age of its housing stock. By analysing data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the EU and the UK government, HBF identified that Engla
