Banning the fitting of all gas boilers from 2025 is “not the way” to solve the UK climate challenge, a workers union has warned. GMB Union said today that with nuclear and renewables energy “all over the place”, gas will be required for the UK to meet its energy demand. The union’s national chief described the proposal to rip out old boilers in favour of new heat pumps as “simply bonkers”. Stuart Fegan, GMB national officer, said: “GMB recognises the UK must up its game in respect of its climate change commitments under the Paris Treaty. That will require greater effort to decarbonise heat and transport and accelerate the 43% cut in greenhouse gas emissions against the 1990 baseline figure. “Gas can and must play a greater part in that drive going forward and initiatives to inject greater use of low carbon gases, such as hydrogen, into our gas distribution system must to brought forward and receive the necessary investment from government. “If the UK is going to retrofit the 26 million existing homes across the UK to be made low carbon – which is UK infrastructure policy – convincing the public to rip out a perfectly good heating system and install expensive to run ground source heat pumps is simply bonkers!”
Energy Voice 22nd Feb 2019 read more »
It’s been a terrible few weeks for the beleaguered middle class home. First environment secretary Michael Gove came for our wood-burning stoves, and now the government wants to get rid of our gas hobs too. So, what’s going to be next on the chopping block? Are we heading for a future where boiling the kettle more than once per day is banned for fear of excessive electricity consumption? Will the government enforce a law against lighting barbecues after 8pm, to crack down on outdoor heaters? Here we take a speculative look at what could be next in the firing line. Enjoy ’em while you can…
Telegraph 22nd Feb 2019 read more »
