Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of ensuring that the housing stock in each local authority area up to Energy Performance Certificate bands (a) B and (b) C.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
In the Clean Growth Strategy, we set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible will be upgraded to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost effective and affordable.
We estimate that, to meet our stated ambition, cost-effective improvements to homes would cost in the region of £35-65bn, though there would also be significant benefits to consumers from lower energy bills. We do not hold data on how this cost breaks down by local authority area, which would depend on a wide range of factors.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received from medical organisations in support of a policy of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
We have received calls from a number of organisations, including in the medical sector, to adopt the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation of a new emissions target for the UK of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050.
I am pleased to confirm that on 12 June, the Government laid draft legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This world-leading target will bring to an end our contribution to climate change.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which (a) businesses and (b) business organisations have declared an intention be net-zero carbon by 2030.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
We received representations from a number of organisations, including a letter from over 120 businesses, to adopt the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendations on net zero. I am pleased to confirm that on 12 June, the Government laid draft legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This world-leading target will bring to an end our contribution to climate change.
Delivering a net zero target must be a joint endeavour, crossing political boundaries, and encompassing all parts of society. We have already seen many businesses set their own ambitious targets and intentions to be net zero.
As part of Green GB and NI Week 2018, more than 60 businesses made significant pledges worth millions to cut emissions while continuing to grow the green economy. As we prepare for Green GB and NI Week 2019 (launching on 4th November), we continue to encourage and support businesses in setting such targets.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which local authorities have (a) declared a climate emergency and (b) resolved to go carbon net zero emissions by 2030.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
I am pleased to confirm that on 12th June, the Government laid draft legislation to set a new net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for the UK, to be delivered by 2050. This world-leading target will bring to an end our contribution to climate change. Already we have made great progress – since 1990 we have reduced our emissions by 42% while growing our economy by 72%.
Delivering a net zero target must be a joint endeavour, crossing political boundaries, and encompassing all parts of society. To date, 128 Councils in the UK (including dependencies and territories) have declared a climate emergency with several also setting a target for net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans does the Government have for the (a) future and (b) funding of the renewable heat initiative.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The budget for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has been set out to the end of March 2021. Decisions on the future funding for the RHI will be set out in the Spending Review.
As announced by the Chancellor in the Spring Statement, Government also intends to introduce a Future Homes Standard by 2025, for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. We also intend to increase the proportion of green gas in the grid. Government will consult on the details and appropriate mechanisms to deliver these commitments later this year.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2019 to Question 257639 on Smoke and Chimney Gases: Heating, to what date as soon as possible refers.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Interested parties have now been informed of the decision.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy if he will publish all the (a) evidence and (b) assessments provided by the (i) Building Research Establishment and (ii) Standard Assessment Procedure Scientific Integrity Group on that group's investigation into the efficiency of flue gas heat recovery systems.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Department does not intend to publish such information as it is of a commercially sensitive nature. Manufacturers may discuss the representation of their own products in the Product Characteristics Database directly with the Building Research Establishment. Details of the investigation of recent review carried out by the Standard Assessment Procedure Scientific Integrity Group concerning a particular entry for a Flue Gas Heat Recovery System have been shared with the parties involved, with appropriate redactions for personal data.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 255265 on Boilers: Natural Gas and with reference to page 27 paragraph 3.1.13.2 of BSI Standards Publication BS EN 15502-1:2012+A1:2015, whether boiler efficiency must be measured in situ rather than under test conditions.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The 2018 uplifts to boiler installation standards were made through an amendment to the 2018 Building Regulations. Compliance with Building Regulations is enforced by Building Control.
Compliance with Energy-related Products (ErP) standards is carried out by Notified Bodies, as defined by EU Directive 92/42/EEC: Hot Water Boilers. A list of Notifying Bodies can be found at the following URL: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/nando/index.cfm?fuseaction=directive.print&refe_cd=92%2F42%2FEEC
In response to his question on the percentage of boilers sold after the introduction of the current standards, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24th May 2019 to Question 255264.
The details of the research carried out on real-world boiler performance are available here:
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2768
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2767
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2016/page.jsp?id=3619
Boilers operate within a household heating system comprising pumps, pipes, emitters and controls. The efficient operation of the system depends on the proper sizing, positioning and maintenance of these components to ensure how water is distributed as it should around the building. The heating system has a dynamic relationship with the fabric of the building such that efficiency is also affected by the level of insulation, ventilation, the extent to which doors and windows are kept open, and ambient heat from other household systems. Performance is also affected by the manner in which the consumer makes use of timers, thermostats and individual radiator controls, and by variation in gas content.
Boiler efficiency must be measured under test conditions to ensure comparability between products. There are too many variables in situ, as described above, to allow fair comparability.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 255264, in what way (a) the nature of buildings and (b) the use of a product by the consumer affects the efficiency of the boiler.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The 2018 uplifts to boiler installation standards were made through an amendment to the 2018 Building Regulations. Compliance with Building Regulations is enforced by Building Control.
Compliance with Energy-related Products (ErP) standards is carried out by Notified Bodies, as defined by EU Directive 92/42/EEC: Hot Water Boilers. A list of Notifying Bodies can be found at the following URL: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/nando/index.cfm?fuseaction=directive.print&refe_cd=92%2F42%2FEEC
In response to his question on the percentage of boilers sold after the introduction of the current standards, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24th May 2019 to Question 255264.
The details of the research carried out on real-world boiler performance are available here:
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2768
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2767
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2016/page.jsp?id=3619
Boilers operate within a household heating system comprising pumps, pipes, emitters and controls. The efficient operation of the system depends on the proper sizing, positioning and maintenance of these components to ensure how water is distributed as it should around the building. The heating system has a dynamic relationship with the fabric of the building such that efficiency is also affected by the level of insulation, ventilation, the extent to which doors and windows are kept open, and ambient heat from other household systems. Performance is also affected by the manner in which the consumer makes use of timers, thermostats and individual radiator controls, and by variation in gas content.
Boiler efficiency must be measured under test conditions to ensure comparability between products. There are too many variables in situ, as described above, to allow fair comparability.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2019 to Question 225264 on Boilers: Natural gas, if he will indicate where the research carried out on real-world performance of boilers is to be found on the www.brgroup.com website.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The 2018 uplifts to boiler installation standards were made through an amendment to the 2018 Building Regulations. Compliance with Building Regulations is enforced by Building Control.
Compliance with Energy-related Products (ErP) standards is carried out by Notified Bodies, as defined by EU Directive 92/42/EEC: Hot Water Boilers. A list of Notifying Bodies can be found at the following URL: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/nando/index.cfm?fuseaction=directive.print&refe_cd=92%2F42%2FEEC
In response to his question on the percentage of boilers sold after the introduction of the current standards, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24th May 2019 to Question 255264.
The details of the research carried out on real-world boiler performance are available here:
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2768
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2012/page.jsp?id=2767
https://www.bre.co.uk/sap2016/page.jsp?id=3619
Boilers operate within a household heating system comprising pumps, pipes, emitters and controls. The efficient operation of the system depends on the proper sizing, positioning and maintenance of these components to ensure how water is distributed as it should around the building. The heating system has a dynamic relationship with the fabric of the building such that efficiency is also affected by the level of insulation, ventilation, the extent to which doors and windows are kept open, and ambient heat from other household systems. Performance is also affected by the manner in which the consumer makes use of timers, thermostats and individual radiator controls, and by variation in gas content.
Boiler efficiency must be measured under test conditions to ensure comparability between products. There are too many variables in situ, as described above, to allow fair comparability.