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 18 June 2019 to Question 262224, which councils have (a) declared a climate emergency (b) set a target for net zero emissions by 2030; and whether any councils set other dates for net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
A list of councils that have declared a climate emergency can be found here: http://www.caceonline.org/councils-that-have-declared.html
Several of these councils have committed to becoming carbon neutral, with each council responsible for setting its own target date for achieving net zero emissions.
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 18 June 2019 to Question 262226, which (a) organisations from the medical sector and (b) other organisations have contacted his Department; and whether any of those organisations called on the Government to meet the net zero target by (i) 2030 and (ii) by any other date earlier than 2050.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Businesses, the scientific community and civil society have been vocal in encouraging us to set a net zero target.
Our independent advisors - the Committee on Climate Change - make clear in their report that they do not currently consider it credible for the UK to aim to reach net-zero emissions earlier than 2050. We have considered their advice and are legislating in line with it, to end the UK’s 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, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2019 to Question 258961, which body determines the tests on domestic boilers, and what organisations are represented by that body.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The test for the energy efficiency of boilers is set by CEN, a European Standardisation Organisation. Its national members are the national standardization bodies of 28 European Union countries, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
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 11 June 2019 to Question 258965, how test conditions for domestic boilers differ from real world in situ conditions.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The test conditions in labs for domestic boilers assume steady state operation, weighted by full and part power measurements. The energy ratings given to boilers are therefore intended to provide a fair basis for comparison of the energy efficiency of different models. The wide variation in the energy efficiency of buildings that boilers are installed in and in user behaviours makes it difficult to consistently test boiler efficiency in real life conditions.
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 11 June 2019 to Question 258965, whether test conditions for domestic boilers allow for any features or functions of those boilers to be changed or disabled during the test.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The required test conditions are given in sections 8.1.1 and 8.1.2 of BS EN 15502-1. These include required fuel characteristics, control mode settings, etc. to ensure that the test results are repeatable and comparable. Limitations are stated, for example section 8.1.2.5 prescribes the requirement for tests to take place under thermal equilibrium conditions, with precautions taken to prevent thermostats or adjustable controls or an electronic temperature control system operating and affecting the gas rate, unless necessary for the specific test being conducted.
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 11 June 2019 to Question 258963 on Boilers, how the variables to which he refers affect the efficiency of the boiler itself as distinct from the whole heating system; and if will he make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Of the variables referred to, those that impact the efficiency of the boiler itself are the heat distribution system, comprising emitters, pipes and pumps and the user controls.
Condensing boiler efficiency is typically improved by a lower water return temperature. The design, efficacy and maintenance of the heat distribution system can impact this temperature. For example, an undersized system will require a higher flow temperature making it more difficult to achieve a low return temperature.
User controls such as timers and thermostats can impact when the boiler turns on and off. The rate of this (cycling) can also impact the efficiency of the boiler with rapid cycling being potentially detrimental to efficiency. User controlled radiator valves can affect the flow rate through the system also impacting flow and return temperatures and cycling affecting boiler efficiency.
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 11 June 2019 to Question 258963 on Boilers, what steps he is taking to ensure that domestic boilers comply in situ with the 92 per cent efficiency rate as set out in the Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide, pages 10 and 18.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Local authorities have powers under the Building Act 1984 to enforce the building regulations, including fixed building services such as boiler installations, and have work altered or removed that does not comply. The Building Regulations and Gas Safe rules of registration require that Gas Safe registered businesses comply with their geographical area regulations by notifying any relevant appliances they have installed to the Local Authority. Failure to comply can result in disciplinary action and can ultimately result in traders being struck off the Gas Safe Register.
An initial assessment of Boiler Plus planned for later this year will reveal if there are significant instances of non-compliance. To date, no evidence has come to light to suggest gas boilers below 92% ErP are being installed in English homes.
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 assessment he has made of the compatibility of the statement in the Answer to Question 255264 on 24 May 2019 that there is no evidence that boilers with an efficiency below 92 per cent continued to be sold beyond the coming into force date of the current standards, with the statement in Answer to Question 245593 on 1 May 2019 that only the majority of boilers on the market met or exceeded the minimum efficiency requirement of 92 per cent when the new standards were introduced.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The statements made with respect to these two questions are fully compatible. The 2016 consultation asked the boiler industry what would be an appropriate lead-in period to allow traders to make preparations, such as clearing old stock, ahead of new standards coming into force. A majority of respondents stated that three months would be sufficient. The government provided a six month lead-in period, to ensure that adequate time was allowed for all market participants.
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 12 June 2019 to Question 259850, which parties were shown the results of the standard assessment procedure scientific integrity group findings.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The feedback from the Standard Assessment Procedure Scientific Integrity Group (SAPSIG) was supplied to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the secretariat of SAPSIG (Robust Details Ltd.), the Building Research Establishment, and the company concerned.
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 12 June 2019 to Question 259850, which manufacturers of flue gas heat recovery systems have discussed the representations of their own products with the Building Research Establishment.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
All manufacturers of flue gas heat recovery systems and other products in the Product Characteristics Database (PCDB) communicate with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on the representation of their products in the database.