Gas Safe Register has released a new technical bulletin (TB 162) that advises on the rationale behind a change to the 2-minute gas rate (heat input) check for domestic installations with metric (ultrasonic and diaphragm) gas metres.

Traditionally, gas engineers have conducted gas rating checks over a 2-minute period. However, Gas Safe Register has now stated that this can be completed in just 1 minute, reducing the time and cost of the check for both engineers and customers.

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 A new survey [1] has found that UK homeowners are losing an average of £1,885 a year by failing to carry out essential home maintenance jobs. The most common tasks that people put off include fixing a leaking toilet, having gas appliances serviced and safety checked annually, and clearing damp or mould.

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Renewable energy installations are soaring in the UK, with heat pumps and solar panels leading the way.

More renewable energy installations were fitted in the first half of 2023 than in any other six-month period before, according to industry standards body MCS, with heat pumps and solar panels being the most popular technologies. Over 20,000 households installed solar panels every month, and heat pumps reached a record of 3,000 monthly installations. June 2023 alone saw more renewable energy installations than in any six-month period in recent history, with battery technologies particularly popular. This 

Wales has taken the lead in renewable energy installations per household, overtaking Scotland for the first time since 2021.

Despite Scotland having around twice the number of households, MCS and housing data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that a higher proportion of Welsh homes are reaping the benefits of renewable technologies.

As of April 2023, the proportion of renewable energy installations across the UK was:

• 7.24% in Wales
• 7.23% in Scotland
• 5.52% in England
• 4.19% in Northern Ireland

More needs to be done to reach current net zero targets.

Ian Rippin, chief executive of MCS, commented: "As the cost of energy continues to rise, more people are turning to renewable technology to generate their own energy and heat at home. We need to continue to support this expansion to meet our shared national ambitions to reach net zero by 2050."

"More consumers have the confidence to invest in small-scale renewables now than ever before, but we need to make that transition even easier."

Conclusion

The boom in renewable energy installations is a positive sign that the UK is moving towards a more sustainable future. However, more needs to be done to reach current net zero targets. The government can support this by providing financial incentives for people to invest in renewable energy technologies and by making it easier for people to install these technologies.

You can view the latest MCS figures in full here

Tool Theft: A Major Problem for Tradespeople in the UK

Tool theft is a major problem for tradespeople in the UK. In 2022, there were over 40,000 tool thefts reported, with an average value of £4,470.50 per theft. This means that tradespeople are losing over £100 million worth of tools each year.

Tool theft has a significant impact on tradespeople's businesses. It can lead to lost income, increased insurance costs, and damage to reputation. In some cases, tradespeople may even be forced to close their businesses altogether.

There are a number of things that tradespeople can do to protect themselves from tool theft More...

Heating costs can be a major expense during the winter months, but there are a number of things you can do to reduce them. Whilst most of these can be done by the general public, you may need additional help with others.

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