20
JUNE 2016 PRO INSTALLER
PRO NEWS
www.proinstaller.co.uk
SUCCESS FOR FIRECO AT
FIREX INTERNATIONAL FREEDOR IS A WINNER
Fireco, provider of
simple and trusted
solutions for difficult
fire safety problems,
enjoyed a highly successful event when
the company recently
exhibited at FIREX
International from 2123 June at the London
ExCel.
Fireco’s team provided information about its
popular workshops they
are offering, focused on
supporting installers. The
free workshops hel p installers increase their profits by
finding extra opportunities
from their existing jobs.
They get hands-on training
with everything they need
to know to install and commission the products in one
morning.
The products Fireco
showcased included Freedor, a wireless free-swing
door closer. Freedor makes
heavy fire doors effortless
to open. It allows users to
place fire doors open at
any angle and automatically
closes them on the sound
of the alarm.
As Freedor is wireless, it
is quick and easy to install,
leaving time to carry out
more jobs. The team on the
stand were able to demonstrate how their solutions
get jobs carried out quickly
and bring in business with
their continuous support.
Installers see the benefits
from working with Fireco.
Alister Rooney at Arma Fire
comments, “The demand
for Freedor is increasing,
it’s a good income source
for us. Fireco is a great
company to deal with. I
cannot fault the support,
guarantees or delivery and
they have always given us
technical back up when we
need it.”
www.fireco.co.uk
01273 320650
Dutch model for energy
efficient homes
Screwfix Opens New
Stamford Store
Multi-channel trade retailer Screwfix has officially
opened its first store in
Stamford in Stamford Retail
Park. The new branch opened
in May will create an additional 13 jobs and is part
of the company’s ongoing
expansion plans.
Screwfix’s new Stamford store
manager Rob Taunton says he is
proud of the contribution the new
store has made to employment
figures in the region.
“We’ve created 13 brand new vacancies and have employed local
people from around the Stamford
area,” he said. “Our new team
includes people of all ages and
levels of experience, but the most
important requirement is that they
have the right attitude and can
offer superb customer service.”
Tradespeople were invited to
attend the Stamford Screwfix
opening where they demonstrated
their professional skills in a freeto-enter fastest time screw drilling
competition to win a 40-inch
smart TV.
Rob believes that the store’s
convenient location and the ability
to provide a Click and Collect
service within just five minutes
of ordering will be a real bonus
to local tradespeople and DIY
enthusiasts.
“I’m confident that we’ve got a
great location here,” he said. “We
have already been out and about
getting to know local businesses
and tradespeople.”
The report ‘Warmer &
Greener: A Guide to the
Future of Domestic Energy
Efficiency Policy’ has now
been launched in Parliament. It is a key report
that comes in the wake of
inquiries by the Energy &
Climate Change Committee, National Audit Office
and the upcoming Bonfield
Review. ‘Warmer & Greener’
provides workable solutions
in a four part approach.
The report is the latest offering
from the Westminster Sustainable
Business Forum, sponsored by
ADEY and the British Board of
Agrément.
Co-chairs Peter Aldous MP
and Dr Alan Whitehead MP
said: “This report provides an
extremely useful guide to the future of domestic energy efficiency policy. It could not come at a
better time.”
The report aims to see fuel
poverty drastically cut alongside
energy bill savings, better home
comfort and quality of living,
better health, less reliance on
the NHS and slashing carbon
emissions.
It does this in four parts: regulation, financial mechanisms,
advice and information, and
developing the energy efficiency
industry.
‘Warmer & Greener’ asks for government policy to provide more
certainty for the development of
the energy efficiency industry.
With changes in policy relating to
energy efficiency in recent years,
a lack of certainty and consistency
has undermined the confidence of
the industry to invest in training,
research, product development
and marketing.
These include the ending of the
Landlord’s Energy Savings Allowance, and the discontinuation of
funding for the Green Deal.
For the energy efficiency industry, government could financially
back the relatively little known
Dutch Energiesprong scheme
which provides deep whole house
retrofits and acts as broker between installers and the customer,
making retrofitting far more financially viable. In the Netherlands
this approach of taking responsibility away from householders and
giving them energy performance
contracts (which work much like
a mobile phone bill) is delivering
significant results.
This is likely the first official
report to government that recog-
nises the potential in this scheme.
There is a fledgling UK setup
which could benefit from government support and could then go
on to develop ties with the new
build, commercial housing and
owner-occupied sectors.
It also recommends implementing gradually increased minimum energy efficiency standards
through regulation for the sale
and rent of homes and regulating
marketing in the private rented
sector so rents include expected
energy costs.
The authors argue for greater
financial support for those in fuel
poverty to improve their homes.
They also make the case for the
smart use of financial mechanisms
to incentivise people to improve
their home’s efficiency such as
changes in mortgage products
and stamp duty. Additionally,
retrofitted show homes could help
educate the public on energy efficiency measures.
www.policyconnect.org.uk/wsbf