Renewable Energy Installer December/January 2014 | Page 38

Knowledge: The year ahead
Staying in control
Shining bright: Rising fuel costs will turn the
spotlight on energy effi ciency and renewables
during 2014, says Plumb Center’s Tim Pollard
Continued from page 36
now and we can look forward to continued
exposure and growth.  We believe strongly
that energy monitoring and management,
including storage, will be key focus areas
but we recognise that challenges will
be faced relating to grid infrastructure
capabilities and DNO/planning limitations. 
We look forward to working with and
supporting the industry throughout and
hope that 2014 is a positive year for all
involved in the renewables sector.”
Last but by no means least, energy
effi ciency also looks set to be a dominant
theme of 2014 with Plumb Center rooting
for the continued expansion of Green Deal.
Head of sustainability, Tim Pollard, says:
“With fuel costs on the rise again, lots
of people are talking about the need for
energy improvements. In 2014 we’d like the
industry, the government and the public to
come together to improve the effi ciency of
our buildings.
“We support all initiatives which aim
to improve the energy effi ciency of our
homes, so we’re excited by the launch of
the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive
(RHI) in the spring, and are looking forward
to more Green Deal updates next year.”
38 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
Garry Broadbent, director at Lifestyle Heating,
tips energy monitoring devices to be the big
technological development in 2014 as consumers look
for simple ways to cut energy consumption and utility
bills.
“I feel that the new easy-to-apply energy
monitoring equipment that is now coming to the
market will be one of the key areas of technology
during 2014 which has real potential to assist our
industry,” he says.
“These monitoring systems are able to move
the application of energy effi cient equipment and
renewables forward at a great pace due to the
visibility provided in highlighting easy-to-reach areas
within a site where energy use can be reduced.
“Importantly many of these waste reduction
applications do not need subsidies as the savings
that are generated from the work they do make their
application worthwhile. This alone should make the
renewable installer sit up and take note as we move
towards the next Year.”
Next big thing: Lifestyle Heating’s
Garry Broadbent highlights
energy monitoring devices as a
potentially lucrative business
opportunity for renewable energy
installers during the new year
Standard bearer
The renewable heating
industry will enjoy sustained
growth following the launch
of the domestic RHI as
long as strenuous efforts
are made to maintain high
installation standards, says
Andy Boroughs, managing
director of Organic Energy.
He adds: “With the
right choice of renewable
heating system and installer,
householders will be reaping
the benefi t and so will the
industry of the domestic
Risk assessment: The industry must be swift to eradicate
RHI. But this opportunity
possible cowboys if it is to prosper under the domestic RHI,
says Organic Energy’s Andy Boroughs
comes with a risk - either
that it is not properly geared
up to cope with demand or that the market is fl ooded with ineffi cient systems sold by
cowboys, as we saw with solar PV when the FiT was introduced.”