Earlier this year, the UK Government announced updates to its energy efficiency scheme, Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Starting in April 2013, ECO continues to evolve and the latest amendments came into force from 1st April 2017. Part of meeting the requirements includes selecting the appropriate boiler, and this is where we can help.

The announcement of ECO2t followed last year’s ECO: Help to Heat consultation, where stakeholders agreed to focus the scheme more on installations that made the most impact on reducing fuel poverty. It was decided to extend ECO2 by 18 months, resulting in what is now called ECO2t, which reflects moving from ECO2 to ECO3. The transition period is between 1st April 2017 and 30th September 2018 so now over the next year there will be an even bigger push on heating systems that help to reduce carbon emissions, increase the energy efficiency of buildings and tackle fuel poverty.

So, how can we help? We pride ourselves on creating incredibly efficient boilers that prioritise the needs of both installers and homeowners. As well as being easy to install with straightforward guidance on servicing and maintaining our models, we’ve developed products that meet the heating and hot water demands of a busy household that also help to reduce energy bills. We’ve also made sure to include boilers suited to a variety of budgets, with smaller households benefitting from the small but mighty E-Tec, and larger households better suited to our innovative FlowSmart.

And don’t forget, boiler controls can also make a significant difference to the efficiency of a heating system. In fact, independent tests carried out at Salford University’s Energy House in 2013 showed that energy consumption in a typical UK house can be reduced by up to 40% by installing a room thermostat and a full set of thermostatic radiator valves. We have plenty of options to help you control the energy the boiler uses, ultimately helping to reduce both carbon emissions and the amount spent on energy.

Finally, if you are an Alpha installer it is worthwhile having a look at the scheme set up by Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC) earlier this year. Launched to give installers a voice in shaping industry, government regulations and schemes like ECO, Installers First is a great resource and also includes manuals for our products!