Who's backing the scheme?
Hundreds of people who support the plumbing and building industries, as well as green campaigners and householders, have already signed the petition for a Boiler Scrappage scheme.
Mick Williams - petition creator:
The petition for a Boiler Scrappage scheme was started by Mick Williams of Williams and Co, a trade-only plumbers' merchant in the South of England.
Mick says:
"As soon as the car scrappage scheme was announced I thought how much more successful a 'boiler scrappage' scheme would be.
"It is estimated that there are still 4.5 million old boilers that are rated at less than 70% efficient. Replacing these with modern condensing gas boilers and controls could save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide pouring into our atmosphere each year.
"This scheme would also stimulate demand for gas boilers and help manufacturers, plumbers merchants and Gas Safe heating engineers, boosting thousands of small businesses just when the economy needs it."
Green campaigners:
Tony Juniper, Green parliamentary candidate for Cambridge & former director of Friends of the Earth
"A boiler scrappage scheme would help the country deal with energy security, climate change and economic challenges all at once.
"By cutting emissions, saving resources and creating jobs a national boiler replacement programme would be a powerful example of the kind of joined-up policy we need for the future. Everyone should sign the petition to back it"
Andrew Warren, Director of the Association for the Conservation of Energy
"A Boiler Scrappage Scheme will have all the benefits of the scheme for cars but go even further: It will save more carbon, reduce fuel bills, and help preserve our nation’s dwindling energy supplies.
"It will create vital jobs for vital British industries, giving us green, affordable and healthy homes. Let’s stop the gas-guzzlers now!"
Dave Hampton, the Carbon Coach
"Few people realise just how much fuel an old boiler can be wasting, day in day out. So they put off the day they 'Rip it out and start again.'
"But with a boiler scrappage scheme everyone wins, apart from companies selling you gas you don't need of course!"
Simon Birkett, founder of the Campaign for Clean Air in London
"There is a major policy synergy between air quality and climate change. A scrappage scheme would be an ideal way to speed up the replacement of millions of domestic, commercial and industrial gas boilers to reduce emissions of harmful oxides of nitrogen (NOx) as well as carbon dioxide (CO2).
"The UK's failure to tackle harmful emissions in the least 10 years has recently made it the largest producer of NOx of any country in Europe and set to breach the legally binding National Emission Ceilings Directive in 2010. As well as backing a national scheme, the Campaign for Clean Air in London urges Mayor Johnson to include a boiler scrappage scheme in his Air Quality plan for London."
Ellie Dawes, production editor of environmental
website edie.net and BuildersMerchantsJournal.net
"If Mick's idea goes ahead it will give a helping hand to the UK's struggling construction industry while ALSO helping to reduce the impact of household energy consumption on the environment.
"The householder could also save around a third on their heating bills. So as the recent car scrappage scheme has been reported to be a success, surely having a similar scheme to persuade people to replace their old inefficient boiler is a no-brainer?"
Industry voices:
Mike Reed, a Heating Engineer from Hampshire
"Old boilers, particularly open flue old boilers, can be far more inefficient than people think
"It is a great idea and would be beneficial to everyone"
Mark Kelly, CEO
Baxi Group UK & Ireland
"There are approximately 16 million standard efficiency boilers operating in UK homes today. Of these, 4.2 million [according to HHIC] are SEDBUK band G boilers.
"Replacing these boilers with high efficiency boilers will help to reduce carbon emissions and annual fuel bills for homeowners. Any support that can be provided to accelerate the replacement of these older boilers would be of benefit to the homeowner and the wider economy."
Clive Dickin, Chief Executive, Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors
"Having carefully considered the idea of a boiler scrappage scheme, I am persuaded of the very sound reasoning behind it. The scheme would deliver positive outcomes for many different parties, including homeowners, installers, merchants and manufacturers. Installing new condensing boilers with Band A efficiency ratings would also help the Government meet its environmental targets.
"With the car scrappage scheme having kick-started that industry again, I can see no reason why the Government shouldn’t strongly consider this scheme for our industry – if anything, the case for it is even stronger.
"I commend Mick Williams for starting a petition on the Number 10 website, which has helped to give prominence to the issue. I have signed it, as have many other members of the APHC Board. I would urge others in the industry to get behind this campaign. If the Government were to investigate the viability of this scheme, APHC would be more than willing to offer its expertise."
Neil Schofield, Head of Sustainable Development, Worcester Bosch Group
"It is fantastic to see key players in the heating industry getting involved in something that could dramatically change the way the Government views the industry.
"I have already signed my name to the petition and I urge all of you to join us."
Claudia Hathway, Editor, Heating & Ventilation News
"This scheme is hugely important for the heating industry, as well as the environment. Consumers are aware of their obligations to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, but they lack the practical guidance on how to do it. This scheme gives them a tangible objective, and offers them cost savings too - it's a complete win-win. The Government simply must implement this scheme."
Charlie Mullins, MD of Pimlico Plumbers
"I'm 100% behind the Boiler Scrappage Scheme because it makes sense on so many different levels.
"Obviously,
in these tough economic times it is a great way of stimulating demand,
which will help keep Britain working and from an environmental point of
view, every time we take out one of these old boilers we help the
country meet its carbon reduction targets."
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NEW: Petition to the Northern Ireland Assembly
Click on the map to find out how to push for boiler scrappage in Northern Ireland - the only place in the UK set to miss out!
Cross-party support:
Mark Lazarowicz, Labour MP for Edinburgh North & Leith
"Rising fuel prices and the need to help families heat their homes affordably are serious issues that I have worked hard to address, as well as pressing for more rapid progress against climate change.
"I'm supporting the Reheat Britain campaign because a boiler scrappage scheme would not only help the plumbing and heating industries through the recession, it would help tackle these urgent problems as well."
Martin Horwood MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Minister
"What a brilliant idea. As a green counter-recessionary measure this is far more likely to save significant carbon emissions than a car scrappage scheme.
"We urgently need to tackle emissions at local and household level and this would make a real difference while helping to protect threatened jobs as well."
Sian Berry, 2008 Green Mayor of London candidate
"As soon as I saw this petition, I knew I had to sign it straight away.
"There's no downside to the boiler scrappage idea - it'll help small and medium-sized businesses across the country, boost UK manufacturing and help homeowners cut their bills and their carbon."
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LibDem councillor David Cox, Teignbridge District Council, Devon
"The Reheat Britain boiler scrappage scheme is brilliant bit of joined up thinking, we want to show our support for the campaign.
"Local government is obviously well placed to deliver a boiler scrappage scheme if central government will fund it; however we want to see if the council could operate a small scale boiler scrappage scheme, because the great benefits to local people such a scheme would bring in terms of boosting our small businesses, helping to reduce fuel costs, and doing our bit in the fight against climate change."
(Teignbridge District Council has passed a motion unanimously backing the campaign)
Ask your MP to sign our Early Day Motion
MPs from all parties have signed up to a motion in Parliament backing the Reheat Britain campaign.
Help the campaign by asking your MP to back EDM 2076 today.
You can find and contact your MP in a few minutes via www.writetothem.com
Alan Ball, MD of PTS plumbing trade suppliers
"Not only could the boiler scrappage scheme result in financial benefits but it could also help with environmental targets.
"The installation of high efficiency boilers will help to cut fuel bills whilst increasing demand in all sectors of the industry. It's up to us to push for change and let the Government know that new schemes need to be put in place."
Mary Lamont, Lamont Plumbing Services, Stamford, Lincs
"The boiler scrappage scheme cannot fail to work. It encourages consumers to reduce their carbon output and saves them money.
"The scheme would stimulate an industry that has struggled in the current economic climate and helps the UK meet carbon reduction targets. This would highlight the UK's commitment to carbon reduction to the rest of the world."
Blane Judd, Chief Executive, The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering
"The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering as the professional body for the sector support the petition to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme for the following reasons:
"With 84% of energy consumption in the home coming from heating and hot water, inefficient systems are a significant contributor to waste energy and hence excessive unnecessary carbon generation. Replacing a boiler over ten years old with a new more efficient one could reduce energy consumption by a third.
"By installing high efficiency boilers in every home the energy saved would be enough to provide heating and power for almost 2 million homes, and by applying the minimum standards of controls, homes would save over 2000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and over 600 million tonnes of carbon every year."
David Mooney of Gas Angel Heating
"From a small business point of view the scheme is fantastic, not just for the enviroment but for the heating indusry as a whole."
David Holmes, Boiler Guide
"A boiler scrappage scheme would be a welcome move for the UK economy and environment whilst also assisting consumers within these difficult times with lower heating bills"
Fiona Russell-Horne, Editor of BuildersMerchantJournal.net
"A Scrappage Scheme for boilers is a great idea. There are hundreds of thousands of inefficient but functional boilers out there which are unlikely to be replaced until they actually break down.
"All that's needed is a little incentive to replace them. This would help to cut household CO2 emissions, as well as saving homeowners energy and money. Moreover, it would provide a much-needed business boost in the current recession."
Heatinginstallers.com
"We support the boiler scrappage scheme as it would be a great way to replace the older less efficient boilers with new modern A-rated boilers. Helping to cut household CO2 emissions"
