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15m in Fuel Poverty Crisis

By 2009 it is estimated that around 5.7 million households in Britain will be in fuel poverty status. Almost a quarter of the population, most of them on low income will be affected by the increasing cost of heating and energy.Fuel poverty, defined as a situation where a household spends more than ten per cent of their income on heating and energy bills, will increase substantially over the coming months, according to the National Housing Federation.According to latest estimates, electricity bills are likely to go us to more than £500, with gas bills to go above £900 by 2010. The report by the National Housing Federation confirms that there a full scale energy crisis according to Ruth Davidson from the Federation. Ms Davidson said: “Ministers need to grasp the nettle and take strong and radical action to protect the nations energy customers.“Energy companies must be regulated so that they can no longer charge prepayment meter customers grotesquely high tariffs, ...
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OFTEC Fights the Oil Boilers' Corner in Brussels

OFTEC (the Oil Firing Technical Association) is putting pressure on the EU to ensure the UK and the Republic of Ireland continue to use oil for boiler heating and cooking.Currently the EU Commission has tabled a proposal that is set to reduce the permitted level of NOx emissions from central heating boilers dramatically from 250mg/kWh to as low as 35 mg/kWh. These changes are part of the Eco-Design of Energy Using Products Directive (EUPD), which is due to pass into UK national law in 2009.OFTECs Technical Director Alan Black questioned the proposals at the latest consultation in Brussels via the organisations European partner Eurofuel. The proposal threatens the viability of using boiler fired boilers in the UK. He commented that “in order to achieve the lower levels of NOx, it is required to have a much larger burner and boiler that is the norm in the UK. Within Europe, most boiler installations are within purpose build boiler rooms or in cellars, while in the UK and the Republ ...
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