It isn’t often that a Silver and Diamond Anniversary are celebrated in the same year, but for Cambridge-based energy efficiency specialists, Green Heat Ltd and founder, Peter Thom, 2015 will mark a momentous double milestone in the heating industry.
From his beginnings as an apprentice with Eastern Gas in 1965, Peter Thom has since witnessed, campaigned for and successfully instigated some major changes in the world of energy-saving. He has been at the forefront of many of the industry’s own milestones which have themselves helped to shape significant developments in energy conservation for the future.
Since Green Heat was established by Peter 25 years ago with the aim of making more homes energy efficient and bringing affordable warmth to more people, the company has helped to make substantial reductions to household fuel bills. Over the past two and half decades Green Heat has trained over 65,000 people in energy efficiency, assessed and surveyed nearly 100,000 dwellings and buildings and helped its clients to save over 680,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) – that’s the equivalent of 3.6 million double decker buses, or enough to fill over half a million hot air balloons measuring 10m wide.
A dedicated environmentalist, Peter has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of energy efficiency in the domestic market. Over an impressive 50 years in the industry, he has been instrumental in getting climate change and energy efficiency not only on the political agenda, but at the top of it.
One of his key objectives in setting up Green Heat was to develop and introduce a methodology to measure and rate the energy efficiency of homes. Peter explains: “Back in 1990 energy efficiency was only concerned with draught proofing windows and insulating cylinders, with no recognition of efficient heating. But if you can measure something, you can manage it and set targets for improvement.
“We pioneered and developed home energy ratings and lobbied to get these into Building Regulations. We succeeded in 1995, when SAP Ratings were first required by Part L of the Building Regulations. Since then, SAP ratings have been woven into all energy saving legislation and Government schemes.
“Our second mission was to encourage the wider use of high efficiency condensing boilers and better heating and hot water controls. In 1990 we were one of only a very few heating companies promoting and installing this technology. In 1997 I made several radical predictions in a paper given at the Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers (IDHEE) annual conference; one being that only condensing boilers should be available within the following 10 years and that open flue appliances should be phased out.
“This was met by a lot of opposition, but again we demonstrated the benefits and lobbied Government to enforce this through regulation. The result was that condensing boilers were eventually made a requirement in the 2005 Building Regulations.”
To prepare installers for this new requirement, Peter developed the Heating Installer Energy Efficiency Course and trained over 400 trainers who then delivered this training to over 65,000 heating installers.
These major developments in energy efficiency are now recognised as the two most significant changes to have been made to Building Regulations.
With condensing boilers now established as a standard requirement in Building Regulations, in 2009 Peter came up with the idea of introducing a Boiler Scrappage Scheme - loosely modelled on the Government's Car Scrappage Scheme – as another aid to cutting carbon emissions and saving on energy bills.
After lobbying ministers, civil servants and colleagues, the initial £50m scheme was launched, enabling householders to apply for vouchers from the Energy Saving Trust to replace their lowest ‘G’ rating boiler with an ‘A’-rated energy efficient model, or to install a renewable heating system.
The scheme was heralded a great success in environmental change, not only in reducing emissions and helping people cut down on their fuel bills, but also in helping to sustain work for the 130,000 installers and around 25 UK-based boiler manufacturers throughout the economic recovery.
Few can match Peter’s commitment, focus and drive to make energy efficient homes a reality for all.
“I suppose you could say I’ve been on a mission, but a mission that I believe is possible,” explained Peter. “Green Heat was specifically established to help more people understand energy efficiency and the benefits it brings to them as well as future generations in protecting our planet.
“Changing a long established mind-set is a challenge within any industry, but with many years’ working ‘on the front line’ and then teaming up with those who have the expertise to investigate and prove better alternatives, we’ve been able to demonstrate the significant benefits to Government and homeowners.”
Peter continues to drive this change. Training plays a vital role and through Green Heat, he works hard to help the supply chain understand the process of SAP ratings and how they can be used to sell energy efficiency through regular training sessions.
“Providing training is so important to widen the base of professional understanding throughout the industry,” said Peter. “This puts energy efficiency front of mind in business decision-making.”
Peter’s latest victory is to persuade the Government to amend its new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. “I’m a great supporter of the Green Deal, but was concerned that the small installer businesses were losing out to the big energy suppliers. So I made an FOI request. This revealed British Gas was securing more than 95 per cent of the Government’s cash back vouchers for boiler installations, leaving small installers out in the cold,” said Peter. “The scheme has now been opened up to smaller businesses and is much fairer and easier for the public to understand.”
Peter believes that there is still too much red tape and industry jargon preventing people improving their home’s efficiency. “There are so many products, services and solutions that promise to save us money and be kinder to the environment, that it’s baffling to a lot of people. The sheer volume of information is also causing many to question these offers. This confusion and mistrust leads to inaction, with the result that the UK has some of the most inefficient housing in Europe. People are wasting energy and paying much higher fuel bills than necessary,” He explained.
“We provide a truly unbiased service and suggest the most suitable solutions for each individual home. This includes budget costs, estimated payback and return on capital and environmental impact.”
Green Heat is now one of the country's leading energy efficiency companies. The contribution the company and Peter have made to the industry over five decades has been recognised year on year in an abundance of accolades.
In 2010 Peter was the inaugural winner of the John Cheshire Green Business Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the improvement of energy efficiency in the UK over the previous two years.
Green Heat has also been awarded H&V News’ Domestic Heating Installer of the Year two years running for helping homeowners with cost effective solutions to provide efficient and well-controlled heating and hot water systems. In 2009 Green Heat won both the CORGI Green Installer of the Year and the Gas Industry Energy Efficiency Award.
Peter continues to hold several prominent positions in the industry. He has been elected as President of the Institute of Domestic Heating and Environmental Engineers (IDHEE) for two separate terms and is currently Director. He has also been Chairman of the Government-backed Heating Strategy Group of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Buildings (EEPB) for over 12 years.
As a board member of the Heating & Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), Peter recently joined HHIC colleagues to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the compulsory condensing boiler with a special Parliamentary Reception in the House of Lords.
“Looking back, there has been definite progress,” added Peter. “There’s a much better awareness of energy efficiency today – among both public and political audiences – and more effective measures in place. However, there’s still a way to go and challenges ahead which need to be met head on to bring more efficient, affordable warmth to more homes.
“Over the next few years we hope to really push the fight against fuel poverty and raise the profile of water efficiency, both here in the UK and as a global issue facing the next generation.”
