renewable

[Nostrum]

Who's being forced into installations they don't want?

The incentives available are just that, there is still an upfront cost the customer needs to cough up. The idea being an up skill in the heating industry which will make the products more mainstream and reduce the costs.

Currently renewables are a niche that seem to attract a high price tag ( not in our case I will say)

Also, look at solar P.V. Prices have dropped 50%+ in 3 years. At the time everyone was saying the jobs couldn't get done for the price but low and behold the install carried on going in and companies (the good ones) carried on making a profit. The bad ones folded as the margins meant only the savvy business's could make it work.

We are stimulating interest in a market to promote growth through investment.

The sharks appear in any line of business, it's the consumers duty to ensure they aren't being fed a pack of lies.

As for price hikes were already paying 50% more for our energy than we were 5 years ago! For many this is exactly why considering another technology is so appealing.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Who's being forced into installations they don't want?

Anyone doing a new-build under existing proposals for zero carbon. (although it has recently been watered down Im pleased to say).

 

[Nostrum]

Would the same be said for any other building regulation, electrical safety, fire, structure, sound?

I think the vast majority of people would welcome an insulated energy efficient home. It's the builders who's profit margin are effected who oppose the change.

If we let everyone do what they wanted unregulated I think would be in trouble.

It seems we are more worried about the cost involved instead of doing the right thing. We are at the mercy of energy suppliers unfortunately, the sooner they loose their grasp the better everyone's life's will be (unlikely to ever happen, especially if people continue to voluntarily depend on them so much through their energy usage)

it wont be long before we are being charged for the air we breathe.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Anyone doing a new-build under existing proposals for zero carbon. (although it has recently been watered down Im pleased to say).

All the new builds I am currently involved are gas related

 

[kris]

All the new builds I am currently involved are gas related

Same here , all my ones are gas , only ive been approached by an architect who works soley on newbuilds with renewables and he has assured me once i have my air , ground source and solar thermal hel keep me constantly busy with them, and this i believe as he to is out the door with these projects and at the moment hes having to take in guys from afar as no one local does them,,,

 

[Worcester]

Also, look at solar P.V. Prices have dropped 50%+ in 3 years. At the time everyone was saying the jobs couldn't get done for the price but low and behold the install carried on going in and companies (the good ones) carried on making a profit. The bad ones folded as the margins meant only the savvy business's could make it work.

That only came about with the drop in price of materials, it still costs us the same (and we still charge the same) for the installation element...

And in all our sectors we charge reasonable prices that need to cover all our costs - including margin else we too would go bump - the estimating, and design costs are quite phenomenal on some jobs.

 

[Nostrum]

That only came about with the drop in price of materials, it still costs us the same (and we still charge the same) for the installation element...

And in all our sectors we charge reasonable prices that need to cover all our costs - including margin else we too would go bump - the estimating, and design costs are quite phenomenal on some jobs.

Worcester, that is bull**** and you know it!

I was involved in P.V at the time the government dropped the FIT rate, the profit margins were extraordinary for both the suppliers and the installers. I was also a member of the sun lounge

Suddenly the suppliers were able to offer the same materials for 60% and no longer was every man and their dog interested in becoming solar installers as the margins weren't nearly as good in order for the investment figures to stack up.

You can see it now with the RHI already, claims of x% return on investment, which is exactly what the RHI is not about. Funnily enough it is the same crowd trying to push renewable heat in this way who were on the solar band wagon.

 

[Worcester]

Don't tar us all with the same brush.
Yes some were and still are rip off merchants..
You will get those in any business area.

Some if us do it properly and consult with clients as to their needs and wants , - we don't employ a commission based sakes force. And with an average enquiry to install time of 6 months, it is a considered decision for our clients.

 

[Nostrum]

I'm not tarring Worcester

but anyone who says they were not making extrodinarily good profit from P.V in the golden day (42.2p tariff) is not being truthful. The fact is the bar was set on a 10% return for the customer despite the fact the jobs were going in for a lot less than this. The industry set the installation cost and the profit margins were high, hence why everyone got involved.

Unless you were installing for 3-4k under the going rate, your margins were considerably higher than most other lines of business ( with the exception of being an independant plumbers merchant based across the south!! )

Business is business, and the market dictates what the costs are, the customers still got a fantastic return at the end of the day, but there wasn't a solar installer in the country at that time who didn't have a healthy bank balance, and many are now 'renewable energy experts' having jumped ship when P.V started sinking.

Don't take that personally, you are obviously very well educated in the renewable heating trade, probably more so than the majority of heating installers! When I need help with anything renewable related, your comments would be the one of the ones I aim to receive. Unfortunately though, many aren't I think we would agree?