Gas has 50-60 years left, is it a dying trade?

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

I think the time scale will be much longer for change but look back and compare.

Combi boilers only 40 years old. System boilers in this country since 1980s and condensing boilers here only a few years. 50 years ago it was all back boilers.
1960/70 people though warm air was the bees knees but it didn't take off
In most of the USA warm air IS the bees knees - they don't understand radiators.

So heating systems have always been changing and will continue to do so at a remarkably slow pace!
And I think technologies will change so what really does become the dominant heating model of the future is unpredictable.

I said on similar thread, hubby & are are in our 40s but with little kids we could still be at work for 20-30 years! I am confident that gas central heating as we know it will continue to be the main form of heating in British homes throughout my working life time.

 

[unguided1]

you know what a load of balloney!!!

i never have got that reconning in my brain, the worlds governments allow de-forestation allover the world then blame us as people to cut down the co2's?????/7
plantation feed on co2 and give of o2.

by the way, do you think we will ever be able to create our own methane plant in our back yards?.

your absolutely right Redsaw but it is just a thought and no I do not think we would be producing gas on a domestic scale.

 

[Kimou]

AGW is a myth. The whole C02 gimmick is unproven. The whole theory is based on the sun as a constant. The sun is not a constant. C02 levels on the planet have been fluctuating for millions of years. We've only started measuring from last century. How can we make comparisons?! Conclusion: Beaurocracy makes a bloody fortune.

 

[kay-jay]

by the way, do you think we will ever be able to create our own methane plant in our back yards?.

i sure hope so, god knows the dog produces enough!

 

[fuzzy]

with so much effort going into it the governments dont think its a myth, so this is a red herring, change will happen myth or not

 

[unguided1]

I keep hearing that Gas will not be going into new builds after a certain date I spoke to Gas Safe about 6 months ago about this and they denied all knowledge of it but I will bring this question up when I go to the meeting on the 18/7/11

 

[Kimou]

It benefits gov'ts to be seen to comply. And employ biased research facilities to produce statistics in their favour. Current practices are not sustainable. They make money, businesses make money, therefore it's good for the economy so it's a good thing. That doesn't detract from the facts. C02 is not proven to be on the rise due to fossil fuels. It that has nothing to do with AGW. The argument for and against is dependent many times on what people want to believe and what sounds most convincing. It's an a priori really. I am not convinced. I'm agnostic.

 

[That Extra Mile]

We were told oil would run out decades ago. Think about the economics. As gas (and oil) become more scarce values rise. As values rise sources that were previously uneconomic become viable and so more becomes available. Also, as mentioned, there's a lot of talk about biogas being introduced as a green alternative. Gas use will certainly reduce with the introduction of renewables but I think it'll be here for a long while yet!

 

[fuzzy]

we have ample coal reserves, no crisis there, its natural gas which we have far less of, or its so difficult to get at its not cost effective.

the are alternatives, but which ever way we go natural gas will not be around for ever. I estimate 20-30 years based on reserves of 50-60 years at best. the op asked about gas fitters, i know plumbers will diversify naturally. gas fitters less so, will the trade stop? isolated gas fitters i mean

 

[SimonG]

we have ample coal reserves, no crisis there, its natural gas which we have far less of, or its so difficult to get at its not cost effective.

the are alternatives, but which ever way we go natural gas will not be around for ever. I estimate 20-30 years based on reserves of 50-60 years at best. the op asked about gas fitters, i know plumbers will diversify naturally. gas fitters less so, will the trade stop? isolated gas fitters i mean

Fuzzy, can I ask why you think gas fitters are less likely to diversify?

 

[BikerBen]

My friend is a gas engineer (the one who may help me get on the ladder) and he has been busy getting new qualifications in refridgeration recently at college and has now gained the required qualifications to work. He is lucky however as he works for the maintenance contracter for a large supermarket chain and therefore had easy access to refridgeration on a daily basis.

Being someone who is considering investing my time and money in becomming a gas engineer this news is worrying to say the least!

 

[fuzzy]

Fuzzy, can I ask why you think gas fitters are less likely to diversify?

Of course, i think plumbers already diversify, into gas, renewables, oil or what ever it takes. Gas engineers are imo experts in gas and better than most plumbers at the all round gas work. So from the two, one already diversifies and one doesnt. Dont mean they wont i just feel its more of a change for them than plumbers