A Boiler Scrappage Scheme - The Story So Far!

As soon as the Car Scrappage scheme was announced, I thought that it would be an even better idea to have a Boiler Scrappage scheme.

After all, there is estimated to be more than 4.5 million old inefficient boilers still in use that are officially rated at less than 70% efficient. Very many of these will be even less efficient, depending on their condition and service history. Replacing these old inefficient boilers with modern condensing boilers and controls will save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from spewing into the atmosphere each year and this could go a long way to helping the government to achieve it's reduction targets.

As everyone knows, construction has been particularly badly hit in this recession and a scheme such as this would benefit the heating sector of the industry by creating demand and helping to keep thousands of industry people from redundancy. Rising unemployment has a double whammy effect for the country as unemployed people don't pay taxes, but they do receive increased benefits.

Lastly, householders would benefit by saving cash on their gas bills every single year. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that an average household can save about £250 a year, so it is not to be sniffed at.

Back in May the very first posting to my new blog asked 'Let's have a Boiler Scrappage Scheme' and then, in June, I read an article about how Worcester Bosch was also calling for a scrappage scheme.

"That's it", I thought to myself, "Get off of your bum and do something about it!" So, I started a petition on the number10 website boilerscrappage

It had a fairly low key start, with family, friends and Williams & Co staff giving it a boost, until I started to mention it on Twitter. Since then, it has had enthusiastic support from the online trade press, particularly Fiona Horne (@feehorne) and Ellie Dawes (@mrsjelly) who have encouraged and supported me from day one. Thank you, ladies!

Through Twitter, I had an offer of help from Sian Berry, (@sianberry) who was the Green Party candidate for the position of Mayor of London last year and is an experienced campaigner. I thought carefully about it for about 2 seconds and said "Yes, please!" Sian brings to the campaign, many skills and contacts that I don't have and we have also been lucky enough to enlist the help of Gary Dunion (@garydunion) as our Press Officer. I am very happy to have the help of Sian & Gary while we work to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion.

The first job for the team was to create a dedicated website and that they did in just a few days. Take a look at it here: reheatbritain

I'm chuffed to bits that we have more than 350 signatures as I write this update, with support from all sectors of the heating industry and growing support from environmentalists.

The MD of PTS, Alan Ball, has signed and PTS have issued a press release supporting the petition. Carl Arntzen, the Worcester Sales Director has signed and they are going to feature the petition in their newsletters to installers and merchants and Charlie Mullins, MD of Pimlico Plumbers has signed and pledged his support.

This is just the start! The website was only launched a couple of days ago and I am looking forward to next week when I hope to reach the magic number of 500 signatures which will usually ensure a response to a petition from the Prime Minister, one of his officers or a minister.

This campaign has come a long way since my first blog in May. We are well on the way to my first target of signatures, we have a brilliant Campaign Manager and Press Officer, a pretty damn cool website and lots of support from diverse sections of the community.

BRING IT ON!