OFTEC 12

News

OFTEC annual conference – mapping out pathways towards decarbonisation

Decarbonisation was a key theme of OFTEC’s 2018 annual conference in June, which informed members and guests on the opportunities to reduce emissions from rural homes in support of the government’s Clean Growth Strategy. During the event, OFTEC’s CEO, Paul Rose, provided an overview of the current situation and reported on progress made since the launch of OFTEC’s two stage strategy to decarbonise off-grid homes 12 months earlier. OFTEC plans focus on an incentivised programme to upgrade the 400,000 old, inefficient oil boilers still in use across England and Wales. This would provide immediate carbon reduction wins of up to 20% per household and pave the way for a low carbon liquid fuel as soon as it becomes available. OFTEC has lobbied MPs, policy makers and other stakeholders to explain the advantages of this approach and highlight the practical difficulties and potential cost to rural consumers of other decarbonisation options.
3 min read

Opinion

The future of liquid fuels in Ireland

By David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager – There are around 1.2million oil-fired homes in Ireland and the market and legislative framework is different to that operating in GB. While we have a building control requirement in Northern Ireland (if a structural alteration takes place such as a new low-level flue) there is no requirement for any notification in the Republic and limited input from local enforcement in both jurisdictions in replacement boiler scenarios.
3 min read

Insight

Women in the heating industry – why aren’t there more?

Of more than 9,000 OFTEC registered technicians, fewer than 30 are female. Perhaps some readers will be surprised it’s even that many, whilst others will feel, like OFTEC, that the number should be much higher. Particularly given the shortage of skilled heating engineers, it’s perhaps disappointing that more women haven’t seen the many potential advantages of this career choice – especially those that are not inspired by the thought of office work!
3 min read