News 17

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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.

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Ireland adopts OFTEC syllabus for oil training

SOLAS, the State Organisation with responsibility for funding, planning and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland is now using OFTEC oil assessments as part of the Phase 4 plumbing curriculum.

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When is a fire barrier required?

Contrary to general opinion, a fire barrier is not there to stop an oil tank fire spreading to a neighbouring building or adjacent boundary but is to protect the oil tank from a fire originating from within a building.

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Oil Installer hits the screens!

Over the years, the popular BBC satirical programme, Have I Got News For You, has featured some obscure, if not esoteric, magazines in its “missing words” round – including publications such as Drain Trader, Potato Storage International, Lighthouse World, Modern Ferret, Teddy Bear Times, and even Fuel Oil News.  So when Oil Installer popped up on the screen recently, it seemed quite normal… and in good company!

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Introducing OFTEC’s vision for the future of off-grid domestic heating…

As reported in the last issue of Oil Installer, OFTEC’s vision document is designed to influence government policy at a time when the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is still considering the responses to its domestic heating consultation, which finished in January.

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Life on Worcester’s production line… Neil and Peter build their boilers

Peter Clayton of Oil Installer with the result of his “Build a Boiler” day at Clay Cross A lucky installer and a representative of Oil Installer have been given a feel for life on the production line at the Worcester Bosch Group’s specialist oil boiler factory in Clay Cross, Derbyshire – both taking home a brand new appliance built on the day.

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James serves a niche market – and looks forward to a prosperous future for oil

Because of his rural catchment area, ten years ago James Mead saw a gap in the market for a professional installation and maintenance business, specialising in all aspects of oil heating. That was the birth of Reading-based Redlands Property Services and since then, James has continuously expanded his company and the services he provides.