News

Apr 13, 2021, 13:04 PM by OFTEC

A new survey has found the majority of rural households are unable or unwilling to pay for the green heating measures outlined in the government’s current proposals, raising questions over whether plans to reduce emissions from homes are achievable.

Apr 6, 2021, 12:29 PM by OFTEC Ireland

A public consultation put forward by the Government has suggested that Biofuels could be an option for the future of home heating. OFTEC, the trade association for the liquid fuel industry, has welcomed Dianne Dodds inclusion of bio-fuels in a paper on Energy Strategy options as a realistic and affordable step in the right direction for the 500,000 homes in NI using liquid fuelled heating systems.

Mar 23, 2021, 17:13 PM by OFTEC

A new report has revealed people working from home have been paying an extra £45 a month in energy costs during lockdown, raising concerns that fuel poor households are being pushed into further financial difficulty.

Mar 22, 2021, 15:55 PM by OFTEC

"The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report underlines OFTEC and UKIFDA’s long held concerns that government has seriously underestimated the cost of upgrading the energy efficiency of UK homes, particularly those off the gas grid".

Mar 17, 2021, 10:00 AM by OFTEC

OFTEC registered technicians looking to expand into the renewables sector should sign up now for the second in a series of free interactive webinars hosted by OFTEC and MCS, which goes out live on Friday 19 March at 2pm.

Mar 4, 2021, 10:17 AM by OFTEC

Responding to the 2021 Budget, OFTEC Chief Executive Paul Rose said: "The Chancellor didn’t hold back in outlining the financial toll the Covid-19 pandemic has taken on the UK economy, so it’s perhaps not surprising there were very few new green announcements, other than re-commitments to existing policies.

Mar 2, 2021, 10:22 AM by OFTEC

OFTEC registered heating technicians looking to expand into the renewables market can find out how to make the most of this business opportunity thanks to a new series of free, interactive virtual briefings hosted by OFTEC in partnership with MCS.

Feb 25, 2021, 11:09 AM by OFTEC Ireland

From testing Carbon Monoxide alarms to knowing your EPC, here are top tips for making the move a smooth one.

Feb 23, 2021, 15:02 PM by OFTEC

Households are urged to be vigilant against cold callers, suspicious messages and rogue traders after a growing number of new scams have emerged during lockdown.

Feb 11, 2021, 11:27 AM by OFTEC

Industry experts have outlined five energy trends and technologies households can expect to see during the 2020s as the government ramps up action on climate change.

Feb 10, 2021, 17:09 PM by OFTEC

New industry research has raised important questions over whether government’s current approach to decarbonising off gas grid homes is achievable unless rural households are offered a significant increase in funding to cover the high costs involved.

Feb 1, 2021, 10:14 AM by OFTEC Ireland

Recent findings published by Energy Saving Trust revealed that nearly all UK homeowners polled (96%) are concerned about their home energy efficiency (*1), whilst previous surveys have found 22% of Northern Irish households to be living in fuel poverty. In Northern Ireland, a household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on energy costs.

Jan 26, 2021, 11:45 AM by OFTEC Ireland

Winter lockdown ramps up fuel demand as householders brace themselves for an icy blast this week as Storm Christoph pulls away from the UK to be replaced by plunging temperatures across the country.

Jan 21, 2021, 10:41 AM by OFTEC

As a three-month campaign to help UK households reduce their energy consumption and fuels bills draws to a close, industry experts have shared their top tips for keeping warm whilst cutting costs over winter.

Dec 29, 2020, 11:48 AM by OFTEC Ireland

As we come to the end of a year most people will be glad to see the back of, we look at some of the mistakes people have made in 2020 with their home heating systems and how you can avoid a repeat in 2021.

Dec 24, 2020, 09:45 AM by OFTEC

Households across the UK are being reminded to regularly check up on vulnerable relatives, neighbours and friends this winter to ensure they are keeping warm and well.

Dec 22, 2020, 17:04 PM by OFTEC

An almost 20% rise in excess deaths last winter, excluding those from Covid-19, is a stark reminder of the urgent need to improve the UK’s poorly insulated homes so they are warmer and fit for a net zero future.

Dec 15, 2020, 09:38 AM by OFTEC

Any consultation arising from the Government’s long anticipated Heat in Buildings strategy must allow a genuine discussion on all the options to decarbonise rural homes, otherwise thousands of households could suffer severe financial consequences, warns OFTEC.

Dec 10, 2020, 09:05 AM by OFTEC

Malcolm Farrow, Head of Public Affairs at OFTEC, comments: “OFTEC welcomes the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) Sixth Carbon Budget report which clearly sets out the scale of the UK’s challenge to reach net zero, particularly in heating.

Nov 27, 2020, 14:50 PM by OFTEC

As the weather begins to turn colder, a campaign has launched to raise awareness of the support available to vulnerable households who might be worrying about paying their heating bills this winter.