The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering wants all plumbers and heating engineers to help customers cope with the rising cost of fuel.
With major energy suppliers raising their prices by almost 20% it has become imperative, says the CIPHE, for plumbers and heating engineers to advise members of the public of ways to reduce their energy bills.
Acting Chief Executive Kevin Wellman commented, “The rise in energy prices has added £200 to the average cost of running a home and with another cold winter on the horizon it’s very important to address the issue of energy saving. Plumbers and heating engineers have a lot of expertise in these matters and even simple jobs like explaining how people can adjust their thermostats effectively could really help.”
The CIPHE recently published a blog post aimed at consumers, explaining how plumbers and heating engineers could help them reduce their energy consumption without compromising their health.
Added Kevin, “Local authorities can help some people with schemes like the Warm Homes Discount, which is paid for by the energy supplier and will be available to those who qualify and apply early enough. What they cannot do is help everyone to pay their bills and they cannot help people to save energy. The plumbing and heating industry can do this and I believe it has an obligation to help as many people as possible.”
The CIPHE believes that energy saving is preferable to providing short-term financial relief, although it recognises there is a need for both.
Said Kevin, “If we continue helping UK households to save energy we’ll be saving them money in the long-term and bringing us closer to our environmental targets. It really is the best way forward.”