Gas Archives - Options Skills

Free Renewables Training With Options Skills

Existing plumbers and gas and heating engineers can now claim free renewables training through Options Skills. In 2019, the UK Government committed to the Net-Zero target proposed by the Climate Change Committee. The target is to reduce emissions by 100% from 1990 levels by 2050. The UK requires significant updates to make this a reality – including infrastructure changes. Though it may sound ambitious, changes have already begun. Over the last few years, rumours circulated that the

Building Regulations Part L Update

What is the new Part L Update, and how will it impact existing and new heating engineers across England? Building Regulations Part L covers the conservation of fuel and power in the building of new homes in England. It establishes how energy-efficient new and existing homes should be. Based on the Part L update, new homes must produce 31% fewer carbon emissions than what was previously acceptable. Approved Document Part L1A: Covers the requirements for new homes

New Hydrogen Boiler Labels

Projects have been running behind the scenes in a bid to introduce hydrogen into our gas system. Ultimately, the goal is to decarbonise the UK, making homes more eco-friendly. As a result, there is an array of different boiler types, meaning new hydrogen boiler labels are necessary. Hy Deploy Project The first trial of the Hy Deploy project took place at Keele University from 2019 to 2021. The project involved simulating 12 years of boiler use using a

Essential Tools For Gas And Heating Engineers

Dave Judge, Gas Engineer and Director of Compliance, shares the essential tools for gas engineers to have in their kit, what brands to look out for and whether quality tools really have to cost a lot of money. So the most common questions we get asked as trainers are: What tools do I need? What brands should I buy? And what tools do you keep in your toolbox? These are straightforward questions, but there are no easy

Is Gas Engineering Still A Viable Career?

Gas engineering trainee working with copper pipes

With the increased media focus on gas prices, the environmental impact of fossil fuels, advances in hydrogen production, and the growth of the renewables industry, it is easy to believe that the use of natural gas has had its day and, in turn, as has gas engineering. The supply of natural gas is indeed getting scarcer by the year. It’s also indisputable that the use of fossil fuels is having a significant negative impact on our planet.

What Is A Heat Pump?

A heat pump is an alternative heat source to gas or electric boilers. They produce hot water for wet central heating systems, distributing heat to radiators and a stored hot water cylinder. They work by harvesting heat from the environment (either from the air or underground). Air Source Heat Pump In the case of ASHPs, a fan draws in the air. This air then passes over an evaporator containing a refrigerant gas which harvests the heat from

Domestic Heating Systems Explained

Trainees working in domestic heating systems

Heat pump technologies work more effectively with correctly designed domestic heating systems. But, before discussing the system design for heat pumps, it is worth examining the common system types used for domestic wet systems. The descriptions below are simplified and meant as a rough guide only. Conventional Domestic Heating Systems Conventional systems became affordable to the masses in the 1950s. They were popular until the 1970s when combi boilers were introduced. A conventional system uses a heat

Heating | Energy Saving Tips

Gas engineer and director of compliance at Options Skills, Dave Judge, shares how you can reduce your heating usage and bills this winter. With the ever-increasing rise in energy prices (Source: The Independent), it is prudent that everyone takes the time to ensure they are as energy conscious as possible. Heating your home can be a considerable expense, and with prices rising, now more than ever, we need to be thinking about and making an effort to

Government Announces An Increase To The Heat Pump Grant

Air source heat pump grant increases to £7.5k

We’ve been covering the UK’s journey towards a greener future, and in September 2023, Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak made an announcement regarding the heat pump grant introduced in 2021. When the grant was initially announced, the UK Government revealed that the treasury would be providing £450 million to the public to encourage households to install heat pumps. This was to be available via a grant of up to £5,000, with the hope that we would phase gas

Gas Engineers Response To Decarbonisation

Gas engineer trainee in the workshop working on a boiler - decarbonisation

Over the past year, we’ve been looking into the decarbonisation of the UK, from eco alternatives available to what it means for the public and manufacturers. Now, we’re looking at what gas engineers themselves think about the switch. Depending on their speciality and how long they’ve been in the gas industry, opinions and plans vary widely. Some engineers aren’t planning on doing anything differently, while others are looking to future-proof their careers. There are plenty of options

Tag: Gas