The Institute of Domestic Heating & Environmental Engineers (IDHEE) has expressed concern over the ‘Each Home Counts’ review, published on 16 December.

“While we welcome the aims of the review and will always continue to engage with government and others on improving the sector, from the heating industry perspective, these proposals appear to be another layer of bureaucracy on top of a sector that already has Gas Safe, Competent Persons Schemes and MCS,” said IDHEE chief executive, David Matthews.

“We are also not sure what extra levels of benefit there will be to renewable heating, which already has consumer protection, including alternative dispute resolution (ADR), independent advice, a quality mark, free-at-the-point-of-use industry standards and a forum for improving skills and training.

“Yes, there is much that needs improving in the renewable heating sector and this is why the IDHEE is at the centre of using existing channels to improve this sector. We believe that the main requirements are improving existing certification schemes and codes, rather than bringing in yet another scheme to add to an already overcrowded domestic heating accreditation marketplace.”

In the past year, IDHEE has actively engaged with the Each Home Counts review on many occasions and repeatedly expressed concern. The Institute is keen to discuss the issues in a more public arena so that the debate on codes and certification results in improved installations for consumers and minimal bureaucracy for installers.

John Doherty, IDHEE president, added: “The domestic heating - and especially renewable heating - sector requires simplification, rationalisation and improved delivery, rather than more schemes. The IDHEE is concerned that this will lead to yet more duplication.”

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