§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what plans he has to use regulations to require the installation of micro CHP heating systems; [106797]
(2) what research into the relative efficiency of condensing boilers and micro CHP heating systems his Department has assessed in developing its policy regarding building regulations. [106798]
§ Mr. LeslieThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not plan to use building regulations to require the installation of micro CHP heating systems. The regulations are couched in functional terms allowing the person carrying out the work to decide upon the best way to meet the functional requirements. To be prescriptive would risk stifling innovation.
There has been no research into the relative efficiency of condensing boilers and micro CHP heating systems. Research into the efficiency of conventional and condensing boilers led to the development of the SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of a Domestic Boiler in the UK) procedure. The SEDBUK procedure can be used to demonstrate that boiler efficiency meets the requirements of Part LI of the Building Regulations. At present the SEDBUK database of boilers (which can be viewed at www.sedbuk.com) does not include micro CHP systems because a means of taking the electrical energy benefit into account in the efficiency rating has yet to be developed. However research is on-going on this.