Pump industry lobbying has forced a U-turn by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) with circulator pumps set to be finally included in the government’s flagship Green Deal programme.
Circulator pumps were initially excluded from the list of approved technologies for the Green Deal, due to the use of inaccurate SAP ratings, which failed to take into account the enormous advances in circulator, pump technology and efficiency made over the last decade.
However, the British Pump Manufacturer’s Association was informed in early November 2013 that circulator pumps were due to be added to the Green Deal options.
Gary Wilde, of Xylem Water Solutions UK, who sits on the British Pump Manufacturer’s Association circulator pump group, has been at the forefront of the lobbying efforts. He believes the decision is a victory for pump manufacturers, installers and homeowners.
“As an industry we have made strenuous efforts to convince the BRE of the merits of including circulator pumps within the Green Deal. For a long time it looked as if our efforts would continue to be blocked, but it is clear that, over time, the weight of our arguments have won the day,” said Gary.
Approximately one million domestic circulator pumps are sold in the UK every year, both stand-alone and those which are integrated within boilers by the OEM sector. Gary believes modern circulator pumps could provide a quick win for homeowners saving on average of between £63 and £89 annual savings.