End Of Gas Heating ?

[Paul and Rona]

Hi All,
         Not sure if this topic has been raised before ? But twice this week I have been told about the run down of Gas Central Heating....

The first happened during the week, my house is up for sale, and has been for some time. In an attempt to increase it's sale potencial my wife and I considered upgrading the heating system.....A couple of Telephone calls to get some quotes resulted in the suggestion we actually reconsider the heating method, As 2015 will see the start of the rundown, of all gas based heating systems..(this info came from the owner of the company we contacted).

Then a few days later one of our house veiwers (turns out he is a surveyor by trade) also mentions the same point, adding that gas supply security along with the carbon footprint created by Gas heating usage is a major issue.

Thus it would seem the goverment are changing legislation regarding heating systems in new build / restoration projects from 2015 onwards.

Has anyone else heard anything about this?? am I just behind the times ?

Regards Paul & Rona

[billt]

Scaremongering.

In the long term gas will run out, and as we've squandered most of our North Sea energy resource we will have to buy energy from other, possibly unstable, countries. But mains gas (if you can get it) is likely to be the most economical and least polluting fuel source for heating for the next few years.

[brackwell]

Paul and Rona,

It is true that from 2016 NEW BUILDS will have to be energy neutral or close and therefore it is very likely that gas central heating will be inappropriate but also their heat demand will be a fraction of present housing stock.  This will not affect you.

Whilst your energy rating MAY affect some i cant believe gas CH is an issue after all it is the norm. If you took all the houses with gas CH off the market - ridiculous.

Sounds to me like the vultures could be circling just ignore them.

[martin]

Having spent some years in the property business I'd doubt that the heating system will prevent a sale - if people want to buy they may request a price adjustment, but it's unlikely to put them off completely (sod's law says that if you update it, the buyer will want to rip it out and put in something different)
Simple advice - do any paintwork that needs doing, clean is good, a modicum of untidiness can actually add to it's welcoming feeling, if the weather's rotten, light an open fire if you have one, have a few flowers about the place, bake some bread and percolate some coffee... people tend to buy properties with their hearts, and justify their decision afterwards, so don't worry about the heating system, but make the property warm and welcoming for any prospective purchasers, and whatever you do, don't try to "sell" to them - let them buy it from you - if they ask, point out where local transport, shops and schools can be found, but resist the temptation to oversell and look desperate in the process...... (it can induce the "well, why hasn't it sold yet, what's wrong with it?" thoughts.....)

[camillitech]

Having spent some years in the property business I'd doubt that the heating system will prevent a sale - if people want to buy they may request a price adjustment, but it's unlikely to put them off completely (sod's law says that if you update it, the buyer will want to rip it out and put in something different)
Simple advice - do any paintwork that needs doing, clean is good, a modicum of untidiness can actually add to it's welcoming feeling, if the weather's rotten, light an open fire if you have one, have a few flowers about the place, bake some bread and percolate some coffee... people tend to buy properties with their hearts, and justify their decision afterwards, so don't worry about the heating system, but make the property warm and welcoming for any prospective purchasers, and whatever you do, don't try to "sell" to them - let them buy it from you - if they ask, point out where local transport, shops and schools can be found, but resist the temptation to oversell and look desperate in the process...... (it can induce the "well, why hasn't it sold yet, what's wrong with it?" thoughts.....)

Apparently a blue front door helps too Martin, dunno where I read that but it's probably from a limited survey in some Tory heartland 

Hope you shift it soon Paul

[smegal]

Having spent some years in the property business I'd doubt that the heating system will prevent a sale - if people want to buy they may request a price adjustment, but it's unlikely to put them off completely (sod's law says that if you update it, the buyer will want to rip it out and put in something different)
Simple advice - do any paintwork that needs doing, clean is good, a modicum of untidiness can actually add to it's welcoming feeling, if the weather's rotten, light an open fire if you have one, have a few flowers about the place, bake some bread and percolate some coffee... people tend to buy properties with their hearts, and justify their decision afterwards, so don't worry about the heating system, but make the property warm and welcoming for any prospective purchasers, and whatever you do, don't try to "sell" to them - let them buy it from you - if they ask, point out where local transport, shops and schools can be found, but resist the temptation to oversell and look desperate in the process...... (it can induce the "well, why hasn't it sold yet, what's wrong with it?" thoughts.....)

Its posts like this that make me enjoy being part of forums (of any kind) so much. You get to speak to such a diverse group of people. That is a really good post, Martin.

[desperate]

, but resist the temptation to oversell and look desperate in the process....

Huh whassthat?, who's lookin at desperates process, you gonna wake up with a crowd round ya boy.................

Siriusly though, gas isn't going anywhere soon, they haven't spent millions repiping half the country for it to run out in the next few years. Then there's all that lovely coal and shale, that'll get gasified and shoved into those bright yellow pipes.

Desperate

[azps]

Yes, because of its carbon footprint, fossil gas is now on its last orders, and its decline for heating has already started.

However, all this is pretty irrelevant to selling your home.  The usual advice applies: fresh lick of paint, clean and tidy; make sure all the lights are on and that it's warm and the air is fresh for each viewing. Ideally have the smell of baking bread and fresh coffee in the air.

Oh, and reduce the asking price by 15%. Cut soon and cut deep; in a falling market, that will end up costing you less, than if you were to cut slowly and by small increments.

[roscoe]

in the context of standard sized future new builds this makes some degree of sense
(not the huge grand plan telly stuff)

as the home efficiency increases the heat demand reduces and at some point the capital cost (of boilers/rads/pipes) and maintenance (contracts/servicing) of gas makes it economically unattractive

This only makes sense for future regs increasingly hyper insulation and air tightness.  It makes no sense for the bulk of the housing stock for the foreseeable.

[Quakered]

In responding I have assumed you are on mains gas but if this is correct…..

The World is awash with gas and reserves just keep growing and, better still, the new reserves are largely not controlled by religious lunatics! The stuff is likely to be a viable fuel source for at least 50 years and assuredly beyond 2015. It also has the lowest carbon foot print of any fossil fuel and since we will be dependent on fossil fuels for a good few decades yet it will be the favoured fuel. Add to this the thought that the UK has a wonderful infrastructure to both handle our own off shore resources and import from abroad. Better still, the infrastructure exists to deliver it to most houses in the UK (well at least those in the cities!).

What does your energy consultant think will replace gas? Electricity at 3 times the prices (and perhaps generated using gas), oil, also vastly more expensive in money and carbon foot print terms? Coal? Or perhaps just dressing up warmer in the winter and learning to enjoy the cold.

[Mostie]

bit of a contradiction here

http://www.ukgbc.org/site/news/show-news-details?id=398

[Philip R]

Dam it, just passed my ACS, that was a waste of time wasn't it!

[odbob]

I raised this some while ago, and had various quite strong reactions, I for one would not install gas in a new build, infact anything but gas, preferably, simply electric.
When my gas system finally fails at my existing home, it is then that I can design something more suited to the lower energy reqirements of my home

[martin]

"simply electric" - will this be before or after the grid is upgraded, and suitable generation sources put in place? To be frank, I certainly wouldn't be relying on the UK grid at all - FAR better to use mains gas if you have it - I suspect that much of the mains electricity for some time will be coming from gas anyway...
As Ken pointed out a while back, the grid will soon start falling over, probably even quicker now that various assorted plonkers are advising such lunacies as attaching ASHPs and electric cars to the already tottering grid.........
Going on the "what would I do?" thing I'd be looking at mains gas if it were available, probably wood, definitely solar hot water, and as little electricity as possible (it's too expensive and "precious" to waste on heating...)
I'm pragmatic, I believe in minimising my carbon footprint, but I also want to be warm in the depths of winter, so would never "put all my eggs in one basket" (especially a knackered one about to collapse)

[spluger]

i think wood would be a good back up as in a power cut gas CH ain't gonna work
especially with the more modern electronic controlled stuff (hang on thats what i've just put in )

as my house stands a power cut in the depth of winter and its warm jumpers and heat from the gas stove (until i get my WBS in)


David