Government Meetings
As many of you will know, Firebird is a firm believer in the use of HVO as an alternative sustainable fuel source to help Ireland reach its 2030 emissions targets. While Air Source Heat Pumps and other renewable heating solutions can be ideal for new builds, there is a vast stock of older homes – 680,000, in Ireland alone, that need an alternative sustainable solution – and especially in the challenging times we are living in, these solutions need to be available and affordable as well.
Thanks to the determination and great work of our partners including our installers and service engineers – the men on the ground, Elco – our burner manufacturers, OFTEC, Heating and Plumbing Merchants, Klass Oil and Amalgamated Plumbing & Heating Contractors of Ireland – finally our voices are being heard.
Over the past few weeks, Firebird and our trusted partners have met with many Government officials including Darren O’Rourke, Barry Cowen, Michael Moynihan, Pádraig O’Sullivan, Cormac Devlin, Erin McGreehan, Pat Casey, Paul Daly, Christopher O’Sullivan and Aindrias Moynihan. It was a huge achievement for us to go to Leinster House with so many chains of the liquid fuel industry by our side.
The Government has taken action and officially announced that Biofuels, including HVO will be exempt from the MOT tax, this comes as a welcomed initiative and will reduce the cost of the fuel by 11 cents per litre. However, we need more done to make HVO more affordable and this can be achieved by removing the double BOS Tax, which would be recognising that HVO is classed as a home heating energy source. By doing so, the price to the end user comes down, at no cost to the Government. On top of this, if HVO is adopted in Ireland by homeowners, the cost from the manufacturers in Europe comes down significantly.
Firebird together with Service Engineers, Elco burner manufacturers, OFTEC representatives, Greenline Plumbing Supplies, Heating Engineer Supplies, Klass Oil and Amalgamated Plumbing & Heating Contractors of Ireland were delighted to meet with a number of Government officials at Leinster House to discuss and drive the case for HVO for use as an alternative and sustainable fuel source for heating. It was a real achievement to come to Leinster House with so many different chains in the liquid fuel industry represented.
Introducing the New HNBR Oil Hose
As a global market leader, Firebird is committed to developing innovative solutions to future proof home heating. We listened to our Service Engineers – carried out research & implemented the change.
Since the 1st of December, all Firebird manufactured boilers come with the new oil hose as standard & all spare oil hoses ordered are now HNBR.
This new oil and fuel resistant flexible elastomer hose is fitted with galvanised steel wire braiding as a pressure or strength bearer. The polymer basis of the inner core is HNBR (hydrogenated butadiene acrylonitrile rubber) which is highly resistant to high temperature.
Similar to our last cost savings campaign, we will be circulating an informational flyer to each of you with further details on the new product. Some key features include:
Flamin’ Great Savings this Winter
With rising fuel and energy prices across the globe, it is now more important than ever that we should all review where household savings can be made, especially in relation to heating and domestic hot water costs.
Research from the Sutherland Tables September 2022 findings proves that 20-year-old liquid fuel boilers are consuming up to €1,300 more Kerosene than a newer condensing boiler per annum.
This is a huge saving for the end user and a saving that can be reaped every year during the lifetime of the new boiler, hence the payback time on the capital investment is now a very short time.
These savings would help to alleviate the current pressure on households and businesses which have seen home heating oil almost double in price. Plus, by using less oil, Firebird boilers are much kinder to the environment, as well as to the bank balance!
METAC Level 6 Training
The METAC training sessions taking place in the Firebird training facilities, are proving very successful. We have had three groups complete the course so far resulting in 30 plumbers upskilled in Domestic Heat Pump Systems, with a fourth group being arranged in the coming months.
This programme equips plumbers with the knowledge, skill and competence to design, install and commission heat pump systems for domestic space heating and hot water supply in accordance with applicable standards and codes of practice
If you are interested in completing this course please visit www.metac.ie for information on how to apply.