Housing associations

Leading trade retailer ElectricalDirect has added the innovative Radbot 1 Intelligent Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) from Secure to its expanding range of heating solutions. This new type of heating control has been designed to optimise energy usage which is an ideal solution for those looking to reduce their energy bills in the cost of living crisis.

The easy-to-fit device, now available at ElectricalDirect, can be installed within minutes on any radiator that has an existing thermostatic radiator valve. It is compatible with wet central heating systems, including gas, oil boilers and heat pumps, and works with all standard heating controls and smart thermostats.

The challenges and opportunities of improving heat network performance to support residents will be explored at a free conference in central Manchester on Thursday 8th June 2023.

Hosted by heat network specialist Switch2 Energy, the event will explore solutions to three major challenges facing the industry. These are how to reduce operating costs and residents’ energy bills; how to reduce carbon emissions, and how to comply with tougher new regulation.

InstallerSHOW returns to the NEC in June, with three days of content in the elemental theatres focusing on the crucial topics of heating and powering our buildings while cutting carbon.

We welcomed 10,000 visitors in 2022 and the 2023 show will be our biggest – and best – yet, with added content streams, features and opportunities to share knowledge and ideas about the route to net zero.

Housing associations are ideally placed to help new and existing tenants upgrade old and broken furniture that is considered dangerous and replace white goods that have finally given up the ghost with current models that have the highest energy efficiency rating. They can even help residents invest in products such as slow cookers and air fryers, which have proven to be cheaper and more efficient to use than conventional ovens.

Developing an online shopping experience
Since the pandemic, Charis has invested significantly in developing an online portal that was designed to simplify the distribution of grants and funds for social housing landlords, enabling them to get desperately needed fuel and food vouchers quickly to those who needed them most.

In the UK water conservation has been largely ignored since the summer of 1976 – until now.  
The impact of erratic rainfall patterns has highlighted the wider impact of overuse of water resources.

Even in the UK the change in weather patterns due to global climate change have resulted in, mostly, short term supply issues.  In addition to these ‘direct impacts’, the process of cleaning, processing, and heating water accounts for 6% of CO2 emissions in the UK.

InstallerSHOW, the UK’s largest event for influential installers and specifiers of technologies in heat, water, air, and energy is back for 2023! Taking place on 27-29 June 2023 at the NEC, Birmingham, InstallerSHOW is THE place to see and get hands-on with new products and technology from over 400 leading manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations.

The continued shift in product innovation, mostly connected to the net zero pathway, means that suppliers, specifiers and installers need to communicate, learn, train and educate each other about the latest tech. Water efficiency, renewable energy, energy efficiency and air quality are key themes for InstallerSHOW. Suppliers use the InstallerSHOW to launch new products to the UK market and to showcase their solutions to our influential audience groups.

The housing shortage has its roots in the 1980s. It’s hard to believe that in 2023 there is still a chronic shortage of social housing. More people than ever before are battling to find a safe and secure place to live. Nonetheless, STILL we do not build enough social housing. Over a million households are on the waiting list for social housing. According to Shelter, 29,000 social homes were sold or demolished last year, whilst only 7,000 new ones were erected. Housing Association Magazine Editor Joe Bradbury investigates: