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National Heat Pump Awards becomes annual event following launch success
Following the outstanding success of last year's inaugural event, the National Heat Pump Awards 2012 have been launched in an expanded format and the event established as a regular annual highlight in the industry's calendar.
The awards were launched last year with the backing of key industry organisations and leading companies to reward and celebrate the rapid progress being made in the adoption of heat pump technology, one of the most promising areas of renewable energy.
Among the first winners were a four-bedroom family home in Berkhamstead that harnesses free energy from the air, a modern farmhouse that taps heat from the ground, an estate of 180 council flats and bungalows that uses earth energy, and Castle Howard, location of the celebrated television series Brideshead Revisited, which captures energy from a lake.
Uniting these diverse projects is the use of the latest heat pump technology, which extracts low-grade energy from the environment and upgrades it for use in heating and cooling buildings.
"The decision to expand the awards and make them annual reflects the fantastic support we have received from across the industry and from end users following their launch" says Phil Creaney, editor of Heat Pumps Today magazine, which organises the event on behalf of the industry.
Plaudits for the awards have come from all quarters of the industry. Karen Trewick of Dimplex Renewables said: "Although only in its first year, we already view the National Heat Pump Awards as a key event in the UK renewables calendar. The range of projects being showcased highlights the vast potential for applications of heat pump technology. We firmly believe the awards will help develop the industry."
Chris Dale of Danfoss Heat Pumps UK said: "It has been very exciting to see the high calibre of entries for the first National Heat Pump Awards, reflecting the level of expertise among heat pump installers throughout the UK."
Tony Bowen, chairman of the judges and president of the HPA, says: "The National Heat Pump Awards have excited the industry and offered an opportunity to showcase its enterprise and technical competence. The HPA, as the competition Patron, is delighted to support this motivating force which will help us grow a technology so important to the energy future of the UK."
The expanded awards for 2012 include a new category for system critical components and ancillaries, such as radiators, water cylinders and installation aids, that make an important contribution to the overall performance of heat pump systems.
The finals of the 2012 awards will be held at The ICC in Birmingham on 31 May 2012.
Heat pumps capture free energy from the environment, from the air, ground or water, and harness it to provide low-cost, low-carbon heating for homes, commercial premises and industry. Heat pumps are many times more efficient than conventional gas or electric appliances, dramatically cutting running costs and safeguarding the environment.
In addition to the award's patron organisation, the HPA, the event is supported by a raft of leading industry organisations, including the Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Institute, BEAMA, The Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineers, Federation of Environmental Trade Associations, the HVCA, the Heating & Hotwater Industries Council, The National Skills Academy, Summit Skills and UHMA.
Award categories for the 2012 event are as follows:
* Installation of the year:
Domestic - air source
Domestic - ground/water source
Commercial - air source
Commercial - ground/water source
* Product innovation of the year - heat pumps
* Product innovation of the year - ancillary components
* Training excellence award
* Public sector project of the year
* Installer of the year
* Consultant of the year
* Heat pump champion
T: 01778 391 177
E: [email protected]
W: www.national-heat-pump-awards.co.uk
7th October 2011