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A CP42 certificate is a Commercial Kitchen Gas Safety Certificate which verifies that your kitchen’s gas equipment is safely installed and safe to use. If you’re running a commercial kitchen in any type of establishment, you are legally required to have your gas appliances tested and serviced annually, as part of the CP42 certification.

What businesses need CP42 certification?

Any business with a commercial kitchen that includes one or more gas appliance needs CP42 certification. The types of businesses/organisations include:

• Restaurants, hotels, cafes and clubs
• Fast food/take away establishments
• Education settings
• Catering companies, mobile and/or fixed kitchens
• All private and public sector, and government kitchens

What are the legal requirements for a CP42 certificate?

Any commercial kitchen (fixed or mobile), with gas appliances, must hold a valid Gas Safety CP42 certificate. Businesses delivering services to groups or individuals are responsible for ensuring the annual inspection and certification of gas appliances.

If you don’t have a valid CP42, your insurance can be invalidated; you can also be fined, up to £6,000, and jailed for up to six months. If there is an incident resulting in the death of another person, you can be held accountable and charged for manslaughter.

How long is a CP42 certificate valid?

The certificate is valid for 12 months, from the issue date. As such, an annual inspection is required. It is important to keep the certificate safe as your insurance company may require a copy. An insurance claim may be denied if you don’t have a valid certificate.

How much is a CP42 certificate?

Commercial kitchen gas safety certificates usually cost between £200-£300 (ex VAT) depending on the size of the kitchen and how much gas equipment is installed. The cost may be higher for larger kitchens.

How do you get a CP42 inspection and certificate?

Gas Safe registered engineers, such as NRES, will inspect any commercial kitchen equipment and machinery connected to a gas supply. They will check your gas appliance, related pipework, interlock systems and your extraction system. Assuming no issues are identified, your engineer will issue the CP42 certificate, however, If any issues are identified during the inspection, these must be resolved immediately. Once the issues have been resolved, your engineer will issue the certificate.

Contact us

We are Gas Safe registered engineers and can carry out your annual inspection and issue you with a CP42 certificate.

Contact us on 07889 105050 to book your CP42 gas safety inspection.

How can you keep your home energy costs down?

With the unstable energy costs that are hitting both businesses and homes, we are constantly being asked if we have any tips on how to save energy in your home. So, here are ten such tips to help bring down your home energy costs.

 

Insulate, insulate, insulate

Insulation has to be at the top of the list! Good insulation, between 200mm and 270mm thick, will stop you from losing 20-25% of your heat through the roof of your house. The insulation is laid gently between the gaps of the beams in your loft and will provide much improved results, immediately, at a very low cost of install.

Wall insulation, although beneficial, can be a costly addition, however, it is worth it over a period of years so is worth considering if you have no plans to move any time soon. If you are on a low supported income, there is funding to help you.

 

Layer up!

Put a jumper on before you think about turning up the heating! You may laugh but, did you know that for every one degree above 20 degrees, you could increase your fuel bill by a ten percent. So, next time you reach to boost your central heating, stop and grab a jumper, blanket, dressing gown, anything! Obviously, as it gets colder, you will need to up your heating, but if you can hold off as long as possible, it really will help you save on your energy bill.

 

Lower your boiler temperature

Another easy way to save money on your energy bill is to simply turn down the setting on your boiler so it runs at a lower temperature. Often 55 degrees of heating is perfectly acceptable for most modern systems, and it will save money on your energy bill. Refer to your boiler user guide if you’re unsure how to edit the settings or, if you’re having your boiler serviced sometime soon (see energy saving tip #7) ask your plumber to lower the temperature for you.

 

Heat smart with TRVs

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) allow you to control the amount of heat a radiator gives off in any room. So, if the heating is on in the house, but you aren’t using all the rooms, there’s no point paying to heat unused space, or at least it’s better to lower the temperature in those spaces. This reduces the amount of work your boiler has to undertake which, in turn, reduces the amount of energy used, costing you less.

 

Replace your lightbults with LEDs

Replace your light bulbs with LED alternatives. This is a quick and easy energy saving tip with a quick return on investment, especially in the winter months. Switching over your lightbulbs with LEDs is a very simple change that is neither difficult or expensive. You can buy LEDs online and in your local DIY or grocery store.

 

Get your financial support

There is some direct financial support available to certain groups of people, including pensioners. It’s important to check if you’re eligible and that you’re receiving everything.

• Warm Home Discount Scheme – mainly to pensioners and those who get certain benefits. This one-off discount of £150 is paid directly to your electricity supplier between October and March. If your energy supplier provides you with both gas and electricity, you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead. Simply contact your supplier to find out. Visit uk to find out more about the scheme.
• Winter Fuel Payment – for those born on or before 26 September 1956. The Winter Fuel Payment is from £250 to £600 to help you pay your heating bills. The amount you’ll get includes a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’ which is between £150 and £300. This is an automatic payment, but you can find out more on the uk website.

 

Use your Night Rate/Economy 7 meter

If you have a Night Rate (an Economy 7 meter) for energy, utilise it! It will cost half as much as the Day Rate so it really is worthwhile. To take advantage of this saving, it’s best to operate your dishwasher or washing machine at night. It’s also a good time to charge your devices! The seven hours of Night Rate typically run sometime between 11pm and 8am, but it’s worth checking with your energy supplier for the actual cheaper hours.

 

Service your boiler

Have your boiler serviced before winter to ensure it’s running as it should, it will help save energy in your home. Or perhaps it’s time for it to be replaced: a 10-year old boiler will be surprising inefficient and replacing could help you save money in the long run. It might also be worth considering changing to an Air Source Heat Pump. While there is a high upfront cost, the running costs are lower and less maintenance is required than for a regular boiler.

 

Use draft excluder

Save money by simply using draft excluder around all of your doors and windows and your loft hatches. These low cost strips save a lot of lost heat and are extremely easy to fit yourself. As with the LEDs, you can buy draft excluder from a number of online retailers as well as your local DIY store.

 

Have a cuppa!

Our last home energy saving tip is simply this: enjoy lovely cup tea! It’s no joke. A hot drink will warm you from the inside, meaning you’re less likely to need to boost your heating above 20^oC! Remember to only boil the water you need as the energy used will be less and the kettle will run for a shorter time. Insulated cups and flasks are a cheap and easy way to keep your drink warm for a little longer.

 

Contact us

We hope you’ve found our top tips to save energy in your home useful. Although we primarily work within the commercial sector, we are happy to give advice to anyone who asks! Contact us on 07889 105050 to discuss your energy.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems are a sustainable energy solution ideal for businesses with high electricity and hot water demand, such as hotels, spas and swimming pools. They’re also a sustainable solution for the cleaning of food-use tankers and equipment.

Our hydrogen-ready CHP systems work by taking gas and converting it into electricity, with the additional benefit of producing free hot water as a biproduct.

While CHP systems boast over 80% efficiency ratings vs conventional heating and energy supplies, it is vital that they are maintained regularly to ensure they run as efficiently as possible and continue delivering significant savings for their 20+ years lifespan.

Reduce your energy costs with CHP

Installing a CHP solution in a commercial space also delivers significant fuel cost savings.

The gas units are 33% efficient. In simple terms, this means that for, say seven pence of gas you can produce twenty-one pence worth of electric and as energy cost rise this benefit has more value.

As a side benefit, CHP systems also deliver an abundance of hot water, for free. For example, a CHP system could cover a hotel’s electric air conditioning and other electric needs; as a subsequence, the system would generate enough hot water to fill a swimming pool or to be used by an adjacent spa at no extra cost.

The benefits of Combined Heat and Power

The main benefits of CHP include:

• A highly efficient technology, CHP plants can reach efficiency ratings in excess of 80%.
• Lower your electricity costs and reduce reliance on grid energy by generating your own electricity onsite.
• Gain budget stability through predictable electricity costs and accurate forecasting of operating expenses.

Maintaining CHP systems

Just like a regular gas boiler, CHP systems need to be regularly maintained. A CHP system check should be carried out by a registered, qualified technician who will undertake a full service, clean and inspection, replace all worn components and lubricate any moving components.

A well installed and maintained CHP system should last for around 20 years so it makes sense to ensure it is regularly serviced!

Contact us

We provide servicing and maintenance of commercial renewable energy solutions, such as CHP systems, across the North East of England and the Central Belt of Scotland. We are also registered with HETAS for the servicing of Commercial Biomass Boilers.

Contact us on 07889 105050 to talk about maintaining your CHP systems.

Budgets are tighter than ever, so education providers are having to think smarter to make less go further. Energy costs consume a significant proportion of budgets but there are some easy ways to reduce energy costs in schools and other education settings.

Here are our top 7 tips to reduce energy costs in schools, colleges and universities.

 

1.      Carry out an energy audit

An audit of your energy use is a great place to start because you will be able to measure your usage before and after your energy efficiency reduction efforts. If you use a smart meter, you will be able to monitor your school’s energy throughout the day. If you take manual meter readings, you can still record your usage to measure the impact of your efforts. This is also a great way to engage with students so they can support the effort.

As energy experts, we can carry out a full inspection on your behalf to check for air leaks, insulation issues and energy-efficient lighting, for example to help with the process.

Here’s a simple energy checklist from the Carbon Trust.

 

2.      Turn down the heat

While the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012 does not specify minimum temperatures for any parts of a school, the National Education Union (NEU) suggests temperatures in school classrooms should be maintained at 18^oC at least.

Depending on what your school’s temperature is currently set to, if it is slightly higher than the recommended minimum, it is possible to reduce energy costs by 8%  by dropping the temperature by just 1^oC. You might be able to monitor hot spots and turn down the radiators in those areas.

It’s also worth managing the heating of spaces that are used less frequently. For example, if the main hall will not be used on any given day, why waste energy and money when you could further drop the temperature in that space?

 

3.      Switch off the lights

Two tips in one… one of the easiest ways to save energy is by switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, such as LED, and by switching off lights in classrooms and other spaces that aren’t being used. It is a no-brainer really, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t turn off lights when they leave a space. Obviously, sensor lights can really help here but a simple reminder to staff could be enough.

LEDs use over 75% less energy than incandescent lighting and they could last for 15 years!

You may even qualify for a grant.

Engage your staff and students in your energy cost-cutting activities. They are most likely being more conservative with their home energy usage right now, so they’re bound to be understanding.

 

4.      Turn off electrical equipment

A single desktop computer or laptop left on or on standby overnight can cost an extra £35 a year. Encourage your staff to turn off all computers in their classrooms and other spaces at the end of their working day and especially at the end of the week!

Your staff can also help you save money by unplugging printers, chargers and other electronic devices when they aren’t used. IT Managers across the nation beware!

 

5.      Run an energy-efficient staff room

The staff room offers a few opportunities to save energy:

• Only boil as much water in the kettle as is needed. Encourage a tea-buddy system whereby small groups of staff, maybe 3-4 people, take turns to make the tea during the day. It’s more efficient to boil the kettle once for four cups than it is to boil the kettle four times, one cup at a time.
• Put the radiators on TRVs or timed systems to avoid heating empty space.
• Pull the plug on the microwave or toaster after use!
• Wait until the dishwasher is full before switching it on
• Regularly clean your fridge and freezer filters to keep them efficient

When the time comes to replace appliances, it’s really worth opting for A+++ rated ones.

 

6.      Switch your energy supplier

It’s fair to say that, because of the current energy crisis, you won’t find many energy tariffs on price comparison websites right now. But, as and when things improve, it’s important to review your energy supplier. As we move into the summer the best deals are usually offered.

When you are able to consider switching to a new supplier, it is worthwhile contacting your existing supplier to see if they can do a deal to keep you. It not only reduces the effort it takes you to switch but is also gives your supplier the option to keep your much needed business!

 

7.      Service your boiler

Whether you are already on your way to becoming a Net Zero education provider and use a Biomass boiler, for example, to heat your school, or you are still using a fossil fuel solution, such as gas, it is important to regularly service your boiler.

The ideal time to service your boiler is at the end of the academic year, during the summer holiday period, or after the winter during the Easter break.

Whenever you opt to service your boiler, it is important to remember that this annual servicing can ensure your energy solution is fit for purpose and as efficient as it can be, thereby reducing energy costs and greatly reducing the risk of a breakdown during the colder months.

 

Contact us

The above tips are quick and easy fixes to reduce energy costs in schools, as well as other organisations. As HETAS approved technicians, we provide servicing and maintenance of commercial renewable energy solutions, such as biomass boilers, across the North East of England and the Central Belt of Scotland.

Contact us on 07889 105050 to book your next boiler service or if you need maintenance repair work.

We could go into detail about the vast benefits of wind, solar, nuclear and micro nuclear systems, and technologies such as tidal, hydrogen and developing battery storage, but let’s take a look at some of the most sustainable energy solutions for businesses, available today.

 

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

CHP systems are bespoke solutions ideal for businesses with high electricity and hot water demand, such as hotels, spas, swimming pools as well as the hot water processes such as cleaning of food-use tankers and equipment.

The main benefits of CHP include:

• A highly efficient technology, CHP plants can reach efficiency ratings in excess of 80%.
• Lower your electricity costs and reduce reliance on grid energy by generating your own electricity onsite.
• Gain budget stability through predictable electricity costs and accurate forecasting of operating expenses.

Solar PV

Using solar panels to generate green energy for your business is a sustainable solution which will save you money and help you to become net zero. The significant cost-savings over time, especially when linked to battery storage systems, has the potential provides a reasonable payback.

The main benefits of Solar PV include:

• Reduce your energy costs by generating your own electricity and protecting your business from escalating energy prices.
• Generate payback by selling your excess solar energy to the grid.
• Uninterrupted power with Battery Storage using your stored solar energy, eliminating impact from national power outage.

 

Biomass

Commercial biomass heating is another sustainable energy solutions for businesses. It is an efficient way of heating an area and/or hot water. It can significantly reduce your environmental impact with lower C02 emissions through its use of carbon-neutral wood pellets.

The main benefits of biomass include:

• Biomass delivers fuel cost savings of between 50% to 80% compared with fossil fuels.
• Reduce your environmental impact with a 96% reduction in CO2 over fossil fuels and Europe’s cleanest, most efficient boilers available.
• Claim money back through the government’s Renewable Heating Incentive, in addition to realising savings from using Biomass fuelled heating.
• Flexible, bespoke designed biomass installations to fit your exact needs and requirements.

 

Efficient energy solutions

Just like any energy solution, renewable energy systems require regular servicing to ensure they keep working at their optimum level. The annual servicing of heat pumps, biomass boilers, gas boilers and CHP systems can help generate greater savings by maintaining their efficiency.

We are a HETAS Registered Installer for Biomass Boiler installing and services. We are also ETA VIP Installers for Biomass boilers, and Sokratherm VIP Installers for CHP solutions.

Our annual renewable energy servicing is carried out by a qualified technician who will undertake a full internal clean and inspection, replace all worn components and lubricate any moving components.

 

Contact us

We have been servicing and maintaining renewable energy solutions since 2014. As HETAS approved technicians, we provide servicing and maintenance of commercial renewable energy solutions, such as biomass boilers, across the North East of England and the Central Belt of Scotland.

Contact us on 07889 105050 to book your next boiler service or if you are in need of maintenance repair work. We’re always happy to talk about sustainable energy solutions for businesses, so please do get in touch.

What is climate change?

We all hear about climate change and the negative impact rising temperatures have on the world, but what exactly is it?

Climate change is a shift in the average weather conditions around the world. Back in the 1850s, the annual mean land and ocean temperature was around -0.4^oC below average. Today it’s around 1^oC above average. While that may not seem a great difference, the increase in temperature can have a significant impact ultimately leading to devastating heatwaves, rising sea levels and the irreversible loss of plant and animal species.

 

Can the commercial sector reduce global warming?

Climate change is a world-problem which needs to be addressed at the highest level by world leaders; the COP climate summit is the largest forum focused on climate change. Many countries have pledged to achieving ‘net zero’ by 2050 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and balancing remaining emissions by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

But that doesn’t mean businesses and individuals don’t have a vital role to play in achieving net zero.

There are many small changes that individuals can undertake to limit their impact on the climate. Take a look at our ‘Top 10 Tips to Save Energy in your Home’ article to get started.

In terms of schools and other education settings, there are of course ways to reduce energy usage, and therefore spend. Take a look at our article ‘7 Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Costs in Schools’ article. But, to have a real impact on global warming requires more.

For example, investing in a commercial biomass heating solution is a great way to balance emissions by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

For businesses with high electricity and hot water demand, such as spas and hotels, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems are ideal. They can reach efficiency ratings in excess of 80% and lower electricity costs.

Solar PV is another sustainable solution which generates electricity and reduces energy costs by harnessing the sun’s endless supply of energy.

Any one of the above solutions delivers environmental results and can have an impact on a company’s journey towards net zero. It’s also important to recognise that both consumers and businesses are already looking for companies that are net zero, or at least working towards it.

 

Contact us

As HETAS approved technicians, we provide servicing and maintenance of commercial renewable energy solutions, such as biomass boilers, across the North East of England and the Central Belt of Scotland.

Contact us on 01733 595025 to book your next boiler service or if you need maintenance repair work.