BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast

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• Listen to how my guests alll entered the plumbing and heating industry. Both Ian and Andrew did a YTS.
• Lots of humour in this one
• Andrew discusses managed learning plans (MLP's)
• Learn how Keith and Andrew quote for jobs
• Andrew chats how he went on his own very early on in his career.
• "if they're genuine or trying to swing the lead" is quote of the episode.

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Learn more about heat pump heating by following
Nathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

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Sterling Gas Centre in Corby https://www.sterling4gas.co.uk is a favourite centre of Nathans and I believe a highly regarded gas training centre by UKAS. It has been running since 1998 and saw the transition from ACOPs to ACS. They were the 5th accredited gas centre in the country so they have plenty of experience. The guys here don't just tick boxes...they get it right.

They are supported by well known names in the industry such as Rothenberger, Fair, Testo, Anton, Intergas and Adey. In fact, they are an ADEY best practice centre and also have Intergas training days.

In this podcast we hear: 

• Julian's disillusionment with the FE sector.
• About Mnaged Learning Programmes 
• Crowcon Detection Equipment
• The Gas Portfolio

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Learn more about heat pump heating by following
Nathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

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Evacuated Solar Thermal Tubes trap infrared heat energy during the daytime whether it's cloudy or not. Ironically, despite this being a similar process to how CO2 traps infrared (the Green House Effect) this renewable technology for heating water (the most energy intensive common substance to heat up in the universe with a SHC of 4.186) is under utilised in the UK.

This FREE heat is perhaps not liked by the energy industry who profit from fuel (gas, oil and hydrogen) and electric (e.g. PV photovoltaic solar panels and heat pumps)

Solar Thermal is an off-grid technology which can provide FREE hot water and heat. Evacuated tubes which were developed in a joint venture by Australian and Chinese universities are more efficient than flat plate and combined with a Thermal Store can contribute to the heating of a home. In this episode Nathan Gambling (BetaTeach) chats to renewable experts Brandon from BTSE Heating https://btseheating.com and Steve Calvert from S.Calvert Plumbing and Heating https://www.scalvertplumbingandheating.co.uk about the advantages of solar thermal hot water and heating systems.

Topics discussed are: 

• Frost protection - you don't always need expensive and problematic Glycol
• Are manufacturer’s warranties and incentive schemes stifling this free technology?
• Evacuated tubes are more efficient and practical than flat plate solar collectors
• Free solar thermal energy
• Thermal stores - unvented and open vented
• Cylinders do not produce as much hot water as stores
• Why isn't industry (e.g. trade bodies and organisations) discussing this FREE technology
• Ireland uses Solar Thermal
• Worcester Bosch evacuated tubes are no longer available
• What is PVT (PVThermal) and Erick Hawkins retrofit system
• Heat Pumps

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Learn more about heat pump heating by following
Nathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

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Gas Safe Registered Engineers Andy (AKA Gas Man God gasmangod.com)
& Lee Fischer (Green Albion Ltd greenalbion.com) joined Nathan at Ian Forbes home for a chat about various aspects of the plumbing and heating industry they all know so well.
Ian had a painter spraying the hall way at the time so please excuse the noise. And Nathan apologises as he does swear when he thinks something went wrong. The following topics are discussed:

• Social Media has brought plumbers and heating engineers together to share knowledge
• Apprenticeships and fast track plumbing courses
• Performance testing on buildings
• Is the EPC relevant?
• Boiler makes and models
• Shiny pipes
• ACS multichoice assessment 
• Could manufacturers play more of a role in training apprentices 
• Industry is starting to listen to the engineer 

Support the show

Learn more about heat pump heating by following
Nathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky