Shows
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastArchaeological Engineering: James Twallin on Gas Leaks and Church Heat PumpsSend a textIn this episode of BetaTalk, Nathan welcomes back engineer and coder James Twallin to discuss the technical nuances of the UK’s energy transition. While industry debates are often binary, this conversation focuses on objective data regarding gas infrastructure, the physics of high mass heritage buildings, and the importance of real world boiler monitoring for hydronic heat pump success.Key Topics Discussed:The "Invisible" Gas Leak Problem: James reveals his research into the UK’s gas network. He explains how current energy policy and EPC ratings often igno...
2026-02-151h 04BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastData, Comfort, and the "Expert Heat Pump Consumer" with Mick WallSend us a textPrimary Expert: Mick Wall (IT Specialist, University of Sheffield & Founder of Energy Stats UK)Host: Nathan Gambling (Beta Talk Podcast and Betateach Newsletter)Core Topics: Heat Loss Accuracy, Weather Compensation vs. Room Influence, Smart Tariffs (Octopus Energy).Executive Summary (TL;DR)Standard MCS heat loss calculations often overestimate ventilation losses in older homes by up to 300%. Expert consumer Mick Wall demonstrates that real-world air changes in a 1930s semi-detached house are closer to 0.5...
2026-01-261h 14BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDisrupting Zero Disrupt: Inside EDF's 'Express Heat Pump Initiative'Send us a textThis week on BetaTalk, we're doing something truly special: the FIRST EVER exclusive interview with EDF Heat Pumps about their groundbreaking new "Express" initiative.EDF's new "Express" initiative is hitting the accelerator, promising faster, smoother heat pump deployments that are directly comparable to the cost of a boiler install. We sit down with Clay Brown from EDF Heat Pumps behind to unpack:What "Express" really means for installers and homeowners.How they're streamlining the process from survey to switch-on.The vision behind t...
2025-11-051h 03BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump in a Three-Storey, Timber-Framed Grade II listed building in BuckinghamshireSend us a textThis episode of Betatalk features a detailed examination of a bespoke heat pump heating system designed by engineers within the Guild of Master Heat Engineers. We speak with Mark Denman of Custom Renewables and Alex Hilton, the homeowner and a wonderful guest who provides valuable insight into sustainability.The engineers are leading heat geeks in the field, and this installation served as an excellent peer-to-peer learning opportunity for the community.We also dedicate time to discussing Zero Disrupt, a new initiative from Heat Geek.This heat pump...
2025-10-1350 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastTrade Media Uncovered - The Digital Shift in the HVAC SectorSend us a textA New Voice Meets Old Hands: BetaTalk's host Nathan, new to media, chats with his friends Joe Sharpe, Joe Dart and Andrew Gavid at Lyrical CommunicationsEpisode Summary:In this special episode of Trade Media Uncovered, host Nathan Gambling of the BetaTalk podcast steps into the world of long-standing trade journalism. Nathan, a new voice in the heating sector's media landscape, sits down with the pioneers who have shaped the industry's discourse for decades.We delve into the fascinating history of trade media...
2025-08-311h 18BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHomeTree's Flywheel: How Acquiring Local SMEs Drives a Customer-Centric Energy BusinessSend us a textJoin Nathan on this episode of BetaTalk as he sits down with Olly Cutting, Johann Kühns, and Pranjal Arya from HomeTree. The team from HomeTree shares their incredible journey, from a boiler installation company to a multifaceted energy services provider. We learn how Olly and Pranjal's economic backgrounds, combined with Johann's expertise in Climate Change management and finance from Imperial College London, have shaped their innovative, data-driven approach.The Customer Journey FlywheelThe conversation centers on HomeTree's innovative business model, structured around a "customer journey f...
2025-08-211h 03BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDiscussing Ambient Loop Heat Networks and Exhaust Air Heat Pumps with QvantumSend us a textJoin Nathan this week for an exclusive episode recorded live from the Qvantum HQ in Sweden! Nathan sits down with a team of true industry heavyweights to discuss the future of heating solutions for multi-occupancy dwellings.In this insightful conversation, Nathan is joined by his good friend and a titan of the European heat pump sector, Thomas Nowak. As the former General Secretary of the European Heat Pump Association for nearly 18 years, Thomas shares his unparalleled knowledge of how Europe is tackling the challenge of heating decarbonisation.We also...
2025-08-111h 03BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastAir to Air in Domestic PropertiesSend us a textExpanding Horizons: BetaTalk's New Newsletter and Website!We're thrilled to announce that BetaTalk is growing! In addition to our regular podcast episodes, we're launching a brand new newsletter and an associated website. This expansion will allow us to bring you even more in-depth content, industry news, and valuable insights into the world of heat pumps and sustainable building.Our newsletter, launching shortly, will be your go-to source for the latest industry developments, insightful opinion pieces from the third sector, and crucially, real-world heat pump case studies from...
2025-07-251h 43BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump Books & Heat Pump TrainingSend us a textIn this episode Nathan chats to his friend Ian Edgeworth, author of the recent books "Wellcome to the Wonderful world of Air source Heat Pumps - What Kept You" and "The Pocket Guide to Low Temperature Central Heating" You can find the books at New Perspectives.ComListen to Ian's journey into teaching and what he and Nathan think of the current situation regarding heat pump training.This season is being sponsored by Intergas who make the quality xylinder - a heat pump cylinderSupport th...
2025-07-0650 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastIS THE GRANT FOR HEAT PUMP QUALIFICATIONS A HOUSE OF CARDS?Send us a textThe latest episode of BetaTalk dives deep into a topic of critical importance for the future of skilled trades and green technology: the intricate world of Vocational Training Qualifications (VTQs) and how they stack up against General Qualifications (GQs).Host Nathan Gambling, always at the forefront of heating and skills discussions, explores a key differentiator in VTQs: the expectation that ALL learning outcomes must be truly mastered for a qualification to be awarded. This isn't just about passing an exam; it's about demonstrating genuine competence.What makes this particularly "...
2025-06-2143 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastThe Installer Show MD's Personal Heat Pump JourneySend us a textJoin us for a fascinating conversation with Mike Costain, the Managing Director of The Installer Show! In this special episode, we pull back the curtain on the UK's leading event for heating and plumbing professionals, exploring what's new, what's next, and how the show is expanding its horizons internationally.But that's not all! Mike also shares his invaluable personal experience as a homeowner, detailing the installation and performance of his own heat pump system. He opens up about the common misconceptions and knowledge gaps within the building industry that can hinder...
2025-06-0246 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastImproving the Heat Pump Customer JourneySend us a textIn the fourth episode of the Heat Pump Ready special bulletin series, Nathan talks to three Heat Pump Ready projects to discuss the topic of ‘Improving the customer journey’. Nathan is joined by Jack Jarvis from EDF, Gareth Robertson from Thermly and Lucy Fairchild from Oxford City Council to discuss.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2025-05-2958 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastSmart Heat, Smart Savings: An Expert Consumer Meets HavenwiseSend us a textIn this episode, Nathan invites Mick Wall, his 'expert consumer,' back to have a discussion with the lads from Havenwise, a company dedicated to helping with quality heat pump installations. Havenwise runs an API which optimizes the weather curves on the heat pump, as well as looking at time-of-use tariffs. You can choose to use various functionalities. For example, Mick only uses the optimizer for his space heating. Nathan likes what Henri and Alex at Havenwise are trying to achieve. Take a listen...it's a very enjoyable one!This season...
2025-05-2456 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastIntergas Stainless Steel Cylinders - A Heat Pump Game Changer?Send us a textJoin host Nathan Gambling as he journeys to Intergas HQ alongside legendary heat pump engineer Steve Webster to get the inside scoop on their high-quality stainless steel hot water cylinders, specifically designed for heat pump systems. Steve shares his firsthand experience testing these cylinders on recent installations, highlighting their exceptional build quality and resilience during transportation – a welcome change from the damage often encountered with other brands.In this insightful episode, Nathan, Steve, and Intergas's Dave Hall delve into:The Intergas Manufacturing Process: Get a behind-the-scenes look at how these ro...
2025-05-191h 10BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRAG vs. Hallucinations: The Truth About AI in the TradesSend us a textEpisode Description: Host Nathan dives into the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence and its potential impact on the plumbing and heating industry. Joining him are Barrie and Amrit from Lorefuly, experts in leveraging technology for the trades.Key Discussion Points:The Hallucination Hazard: The trio discusses the crucial issue of Large Language Model (LLM) "hallucinations" – where AI systems confidently present inaccurate or fabricated information. This raises serious concerns about relying solely on unverified AI content.RAG to the Rescue: Th...
2025-05-1450 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastBeyond Three Days: Rethinking Heat Pump Installation TrainingSend us a textNathan speaks with Leah Robson, owner of a small SME (Your Energy Your Way) installing heat pumps, batteries, and solar, about her recent appearance at Westminster. Leah gave evidence to the "Workforce Planning to Deliver Clean, Secure Energy" Committee, invited through Ellora Coupe of "Her Retrofit Space." The discussion centres on whether Leah's concerns about workforce training, particularly for heat pump installation, were understood by the committee.Key Discussion Points:Westminster Testimony: Leah shares her experience presenting to the committee and her assessment of whether her...
2025-05-0749 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastAre Industry Associations Still Relevant? A Deep Dive with the Heat Pump AssociationSend us a textIn this insightful episode, host Nathan sits down with two key figures from the Heat Pump Association (HPA) – CEO Charlotte Lea and Chair Craig Dolan – to explore the role the HPA plays in the evolving UK heating landscape. They delve into the value the association brings to the industry, particularly as the nation transitions towards low-carbon heating solutions.The conversation tackles the fundamental question of whether industry associations are still necessary in today's rapidly changing world. Charlotte and Craig passionately argue for their continued relevance, highlighting their crucial function in providing a un...
2025-04-261h 32BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastA Personal Heat Pump Journey and the Power of MentorshipSend us a textWelcome back to BetaTalk, the podcast dedicated to exploring the exciting world of renewable heating! In this episode, host Nathan is joined by two fantastic guests: Barry Sharp from Renewable Heat and a familiar voice to BetaTalk listeners, and Scott Sanford who has recently embarked on his own renewable heating journey.Our conversation kicks off with a fascinating deep dive into Scott's personal experience installing a Viessmann heat pump system in his own home. We hear firsthand about his installation journey, the challenges and triumphs he faced, and the benefits he's...
2025-04-081h 06BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump Strategies: Insights from the UK for US HomeownersSend us a textEver wondered how heat pump systems differ between the UK and the US? In this episode, Nathan chats with Shreyas Sudhakar, a leading heat pump installer and educator from California, to explore the contrasting approaches. Nathan, who has fond memories of his time in America, and his apprenticeship on a US airbase in the UK, emphasises the strong connection he feels to the country. He and Shreyas engage in a fun discussion, highlighting the strengths of both systems and gently suggesting areas where US installations might benefit from UK insights. They both strongly...
2025-03-071h 02BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDid the Government funded Heat Pump Trial Fail?Send us a textNathan talks with Katrina from Energy Systems Catapult and Trysten Lee from Open Energy Monitor about a key question surrounding the Electrification of Heat (EoH) trial: why did the heat pumps perform so poorly? The trial, involving aprox. 740 heat pumps, showed an average Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) of just 2.81 for air source.This contrasts sharply with the performance of heat pumps monitored by Trysten at HeatPumpMonitor.org (HPM). Interestingly, many of the installers whose systems are tracked on HPM are relatively new to the field, some with only a few years...
2025-01-3159 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastIs MVHR any good?Send us a textMechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery systems are discussed with Nathan's guests Duncan and Barry Sharp.Regular listeners will know Barry from previous episodes of BetaTalk and is one of Nathan's favourite heat pump engineers based in Scotland.Duncan is Barry's dad and has been specialising in MVHR systems since around 2010.The discussion looks at how effective MVHR is and the problems with design, installation and commissioning. Duncan spends a lot of his time helping others understand MVHR and is involved in surveying the systems in social h...
2025-01-2258 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastMentorship or Send Gas Engineers on Heat Pump PowerPoint Courses?Send us a textIn this podcast Nathan chats with his friends Barry from Renewable Heat and Matt from Matt Rigby Heating Ltd. The guests and Nathan discuss Matts journey from a gas engineer to a heat pump engineer. It mentions how Barry has provided mentorship which is a far better way to help gas engineers transition than the current system of just sending them on a powerpoint course.This season is sponsored by Ultimate Renewables Supplies Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingN...
2024-10-3154 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pumps in Edinburgh - a discussion with SNIPEFSend us a textIn this episode Nathan chats with Fiona, CEO of SNIPEF and Barry, a regular podcast guest and a Snipef member. Snipef presented talks at the Green Homes Festival during Edinburg Festival month and Nathan discusses the talks with his guest and the potential Edinburgh has in switching to heat pumpsSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2024-09-0352 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump & Fabric First Debate Featuring the Insulation Manufacturers AssociationSend us a textNathan was grateful the IMA reached out to ask if their CEO, Simon Storer, could come on the podcast to contribute to a very interesting debate.Nigel Banks from Octopus (who wrote this fabric article) was scheduled to appear on the show and will be coming on for a follow up episode.Nathan was very grateful Richard Erskine, who could step in at short notice to be a guest host, who has lots to offer in the debate and wrote the very good "Insulate Britain! Yes, but by how muc...
2024-05-1058 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastThe Ideal Experience for a Heat Pump CustomerSend us a textIn this episode Nathan chats to Paul Eastwood, Head of Energy Systems Planning at OFGEM and the past Senior Climate and Energy Advisor at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Also joining the heat pump conversation is engineer Barry Sharpe from Renewable Heat The discussion focuses on what an ideal customer journey is. Paul has had a heat pump system after Nathan recommended Barry to him. The episode questions if Paul's experience could have been better with the hope engineers may gain some useful insight. Topics covered ar...
2024-03-261h 15BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHow Swedish Company AIRA Will Help the Heating & Energy TransitionSend us a textSweden have had a long tradition with heating technologies and have incredible expertise regarding heat pumps. Nathan talks to the Swedish company AIRA, the new entrant to the UK's heating and home renewables industry. AIRA will be installing heat pump and other technologies across Europe bringing their expertise first to Italy, Germany and the UK.It's a great episode and Nathan enjoyed his conversation with Daniel Sarefjord, the chief executive of Aira in the UK, immensely. Support the showLearn more about heat pum...
2024-01-281h 02BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastListening to the heating engineersSend us a textIn this episode Nathan interviews Faye Wade, his favourite academic researching the heating industry. This is because Faye understands that the most vital component of the industry is the engineer and that we need to really listen to them.Joining Faye are Nathan's friends Leah, Sovay and Rhiannon who are all involved in installing and maintaining heating systems.This is a fab episode with lot's of discussion around the transition to heat pumps and things like certification bodies, awarding bodies and MCS etc etcSupport the show
2023-07-261h 06BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastSpecial Bulletin: The Heat Pump Ready Programme Episode 1Send us a textAlongside usual episodes from the BetaTalk Podcast, Nathan will be helping the Carbon Trust and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero disseminate knowledge around the learnings from the Heat Pump Ready Programme with around 10 extra podcast episodes. This is episode 1 of these special Heat Pump Ready bulletins. The Heat Pump Ready Programme is part of the The Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which is a £1 billion fund, announced in the Prime Minister’s ten point plan for a green industrial revolution, to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies, systems and busine...
2023-06-2350 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump Quotations - solving the mysterySend us a text*Update: in this episode Damon and host Nathan realised after editing there was a mistake. An easy one to make as engineers like Damon have so many numbers running around in their head. He mentions he sizes radiators to 50°C when in fact Damon is one of the engineers who designs to a lower flow temp of 40-45*C for a radiator heating circuit.In this episode we speak to the fabulous engineers Damon from Blakemore Plumbing and Heating and Barry from Renewable Heat about quotations. It's a hot topic so s...
2023-06-1543 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastLeading Experts Discuss Fabric, Heat Pumps, Innovation and Policy - 100th EpisodeSend us a textThis is the 100th episode so a big thank you to all the listeners and all those who have taken part.BIG THANK YOU TO MyEnergi who are this season's sponsorIt features European policy expert Louise Sunderland from the RAPUK policy and innovation expert Guy Newy from Energy Systems Catapult (past sponsor of the podcast)AND expert heating engineer Welsy Hort from West Hampstead Plumbing and Heating. Wesly is one of the renowned BetaTalk #heatarchitects - leading heating engineers who are he...
2023-02-131h 20BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump Certification with KeyMarkSend us a textNathan chats with Tarik Bellahcene from the European Heat Pump Association about KeymarkSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2022-11-2842 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastImportance of Modulating Flow Temps - UK's First Modulating Domestic Oil BoilerSend us a textNathan chats to the MD of EOGB about a UK first - a domestic modulating oil boiler.The boiler uses open therm to modulate the flame and will output different flow temps to the radiators or other heating emitters. Nathan starts the episode with a little pre-amble about the importance of flow temps constantly changing to match the demand of the property. Enjoy!Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and Bl...
2022-09-2541 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump Pipework Insulation Problems & SolutionsSend us a textNathan chats with his friend Dave who runs and owns Condensate Pro and now Primary Pro.Primary Pro is a polyethylene product which comes pre painted making it easier to use than class O insulation. He has also developed Bond & Seal which can be applied all weathers unlike the contact adhesive which is used for Class O.The conversation is a useful resource for people wanting to understand the types of pipe insulation available and how to install it correctly, especially for heat pump pipework which is outside
2022-08-2327 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeating Industry DiversitySend us a textNathan is a big supporter of diversity within the heating industry and this special episode is the first ever BetaTalk podcast takeover e.g. Nathan is not in it. The episode has been hosted by three remarkable women who are involved in plumbing and heating: Sovey, Leah and Rhiannon. They interviewed one of Nathan's friends Andy who has been involved in the industry for quite some time. A fun packed episode with all kinds of interesting stuffSupport the showLearn more about heat pump hea...
2022-08-0440 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump Policy in PracticeSend us a textNathan has a great chat with Daniel Newport from the Tony Blair Institute for Climate and one of his regular renewable heating engineers James from Elite Services Group based in Hull.Daniel previously held a senior position at BEIS and was part of the team that introduced the target of 600,000 heat pumps by 2028.All sorts of interesting stuff in this episode. Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2022-07-211h 15BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastA Live Podcast at the Installer & Elemental Show at the NECSend us a textNathan hosted a live podcast to discuss heat pumps at the industry's favourite show. On the guest panel were Heat Architects Steve Webster and Si Posket along with the podcasts expert guest on commercial refrigeration Lisa-JayneSeason 6 of BetaTalk is being sponsored by FarnellWe also like to thank the European Heat Pump Association and Key Mark in helping to promote life long learning within the sectorSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter...
2022-07-1446 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHow Well do Heat Pumps Perform - looking at the OFGEM dataSend us a textOfgem have been collecting performance data on heat pump installs and Nathan chats to Collin Meek from RB&M who has analysed the data.The report summary can be found here Learn what COP (coefficient of performance) SCOP and SPF (seasonal performance factor) all mean as well as their limitations. Are heat pumps in the UK performing well? Find out in this great episode. A big thanks to season 6 sponsors FarnellAlso a big thanks to Tado, The European Heat Pump Association and...
2022-07-071h 26BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastEnergy Storage & Heat Batteries using WarmStone and Phase Change MaterialsSend us a textMeet Nathan's guest Tom Lowe who heads up the Thermal Storage Association with founding members SunAmp, Caldera and Tepeo.Tom has had previous roles in OFGEM, British Gas and Buld Energy so there is lots of great discussion in this episodeUse the 10% discount code BETATALK10 with Farnell purchases over £50Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2022-06-1152 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastThe Heating Controls Industry - A Chat with David NewtonSend us a textNathan speaks to his good friend and his control expert David Newton. David started his career in controls back in the 70s and has interesting stories.The conversation centres around the fact it is not a technical problem which needs solving but a human one. Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2022-05-201h 06BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastA Conversation with The European Heat Pump AssociationSend us a textIn this episode Nathan talks to Thomas Nowak the Secretary General of the EHPA.Thomas has a wealth of knowledge in the European Heat Pump space and has been disseminating good advice for quite some time.Take a listenWe are currently the #1 energy podcast in the UK hereSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2022-05-061h 06BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastProtons for Breakfast - Flow Temp and HTC MeasurementsSend us a textIn this episode Nathan chats to retired physicists Michael de Podesta about his video on how to quickly get an idea of the heat loss of your home. You can follow him on Twitter at @Protons4B and find his blog hereSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2022-04-231h 04BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastTalking Heat Pumps with NESTASend us a textNathan knows the good people at NESTA quite well and likes their pragmatism. In this episode Nathan has a chat with Madeleine Gabriel the sustainable mission director and Andrew Sissons, the deputy mission director.They discuss insulation and how you do not need deep retrofit for heat pumps to work, even efficiently. Conversation also discusses the cost of heat pump installations and the electricity price.A great episodeSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, T...
2022-03-121h 01BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastBattery Storage for the HomeSend us a textIn this episode Nathan chats with regular guest host Ken Bone and Rachael Peterson an electronics and software engineer. Both guests are early adopters of battery technology for use within their own homes.They also have PV and Heat Pumps and a bonus episode exists on the patreon site where you can hear both guests talk about the integration of all these technologiesFasten your seat belts for this one.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin...
2022-03-0234 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastMonitoring Heating SystemsSend us a textNathan chats to Stephanie who was monitoring heat pump systems out in Canada.One of the things Nathan is passionate about is using monitoring and Smart HTC to measure real heat loss. Monitoring can also be used to establish performance and highlight either faulty equipment or bad installation practice.In the Autumn of 2021 Nathan gave evidence to a policy commission involving members of BEIS, the CCC and OFGEM on the importance of monitoring.Enjoy the episodeSupport the showLearn more a...
2022-02-1251 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastFuel Poverty and ModulationSend us a textGas prices have risen. This is having a dramatic effect on the poor. Nathan discusses the sorry state of ECO, the Energy Companies Obligation and how boilers have been installed in such a way that the heating systems in the homes of the fuel poor are not as efficient as they should be. Is anyone to blame? Is anyone researching this?To listen to the bonus episodes, including one coming shortly on how radiators are sized correctly for your home please sign up Support the showLearn m...
2022-02-0530 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastCleaning Up Energy with Michael LiebreichSend us a textIn an experimental podcast episode Nathan chats to his friend and world renowned Michael Liebreich who hosts the Cleaning Up podcast. It is a dual podcast and will go out on BetaTalk and Cleaning Up. You can even watch it here on YouTubeNathan and Michael discuss how we have the technology for low carbon heating but lack the skills to implement it. As an expert on finance Michael touches on the fact that investment money is there ready and waiting. If you would like to hear extra bonus...
2022-01-301h 07BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastWhy Don't New Build Homes Have Heat Pumps?Send us a textPlanning permission and planning allocation are complex topics and Nathan invited along his friend Rico Wojtulewicz, the head of housing and policy at the National Federation of Builders, for a chat about how the planning process hinders the uptake of low carbon heating technology such as heat pumps.A fantastic episode where Nathan learns new terms and concepts such asOpen SpacesLocal Development OrderReserved MattersBiodiversity Net GainCall for SightsSubdivision of large sitesHousingDelivery Test The National Federation is similar yet different to the Home Builders Federation where you will find t...
2022-01-2158 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastThe Training Fiasco in Plumbing & HeatingSend us a textNathan was joined by a very special guest on the first episode of a new season sponsored by the Heat Geek Team. Nathan has been trying to help the heating industry realise there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way we train people. Many people are now involved in the training and education discourse, but unfortunately they have little understanding around the science of learning. So, for this episode, Nathan interviews one of the world's leading experts on the subject Nick Shackleton Jones. Nick has worked for S...
2021-12-211h 01BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastThe Most Important Component in a Heating SystemSend us a textCorrosion is a big problem in wet central heating systems. The water within the heating system is the cheapest yet regarded as the most important component. Unfortunately, it's perhaps the least understood and often neglected.Many boiler breakdowns are caused by corrosion and in a transition to heat pumps we will need to be careful about water quality.Nathan chats to his good friend Ricky from Thoroughflush and Simon from elexion about VDI2035.VDI2035 is a German standard for water quality and unlike the BS7593 (2019) it understands...
2021-12-141h 03BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDecarbonising Homes- A chat with policy expert Guy NeweySend us a textNathan chats to a good friend of the podcast, Guy Newey, about decarbonising our homes and heatingGuy is Director of Strategy and Performance at the Energy Systems Catapult - (sponsor of season 3 of BetaTalk) He was the Energy Adviser to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Greg Clark and Special Advisor to former Energy Secretary Amber Rudd. He has also worked as Head of Policy at OVO, one of the UK's energy suppliers, and was Head of Environment and Energy at think tank P...
2021-11-261h 09BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastWhat Kind of Heat Pump?Send us a textNathan has a conversation with industry veteran Bob Beattie about air to air heat pumps which have been heating and cooling us for many years outside of our homes.Bob and Nathan discuss mini splits, multi splits and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems (otherwise known as variable refrigerant volume VRVOften, discussions around heat pumps in the media only concentrate on air to water heat pumps e.g. air source heat pumps which transfer heat to a wet system such as underfloor or radiator circuits or ground source heat...
2021-11-1651 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastComfort As A Service - Sero & Optimised RetrofitSend us a textNathan speaks with his season 4 sponsors Sero and the Welsh Government Optimised Retrofit ProgrammeCheck out what the team all look like here https://youtu.be/vLsZNO9UPuACall to action for installers and SME's https://www.optimised-retrofit.wales/partners-procurement-sme/More info on Sero https://sero.group/press-room/sero-sets-the-standard-for-delivering-zero-carbon-homes/Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2021-10-2758 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastThe Heat in Buildings Strategy - A Chat with Mathew Aylott from BEISSend us a textThe long awaited strategy was out this week and Nathan had the chance to chat with Matthew who heads up the electrification team.BEIS have worked hard to pull this strategy together which is bound to please some and perplex others. The boiler upgrade scheme is hot topic and "heat pumps" trended the day of the announcement. Take a listen on the BetaTalk PodcastSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2021-10-211h 00BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastCan ALL Homes Be Heated With Heat Pumps - Theoretically YESSend us a textYou just have Nathan on this episode who wanted to help explain further what is going on with heat in a home e.g. how does heat move, how is heat measured, what is the relationship between energy (joules) and power (Watts)Sit back and enjoy. Please, please share this episode with others as it will help. If you are a heating engineer, PAS assessor or coordinator please sign up to the email list in the link below if you would like to be part of the Learning Support P...
2021-10-0533 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastBig Heat Pumps - Talking to Dave Pearson from Star Renewable EnergySend us a textBig heat pumps powering district heat networks is the topic of conversation. Nathan chats with a well known figure from the vapour compression industry Dave Pearson, the Group Sustainable Development Director from Star Renewable Energy.Star Renewable Energy, based in Glasgow, Scotland is responsible for the world’s largest 90°C natural heat pump for district heating based in Drammen, Norway.Star uses ammonia, a naturally occurring refrigerant with zero ozone depletion potential for their heat pumps. They have just built the water source heat pump for the Clyde Bank dis...
2021-09-181h 08BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastWhat is a Hydrogen and Hydrogen Ready Boiler?Send us a textIn this very honest episode Nathan chat's to Martyn Bridges from Worcester Bosch about 100% hydrogen boilers and hydrogen ready boilers, also known as H2 ready boilers. Worcester Bosch are a very well known boiler brand here in the UK who are also involved with renewable technology such as solar thermal, air to air heat pumps, air to water heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. There is a lot of confusion around hydrogen and the decarbonisation of heat and hopefully this episode is able to answer some questions.
2021-09-051h 05BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastWhat is the Best Boiler - if you can not have a heat pump yet?Send us a textWhat is the best boiler features on some consumer sites. Unfortunately, these consumer sites have very little knowledge around boilers so it is best to take their advice with a pinch of salt .In this episode Nathan chats to Si Posket who is going to be doing a lot more heat pump work with his friend Craig from https://cbrookesheating.co.uk/ We also chat to Damon from https://blakemoreplumbingandheating.co.uk/ who has really impressed Nathan with his commitment to the industry and to learning....
2021-08-231h 17BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastZoning Heat Pumps Can Be Bad For Comfort & EfficiencySend us a textZoning heat pumps and heating systems is the topic of this episode. We chat with Adam Chapman AKA Heat Geek who is one of the BetaTalk Heat Architects about a recent video he published on youtube https://youtu.be/zpTVIeUh04E Adam runs the Heat Geek Hydronics course and you can find a discount code at Nathan's website https://www.betateach.co.uk/We also get to chat with Jez Climas who is a very rare breed of merchant who actually understands the technology he sells along with the...
2021-08-071h 26BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDecarbonising Heat in America: a conversation with Nate The House WhispererSend us a textDecarbonising heat is a world wide challenge and Nathan had a conversation with Nate in Virginia USA to see what is going on over there.Season 4 has a short bulletin at the end of each episode where Nathan and the Welsh Government Optimised Retrofit team listen to coal face engineers to learn about any issues and barriers they think they may face with a transition to renewables. Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, T...
2021-07-011h 11BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRetrofit with PAS2035 and TrustMarkSend us a textIn this episode Nathan chats to his friend Colin King from Sero group who manage the Welsh Governments Optimised Retrofit programme and are season 4 sponsor of BetaTalk. Colin spent time at the BRE and is highly regarded voice within retrofit. He helped develop the PAS 2035 standards which came about from the Each Home Counts review. Nathan is also joined by Isaac Occhipinti from HHIC and Phil Mason from TrustMark to discuss how PAS2035 and TrustMark can fit into the transition to renewable heating and retrofitting our homes.In the Be...
2021-06-071h 08BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastSolar Thermal HybridSend us a textWe have a great chat with regular guest Steve about a solar thermal hybrid system he has recently commissioned for a customer. In the bulletin at the end we speak with Paul, a past president at the CIPHE about any barriers into renewables and retrofit.Sign up to the email at http://www.betateach.co.uk/ to learn more about Steve and other engineers designsSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2021-05-2858 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastTo Heat Pump Hull & BackSend us a textJoin James P and James C from Elite, a renewable and gas installation company based in Hull.We hear about their experience with the green homes grant and the renewable heat incentive and the uptake of heat pumps. James P comes from the PV industry and we learn how he teamed up with partner James from the gas boiler industry. We also chat with Lee Fischer who now works at Sero.Subscribe to receive the newsletter which features some of the finest heating engineers and their projects at http://www...
2021-05-151h 12BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastEvergreen Energy's Approach to the Electrification of HeatSend us a textIn this last episode of season 3 Nathan speaks with Evergreen Energy about how they will train their installers and engineers for the uptake of heat pumps. Gas engineer Ben was also on the show to discuss his training journey.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2021-04-291h 01BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast5 Common Mistakes with Heat Pump Installs (Part 2)Send us a textIn part 1 we heard Steve's common heat pump mistakes now we get to hear from another #betatalk heat architect Si Poskett.It's worth remembering heat pumps are just the heat source on a system, rather like a boiler is the heat source on a system. It is understanding the system as a whole which is the important part. If you wish to learn about hydronic system design you can use my discount code BETA5 with this coursehttps://courses.heatgeek.com/ref/10/?campaign=BetaTeach&HeatGeek
2021-04-1237 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast5 Common Mistakes with Heat Pump Installs (Part 1)Send us a textHeat Pumps are fantastic technology. They first trialed in homes in 1948. But they do have to be installed and used correctly. In the first episode we listen to Steve, one of the BetaTalk Heat Architects. In the second episode we listen to Si Poskett another BetaTalk Heat Architect Want to learn all about hydronics to help you in your profession? Whether you are an engineer, sustainability manager, environmental editor or working in the energy sector it will help you. Warning: this stuff can seem complex.Click the li...
2021-04-1036 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastGround Source & Water Source Heat PumpsSend us a textNathan talks to Victor Hyman who is the executive director of climate care, a cooperative of around 30 HVAC contractors in Ontario Canada, and Robin Curtis who has been involved with ground and water source heat pumps for many moons. This episode covers some history of GSHP as well as discussing what open loop and closed loop systems are both in water sources and vertical bore holes Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2021-03-1855 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHow to Train the Army of Engineers Needed to Decarbonise HeatSend us a textNathan discusses how he thinks LA's will need to know who the good engineers are and how the self employed may not want to become MCS.He also introduces us to BetaTeach, the methodology needed for effective training and how LA's, Manufacturers and Associations can all pledge their support.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2021-03-0351 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastCommunity Energy Projects, Energy Hubs & Local Area Energy PlansSend us a textLocal Area Energy Plans are something this seasons sponsors Energy Systems Catapult are keen to promote. Different parts of the country will require different stratagies to decarbonise heat, distribute power and organise transport. In the episode Nathan talks to community hero John Talylor who is involved with Greater South East Energy Hub, one of the five energy hubs across the country. Energy Hubs are made up of local enterprise partnerships such as New Anglia in Nathan's region. John discusses what funding is available to local communities (e.g. Rural Community Energy Fu...
2021-02-1751 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastAre Heat Pumps Cheap to RunSend us a textAgile tariffs, wholesale electricity price, peak and off peak electricity are some of the themes being discussed here with Nathan's guests Helen and Karalos from https://www.evergreenenergy.co.uk/ and Leah from https://www.yourenergyyourway.co.uk/Nathan is talking to Evergreen Energy about the Homely device, a thermostat which monitors electricity pricing and can switch your heat pump on and off according to the electricity prices. Dynamic tariffs being offerd from some companies will price electricity according to how much renewable surplus there is. But for a be...
2021-02-0643 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastCan I Have a Heat PumpSend us a textIn the first episode after betatalk won the British Renewable Energy Awards communication category Nathan is joined by two of his favourite engineers Steve and Steve. Along for the ride is Dominic representing the consumer perspective but who ls has vast experience regarding heat loss measurement and building fabric.Topics and themes discussed are do radiators need to bigger for heat pumps; pipe sizing for heat pumps e.g. can microbore be used for heat pumps.Electric capacity for heat pumps is also discussed along with buffer types and...
2021-01-291h 05BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastWhat is Heat As A ServiceSend us a textThis episode was recorded mid 2020Nathan discusses heat as a service with Matthew Lipson, Dave Smith and Jayesh Kanbi.Matthew works at https://es.catapult.org.uk/ (energy systems catapult) and has experience working at the Dept of Energy & Climate Change (now the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy ) and the Climate Change Committee. He regularly engages on social media with Nathan and other engineers in the heating space and is a firm friend of the podcast. Dave Smith is a heating engineer and has been in t...
2021-01-0350 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHow To Get MCS Accredited & the Green Homes Grant BottleneckSend us a textIn this episode Nathan speaks with Adam Chapman from https://heatgeek.com/ about his experience with becoming MCS accredited. It's often heard how MCS is very complex for a heating engineer to undertake so Adam tries to help alleviate any of the mystery.Adam is finding the process enjoyable and hopefully we will see many more smaller companies and sole traders obtain MCS. However, we discuss how the green homes grant, which has driven up demand for technologies such as solar thermal heating systems and heat pumps has also created a...
2020-12-1753 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastFabric First? Not alwaysSend us a textIn this episode Nathan speaks with Adam Chapman from Vito Energy and heat geek which is an excellent resource for consumers and engineers. This episode centres around what we can do right now to our heating systems to reduce carbon emissions. Fabric First is inculcated and for obvious reasons. However, there is often something which can be done to the heating system at no cost (or for very little) and with no disruption to the customer which reduces emissions. Scale this up across the 22 to 23 million gas boilers installed and we c...
2020-11-301h 13BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastTen Heat Pump MythsSend us a textIn this episode Nathan's guests myth bust heat pumps. He is joined by Bean from the Ground Source Heat Pump Association and Heat Pump Federation; Robin who is also from the GSHPA and Bill, a heat pump specialist. All 3 guests are engineers with a vast amount of knowledge with heat pump technology. Heat pumps are a recognised technology for helping the UK decarbonise heat and reach net zero. Unfortunately, there does seem to be some myths about what they can and can not do. Here are the myths around he...
2020-11-152h 01BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastAre Heat Pumps Expensive? A discussion with Evergreen Energy about Assignment of RightsSend us a textIn this episode Nathan discusses with Evergreen Energy how consumers are able to get help with the upfront cost of renewable heating technology.Evergreen Energy are an OFGEM approved investor who are able to offer consumers the chance to assign the RHI (renewable heat incentive) payments over to them in order to have a heat pump system installed at a much cheaper rate than is often considered. Listen to Helen explain how Evergreen Energy was engendered by entrepreneur Stephen Critchlow.Simon explains a little about the assignment o...
2020-11-0557 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDistrict Heating, Heat Networks, Solar Heat Networks part 1Send us a textGuests: Ingo Leusbrock Head of department "Cities and Networks" at AEE Institute For Sustainable Technologie a Non-profit research institute in Gleisdorf, Austria https://www.aee-intec.at/index.php?lang=enResearch and demonstration on renewable energy and energy and resource efficiency with strong focus on the thermal.This includes district heating and cooling, but also spatial energy planning, Positive Energy Districts. With main projects / contribution: ThermaFLEX, national flagship project with 27 partners on concept development and demonstration of "flexibility measures" in district heatingParticipant in IEA DHC and I...
2020-07-2432 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pumps and Solar Heat - The Challenges and Complexities of Installing Low Carbon Technologies Part 2Send us a textVisit the BetaTeach Youtube Channel where you'll be able to see my BetaTalk guests. Please like and subscribe. 00:30 Heat Pump manufacturer training01:58 Heat Pump supply chain issues. Heat Pump and solar thermal technology is not ordinarily stocked in plumbing merchants. Getting it delivered often involves extra contingency and logistics.05:36 Solar Thermal suppliers and the issues with obtaining solar heat components08:35 Why heat pump engineers often have to add on price09:45 Heating engineers are now self employed, does this cause problems? Will there be a shift back to em...
2020-07-1352 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pumps and Solar Heat - The Challenges and Complexities of Installing Low Carbon TechnologiesSend us a textSubscribe to this podcast on Spotify and iTunes and find this episode also on the BetaTeach Youtube Channel. Please leave a good review to help others interested in these essential topics find us through search engines. Heat Pump podcasts I imagine a few and far between. This one likes to meet the engineers installing heat pumps, solar thermal systems etc. to see and understand the challenges which they face. Engineers are at the front line of installing renewable technology and have different vantage points to other cohorts interested in reducing CO2 e...
2020-07-0331 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHow to be a Renewable Heating EngineerSend us a textPhil Hurley MD of NIBE and the vice chairperson of the Heat Pump Association, Paul Hull the campaign director of Gas Safe Super Hero's and Keith Harrison discuss with Nathan on the BetaTeach BetaTallk podcast how gas and oil engineers can transition to low carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps and solar heat.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2020-06-1030 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating with Dan Cæsar from the Fully Charged ShowSend us a textDan and Robert Llewellyn (from Red Dwarf and Scrapheap Challenge fame) are extremely well known for their love of electric vehicles which they discuss on the hugely popular Fully Charged Show. However, they are passionate about ALL forms of renewable energy and will soon be doing a lot more about the available technology to heat our homes and hot water. Dan manages the The Fully Charged Show and has a fantastic knowledge of the heating industry which he discusses with Nathan in this wonderful episode. Topics discussed:
2020-05-2237 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastBattery Storage - Lithium and SodiumSend us a textActive buildings, energy storage, lithium ion batteries and strategic materials, it's all here. Listen to podcast friend Dr Gavin Harper a Faraday Institution Research Fellow School of Physics and Astronomy at Birmingham University chat with Dr Jen Baker from SPECIFIC at the University of Swansea about sustainability and second life batteries. Also joining Nathan is the MD for the ACEON Group, a battery manufacturer involved in developing the MCS standards for battery installation Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter an...
2020-05-0234 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pump and Policy Chat with Jan Rosenow Richard Lowes and Lee FischerSend us a textHeat Pumps are the topic on the second podcast recorded via Zoom on lockdown. However, this is the first episode to ever be uploaded to youtube which you can fine here https://youtu.be/HynxIiEuP1YNathan chats to UK heating engineer Lee Fischer who is based in Lincoln, regular guest Richard Lowes and Jan Rosenow Principal and European Programme Directorat the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)Dr. Rosenow serves on the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency’s demand-side management program and sits on the board of...
2020-04-3032 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastLow Carbon Heating and Soil RegenerationSend us a textCan Low Loss Headers and Buffer tanks be installed onto heat pump systems and other renewable heating topics are discussed in this episode but also land regeneration and how soil locks in carbon. Nathan speaks with regular guest host Brandon who is currently on lockdown in New Zealand with his family.Some topics discussed:Comparison of New Zealand and UK building regulationsSolar Heat not being discussed enoughZoning vs WCHome made WhiskeyRegenerative AgricultureSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by following...
2020-04-2338 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating - Heat Pumps & Solar Heat with GrantSend us a textLow temp heating design along with heat pumps is todays discussion at the HQ of Grant who are well known in the industry. Grant is essentially an off-grid company known in the heating sector for their oil boilers, heat pumps and Nathan’s favourite: Solar Heat or also known as Solar Thermal.Nathan gets to chat with Grant’s training manager Phil, and two of his favourite engineers Paul and Steve.You will hear the following topics:
2020-03-3059 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Energy - Kensa Ground Source Heat Pumps Part 1Send us a textKensa Ground Source Heat Pumps are the topic of this weeks betatalk podcast.Nathan took along some of his usual guest engineers to Kensa's HQ to have a chat about heat pumps, training and their "shoebox" design for district and community heating systems.Topics discussed are:Geology of the UK Drilling bore holes for heat pumpsCalculating the ground array for ground source heat pumpsShoebox vs heat interface unitsCan the grid cope with heat pumpsNuclear is bad for the environmentIt's a good episode...enjoy
2020-03-0345 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Energy with IMS Heat PumpsSend us a textMeet Emma, Sue, Alan, Lee and Andrew members of a team based in Sheffield and Perth Scotland who specialise in heat pump installations. With over a 100 years of combined experience Nathan enjoyed his visit to chat with the team.Nathan and Emma chat regularly on Social Media and her passion about standards and design within this sector really shows through. Listen till the end where you'll hr Emma make some fantastic points.Alan installed his first heat pump back in 1996 and he talks about design of the system and...
2020-02-2345 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Energy - Diversity and InclusionSend us a textIn this episode Nathan travelled to meet Rebecca from Building People and Abi Burns and Leah Robson from Your Energy Your Way. The discussion considered inclusion and diversity within the renewable and construction sector.Abi comes from a research background and is now training with Your Energy Your Way so we touched on training within the renewable sector. Leah does a grand job of describing a sunamp heat storage unit to Rebecca and how they work with a phase change material PCM.You can hear also how...
2020-02-1247 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating - Heat Policy Part 2Send us a textCarbon capture storage, gas networks, Future Homes Standard it's all discussed in part 2 of Ken Bone and Nathan's trip to Cornwall to meet with Richard Lowes. In this episode we are also joined by Sovay Berriman who discusses her transition into the heating world from art and higher education.At the beginning of the episode you will hear Richard talk about the ways engineers can help shape policy. It's not easy but he gives examples. He also mentions a study which was carried out by Faye Wade at Edinburgh university which...
2020-02-111h 01BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating - Heat Policy and RegulationSend us a textEnergy and sustainable policy is the topic of this episode. Nathan travels to meet with Richard Lowes, a wonderful gentleman well known in area of heat policy within the UK. Richard has worked on policy regarding the future of the gas grid and started a PhD in 2014 which looked at the development of policy within the heating industry: how it started and how different interests lobby. A main question being asked by academics is: " do industries in the market help drive change or hinder it?"Not only was it interesting to...
2020-02-0447 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating - Bristol Heating EngineersSend us a textBristol heating engineers Ben, Simon and Craig chat with Nathan about renewables and the gas heating industry. They discuss the importance of heating system design and how it is vital to obtain efficiency.In this episode you will hear about the types of renewable heating these engineers have worked with and how social housing would benefit from renewables and boilers set up efficiently.This seasons podcast is sponsored by https://mcscertified.comSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by following
2020-01-2548 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating - Heat PumpsSend us a textOnce again Nathan speaks to Brandon and Richard for this podcast on heatpumps. This time we have Brandon's nephew with us who is an apprentice. So a little training theme within this episode. Accountability is a main theme e.g. what happens if heat pumps are installed incorrectly. Other topics include:Data EfficiencyIoT and its use within the heating industryCompetenceHeat Pump System DesignPlease enjoy and if you have any questions about heat pumps or want to reach out to any of the...
2020-01-1652 minBetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastRenewable Heating - An overviewSend us a textRenewable heat is a hot topic, pardon the pun, and to kick start a new season of BetaTalk Nathan visits expert engineers Brandon from https://www.btseheating.com/ Ken from https://www.renewable-heat.co.uk/ and Richard from https://theintergasshop.co.uk/In this episode Nathan introduces MCS who will sponsor this season's episodes. They will all have a renewable heat theme and in this first episode Nathan discusses with his guests different types of renewable technology.Ken and Brandon have been on the show before and they and...
2020-01-0246 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeat Pumps in the UK - An IntroductionSend us a textRetrofitting heat pumps or installing heat pumps in new builds is a hot topic. Here Nathan chats with Ken Bone from https://www.renewable-heat.co.uk, Paul from Highland Plumbing & Heating Ltd ( https://t.co/aBzV2fwgCR?amp=1) and father and son team James and Ashley from http://h2o-plumbingandheating.co.uk.All have some experience with heat pumps and the episode is to give listeners a general idea of what they are and how they work. More episodes will be coming soon.Nathan, who is a speaker and...
2019-11-2136 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastDiploma Plumbing Students looking for ApprenticeshipsSend us a textDiploma Plumbing Students make up the majority of students on plumbing courses.Contrary to popular belief, not all school leavers go onto uni to for A levels. Hundreds of thousands enrol each year onto college construction and building services course. Most will never enter industry as the apprenticeship opportunities simple are not out there for these young people, or even the mature students who undertake the diploma course.Here, Nathan visits Guilford College to chat to George, Nicole and Jack and discuss how they are getting on at the start...
2019-11-0726 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastHeating System Training at The Heating AcademySend us a textHeating system design is back in vogue (it never should have gone out of fashion as it's extremely vital). Here, Nathan travels to Northampton to visit Kim where he trains heating engineers in system design.It should always be noted that the heat source whether it's a boiler or heat pump requires an efficient heating system otherwise there is no real efficiency. IMI Hydronic Engineering, Heat-Engineer.com and The Heating Academy understand how important heating system design is and are doing there best along with BetaTeach to get that message out.
2019-11-0749 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastIMI Hydronic Engineering Chat with Alex, Luke and Scott.Send us a textIn this conversation Nathan chats to Luke, Scott and Alex and discusses how they got into industry. They had all just attended the IMI Hydronic training so we get to listen to their views on what they just learned. Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2019-10-2119 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastIMI Training with The Heating HubSend us a textIMI Hydronic training attracts some great engineers. Listen to Nathan chat with Al, Kevin and Jo from The Heating Hub.Topics discussed:How IMI are bringing science back into heat engineeringBoiler companies will have to adapt quicklyDo sites like BOXT add value to the industryWhat is The Heating HubOversizing PipeworkWill smaller boiler companies take the leadSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2019-09-2454 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastGas Safety Week 2019 with Gas Safety Super Heroes and the Gas Safe RegisterSend us a textGas Safety Week raises awareness within the heating industry and Nathan has been joined by Paul Hull from the Gas Safety Super Heroes and Rob Howard from Gas Safe to discuss the various topics surrounding gas safety.Topics Discussed What happens on your first gas safe inspectionPersonal CO alarmsTraining issues, problems and ACSCould manufactures play a larger role in gas safetyRegardthecardSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky
2019-09-1954 min
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastSolar Thermal Heating Systems - Busting the Myths & Why it's so GoodSend us a textEvacuated 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)
2019-08-131h 01
BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating PodcastGas Safe Engineers, Andy, Lee and Ian Discuss the Gas Boiler Industry and Social Media.Send us a textGas 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 knowledgeApprenticeships and fast track...
2019-08-1247 min