Leading manufacturers, consultants, contractors and end users are being invited to compete for top honours in the forthcoming National Heat Pump Awards 2012.

Entries are now invited for eleven categories in the expanded annual awards, which celebrate top technology, projects and personal contributions in this rapidly emerging renewable energy sector.

With energy prices rising sharply, heat pumps are seen as one of the most promising renewable energy technologies. They capture free energy from the environment – from the air, ground or water – and harness it to provide low-cost, low-carbon heating for homes, commercial premises and industry.

As a result, modern heat pumps enable businesses and home owners to significantly reduce their energy costs – in some cases by as much as 50 per cent – while ensuring high quality comfort.

Launched last year to acclaim, The National Heat Pump Awards celebrate the best new products coming on-stream and their application in projects across the UK. The competition is backed by the industry’s leading bodies and some of the biggest companies in the market.

With the need to establish the energy-saving potential of renewables, the awards organisers have set clear evaluation criteria so that entries can be judged on a level playing field and valid comparisons drawn between products and applications.

Tony Bowen, chairman of the judging panel, said: “The first year produced a good number of entries and indications of a growing market. The judges would like to see clear evidence of performance monitoring this year, and the guidance has been

updated to encourage this. People need to see the evidence of low running costs and happy customers. We know it's true, but we need to see the data.”

He added: “People go to a lot of trouble to gather the information for entries – and this can be used in all sorts of ways. For example, the winning entry for one of last year’s awards was submitted to Greg Barker, Minister for Climate Change, as proof positive of the impact of heat pumps.”

Despite hiccups in the introduction of Government incentives schemes, sales of non-subsidised heat pumps are reported to be rising steadily – driven by rising energy costs and growing awareness of the energy-saving potential of the technology.

There is government assistance for commercial ground-source heat pumps under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, while homeowners can get support for certain projects under the Renewable Heat Pump Premium (RHPP), operated by the Energy Saving Trust.

The expanded awards, now an annual event in the industry’s calendar, have an expanded judging panel. Newly appointed is Danny Davis, principal technical officer with the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering.

Danny Davis says: “I believe heat pumps have a bright future. With the tightening in the economy and continuing sharp increases in energy costs, businesses and homeowners are looking to reduce their outgoings. A well designed and installed heat pump can make a big impact.”

He added: “The key, of course, is to ensure that systems are properly designed and installed. I believe we are at a critical stage in the introduction of the technology; it is vital that we protect the good name of heat pumps in the market so that the public keeps faith. The awards have an important role to play, by spreading awareness of best practice and holding up the best of the best on a national stage.”

The awards culminate in a gala dinner accompanied by an evening of top class entertainment at the ICC in Birmingham, on 31 May, 2012.

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