COVENTRY: Graham, the plumbers’ merchant, has released its new Renewable Overview Guide, designed to deliver a comprehensive outline of the wide range of renewable technologies available from Graham. The guide, which supports Graham’s newly launched Greenworks training academy, covers heat pump, solar and water technologies.

With 50% of the UK’s energy used for heating and hot water – a figure that rises to 75% in domestic applications, Graham is committed to helping households reduce emissions levels through its wide range of energy efficient products.

Developed by Graham after identifying a distinct knowledge gap of renewable technologies on the market, the guide will help professionals realise the potential business opportunity and lead the way forward in this growing sector. Supporting the guide, Graham’s dedicated Greenworks Training Academy in Birmingham is able to offer theoretical and practical training on a wide range of sustainable products and renewable technologies.

Comprising a complete overview of the topics and issues facing the renewables sector, the guide discusses government feed-in tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme before looking at the ways in which Graham is able to offer relevant support by way of its specialist expertise and vast renewable product offering.

Heat pumps, which use minimal energy to transport heat from one location to another, are covered in Graham’s Renewable Overview Guide. The guide looks at how heat pumps work and how they can be put to use across a wide variety of domestic applications.

Similarly, the guide also discusses the use of solar technology, be it solar thermal or solar PV, and how it is possible to harness the energy generated in this way and transform it into free useable energy to heat water and electricity respectively.

The guide also includes information regarding the integration of rainwater harvesting and grey water technologies to deliver a water supply for use in non-potable applications. For example, such technology allows waste water used in a bath or shower to be re-used to flush a toilet, helping to reduce fresh water usage by up to 30% minimising associated water bill costs in the process.

Debbie-Sue Price of Graham Renewables, commented: “The Renewable Overview Guide has been created to help make it as simple as possible to understand how each renewable technology works and the ways in which they can be implemented to ensure applications are compliant with legislative standards. Combined with the launch of the Greenworks training academy, Graham is leading the way in terms of providing an outstanding level of specialist expertise for those responsible for installing renewable technology.

"To reinforce our commitment to the renewables sector, Graham are also the first merchant to ensure that all of our renewable specialists are trained to BPEC level on solar thermal and heat pump technologies providing added peace of mind to the customer.”

For the installer, Graham also offers the ability to achieve the mandatory qualifications required to install renewable technologies. Through Greenworks and its partnership with PPL, Graham can help installers become accredited with MCS certification, enabling the landlord or homeowner to be eligible to claim RHI and FiT incentives.

Celebrating 75 years experience within the industry this year, Graham provides plumbing professionals and general trade customers with the most up to date service available from a plumbing merchant network combined with a wide range of plumbing, bathroom, heating products, renewable energy solutions and heating spares.