Mitsubishi Electric has just completed a successful seminar programme to promote the use of heat pumps with hundreds of social housing providers nationwide.
The half day events were held in places as far apart as Inverness and Exeter and allowed representatives from housing associations and local authorities, among others, to hear from industry experts and speak to the company's own technicians.

Heat pumps such as the company's Ecodan range, allow social housing providers to tackle fuel poverty and climate reduction commitments in a scalable way that means they can readily fit in with a refurbishment and improvement programme. They also qualify for the Government's Renewable Heat Incentive, which is due to start in April 2014.

Mitsubishi Electric organised the nationwide tour because it realised that busy housing association representatives do not always have time to visit mainstream exhibitions. This can often mean that social housing providers are unable to access relevant information or hear from peers who have been successfully using heat pumps to help tackle fuel poverty and carbon emissions.

Marketing manager for Mitsubishi Electric's heating division, Graham Temple, said: 'We have been working closely with several housing associations and have developed a good understanding of many of the issues they face. We have also built links with many independent industry experts so designed these events to make them as informative as possible.'

In addition to an explanation of key pieces of legislation, incentives and regulations, such as the Green Deal, the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Code for Sustainable Homes, the seminars also incorporated first-hand experience from existing housing associations that have used renewable heat pumps for several years.

Mitsubishi Electric also took its mobile display vehicle to each venue so that attendees could hear from other social housing providers about the technology, see it in action and quiz the company's technical experts.

Mr Temple said: 'We are now looking at plans for next year so if anyone was not able to get along this time, they should get in touch so we can see what demand exists for another tour.'

Further details on the comprehensive range of legislative guides available, along with detailed case studies on the Ecodan air source heat pump are available on the company's website at www.heating.mitsubishielectric.co.uk.