Kingfisher Future Homes announced the launch of the Kingfisher iQE Alliance Partnership at Loughborough University

Loughborough, United Kingdom, 09-10-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — Kingfisher Future Homes is delighted to announce the official launch of the Kingfisher iQE Alliance Partnership, which took place at Loughborough University on Wednesday 25th September 2013.

The launch event also marked three important milestones in the Partnership’s history since initially forming in 2012:

• The appointment of an iQE Research Associate at Loughborough University sponsored by Kingfisher
• The start of a two-year testing, research and development programme
• The award of the first ever BSI Kitemark for Energy Efficiency in Buildings to the iQE Simplicity Gas Boiler

iQE is a range of energy efficient boilers, heating controls and installed home insulation products that have been developed by a group of leading manufacturers from around the world supported by Loughborough University as academic research partner. The range is sold exclusively by Kingfisher’s B&Q, Screwfix and TradePoint brands making it available to homeowners and to the trade.

As the Alliance’s academic partner, Loughborough University is providing expertise in product testing and the research and development of new products. The University is one of the UK’s leading academic institutions in the research of energy use in the home and holistic retrofit.

Speaking at the launch event, Ian Cheshire, Group Chief Executive of Kingfisher said:“Product is at the heart of everything Kingfisher does so the chance to work so closely with leading manufacturers, installers and Loughborough University was an opportunity too good to miss.

“To demonstrate Kingfisher’s commitments to the goals and ambitions of the Alliance we are delighted to announce sponsorship of the iQE Research Associate at Loughborough University, who will over the next two years bring all the knowledge and expertise of this great University to bear on the work of the Alliance.

“I believe that today marks a great step forwards for us and our customers and together we can help them have better, warmer homes and lead better lives.”

iQE has worked closely with the British Standards Institution (BSI) to pilot the first Energy Efficient Buildings Kitemark, which has been awarded to the iQE Simplicity Boiler. The BSI Kitemark™ for Energy Efficient Buildings schemes has been developed to reassure consumers that such products and services carry the mark are safe, reliable and energy efficient.

The new brand of boilers, which launched earlier this month, aims to help UK homeowners have more energy efficient homes and reduce energy bills. Homeowners can save an average of £310 a year if their boiler works efficiently.

Ian Draisey of Dulas MHH and chairman of the iQE Product Alliance, commented:“Here at iQE we’ve been working hard on creating the most energy efficient range of boilers to help households save both energy and money on their heating bills. We’ve been developing our range with our academic partner, Loughborough University, to test, research and develop the very latest in product efficiency and the award of the Kitemark shows how we are leading the way in energy saving. ”

Howard Kerr, Chief Executive of BSI commented: “Today’s achievement of the first BSI Kitemark for Energy Efficient Buildings will give homeowners the confidence to invest in boosting the thermal efficiency of their homes, helping address energy waste and reducing our heating bills. Industry initiatives such as iQE, will be an important element in helping the UK reach its 2020 carbon reduction targets.”

Loughborough University’s role in the iQE initiative is being led by Professor Kevin Lomas and Professor Dennis Loveday, of the Building Energy Research Group, School of Civil and Building Engineering.

Professor Lomas said: “We are delighted to be working with iQE to provide our technical expertise. We look forward to commencing the modelling work that will help iQE identify the packages of measures needed to help individual households save energy’.

Professor Loveday added: ‘We have the skills, experience and facilities to rigorously test and evaluate products, so that customers can feel confident that the measures installed will help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes”.

Contact:

For further information please contact Suzi Smith in the iQE press office on 02078963207 or email suzi@z-pr.com

Notes to editors:

About iQE:
iQE launched in 2013 and is a group of leading manufacturers and specialist installation contractors that have come together to create a unique product range of highly advanced, energy efficient products.

About Loughborough University:
Loughborough University is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It is a member of the 1994 Group of 11 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.

The University’s School of Civil and Building Engineering is part of one of the largest multi-disciplinary Engineering Schools in the UK.  The School aims to develop and nurture the skill required to face the challenges of our increasingly complex built environment. Our world-class teaching and research are integrated to support the technical and commercial needs of both industry and society. Much of the School’s research is sponsored and applied by many organisations in the civil engineering, construction and transport sectors.

About the iQE Alliance Partnership
The Alliance members have thought for a long time that developing product in isolation was a long way from ideal, so by coming together the Alliance is able to develop a fully integrated range of products that will drive performance, usability and energy efficiency.

Kingfisher plc
Kingfisher companies exclusively distribute iQE products, to homeowners through a fully installed offer under the B&Q Energy Saving brand and to trade customers through the Screwfix and TradePoint brands. Kingfisher is also investing in the development of iQE by sponsoring both the iQE Research Associate and Test House at Loughborough.

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Ian Cheshire officially opens the Loughborough University Energy Efficiency Test House