FMB launches Green Deal Certification Service for small builders

The Federation of Master Builders has launched a certification scheme to boost small builders’ ability to participate in the Green Deal. The government initiative is intended to boost retrofit work by allowing householders to fund energy efficiency improvement through savings in their energy bills. Thus, the FMB Certification will offer Green Deal Installer Certification for […]

First Eco-Town receives stamp of approval

Housing association A2Dominion and developer P3Eco have received planning permission for the UK’s first eco town scheme in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The development will initially involve building 393 level five homes built according to the code for sustainable homes on a 50 acre site. A total of 40% of the land will be left open for […]

Changes to RHI payments met with scepticism

The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has expressed uncertainty about funding changes for the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. In mid- June the DECC announced an upper limit of £70 million for 2012/2013 and a reduction in the notice period for the scheme to be suspended shortened from a month at 80% threshold to a week at […]

Green Deals will take longer to pay off than predicted

Recent research has demonstrated that retrofits on homes deliver less than three-quarters of expected energy savings. Further new research has shown that only low cost Green Deal measures are likely to meet the flagship energy efficiency scheme’s “golden rule” payback criteria because energy efficiency retrofits perform significantly below predicted levels. Under the Green Deal energy […]

BRE delays retrofit Standard

The launch of a BREEAM standard for retrofit in non-domestic buildings has been delayed by a year and this has caused concern by many industry voices. Originally, at the launch of its most recent iteration of BREEAM for new buildings in July last year, the BRE stated that it would develop the standard by 2012. […]

Viability of Green Deal put under threat by Brussels VAT rule

Building merchants have warned that the VAT hike by the EU Directive is threatening to hinder the success of the Green Deal and suppress the market for building materials. The European Commission has told the Government to amend UK legislation which allows a reduced VAT rate for the supply and installation of energy-saving materials such […]

High Court action for Green Deal Oversight

Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (REAL) and the Renewable Energy Association are being claimed of “incompleteness” and “unfairness” in regulating the solar manufacturing.  REAL sets code for conduct for solar installers to comply with.  One solar panel installation company called Crystal Doors and Windows made claims to High Court that REAL disobeyed its own code of […]

David Cameron in bid to save Green Deal

Prime minister, David Cameron intends to rescue the Green Deal by commissioning the Cabinet Office for an urgent briefing on how to rescue this flagship energy efficiency scheme so as to avoid a collapse in insulation installations The intervention came about just weeks after the success of the flagship energy efficiency policy was put at […]

Newcastle joins Green Deal

A New Council-led local authority partnership has become the second local government group to reveal plans for a Green Deal scheme. The Warm Up North partnership of six local authorities released tender documents later for the retrofit of up to 15 000 homes over the next 3 years. Furthermore, the scheme is worth to be […]

Housebuilders reject green homes proposal

Housebuilders have called for the Government to drop its proposed upgrade to energy efficiency regulations, as the industry determines how well existing homes are performing. The House Builders’ Federation (HBF) said the government should disregard the proposed 2013 increase in the energy performance of new build homes in its submission to the government’s Part L […]

Government downgrades forecast for solar industry

Following changes to the cost control mechanisms for the solar power feed-in tariff (FIT), the government has cut its forecast for the capacity of solar electricity panels by almost half. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) publicised that it would cut solar subsidies by almost 25% from August followed by further cuts every three […]

Confusion over deadline for FITs cuts

Solar installation has been a surprising success for the UK. The government has helped this growing industry through the payment of feed-in-tariffs (FITs), a subsidy allowing investors in small-scale renewables to sell units of the electricity produced to a supplier of their choice. Introduced in April 2010 by the previous Labour administration, the tariff was […]

50% of MPs not actively promoting Green Deal

A recent poll from Green Deal Dialogue group shows that large sections of the House of Commons have not engaged with the energy-efficiency scheme. The poll revealed that half of MPs have no plans to help promote the Green Deal in their area. A survey of 100 MPs conducted by the e Green Deal Dialogue […]

Revised EU ruling hinders retrofit boom

Obligation to retrofit all public buildings will now be limited to central government buildings only The original Energy Efficiency Directive was set to be the driving force behind a huge public sector retrofit market by obliging governments to retrofit 2.5% of all public buildings by floor area (council housing inclusive) each year. However, the final […]

The Code for Sustainable Homes: PV or Solar Thermal?

The rising targets and requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes has led to somewhat conflicting information and views with regards to what is most practical and cost effective renewable energy solution techniques and methods. Since inception, Syntegra Consulting has actively approached influential and key decision makers within the building and construction industry with the […]