Energy Audit – Local Space Ltd, 58 Romford Road, London, E15
Syntegra Consulting has successfully undertaken a full energy audit of the head offices of Local Space housing association in East London. The energy audit involved a site survey where the existing HVAC systems, building fabric, small power and IT were surveyed. The aim of the site survey was to document the building’s energy performance and […]
Air Conditioning Inspection – Woodley House, Reading, RG10
Syntegra Consulting has successfully undertaken the Air Conditioning Inspection of Woodley House in Woodley. Syntegra undertook the ACI inspection of the Woodley House air conditioned office. The undertaking of an ACI (Air Conditioning Inspection) is a legal requirement according to article 9 of the Energy Performance Building Directive in England and Wales (EPBD). Air Conditioning […]
2050 carbon budget target difficult to hit without the use of bioenergy according to CCC
The 2050 carbon emissions target is set to be very difficult to achieve without the use of bioenergy according to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Bioenergy is the combustion of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels made from biomass feedstocks, which may or may not have undergone some form of conversion process. It was concluded […]
Statistics from DECC show increase in electricity generated from wind power
Statistics released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that 9% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewable sources from July to September last year. This is a 1% increase for the same time frame in 2010. The statistics show a 64% increase in the amount of electricity generated by offshore […]
Increase in wholesale gas costs are main factor for rise in energy bills according to CCC
According to a new report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), recent increases in domestic energy bills are largely due to rising wholesale gas costs not those policies in place to achieve a low carbon economy. The committee states that findings in the report disprove claims that recent bill increases are due to environmental […]
Energy Roadmap 2050 states decarbonisation of European energy sector by 2050 feasible
According to the European Commission (EC), decarbonisation of the European energy sector by 2050 is technically feasible. In its energy road map 2050, the EC addresses the framework of policies that need to be put in place to achieve this without disrupting competitiveness and energy supplies. The document looks at a number of scenarios around […]
Building Magazine’s 30 things to know about Part L
1. Part L is the Part of the Building Regulations that covers the conservation of fuel and power in all structures, domestic and non-domestic. 2. The proposals are intended to be the next step towards all new buildings being zero carbon from 2016. 3. The government proposes the carbon emission standards for new homes be […]
Home buyers likely to pay more for energy efficient houses
The homebuilding standards body claims homebuyers will be willing to pay a premium for more energy efficient homes in contrast to popular industry perceptions. Homebuilders have in the past complained that the costs involved in installing more sustainable energy systems in homes cannot be passed onto the consumer. But at the Zero Carbon Hub conference, […]
The Department for Education’s proposals to scrap BREEAM in new schools creates backlash across Whitehall
The Department for Education has faced a growing industry backlash over the proposed plans to ditch BREEAM ratings and green standards in new school buildings. This has caused concern across Whitehall, with local government asking how abandoning BREEAM will assist with the agenda to become the greenest government yet. The Department for Business, Innovation and […]
Government admits no research on changes to Building Regulations have increased uptake of Green Deal
Recently the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) proposed changes to part L of the Building Regulations, making it compulsory for building owners to upgrade the energy efficiency of their buildings when making other improvements. When the policy was launched communities minister Andrew Stowell said it would boost uptake of the Green Deal, however […]
Shadow cast on solar PV technology due to uncertainty over Feed-in-Tariffs
The Feed-in-Tariffs stimulated great demand for consumers to generate their own low carbon electricity, which was welcomed by businesses and home owners in financially difficult times. However with limited money available the surge in demand which the government didn’t anticipate lead the government to make the decision to cut the tariffs from 43p/kW 21P/kW in […]
Report highlights problems with ‘fit-and-forget’ approach to renewable technoloigies in social housing to tackle fuel poverty
According to a report at Sheffield Hallam University, social-housing providers are installing renewable energy systems without fully understanding how the technologies perform or what level of savings are being delivered to residents, in what has been labelled a ‘fit-and-forget’ approach to fuel poverty. The Centre of Infrastructure Management at the university stated that PV arrays […]
GDSA set up to ensure greater effectiveness and up-take of Green Deal
The Government has launched a partnership to ensure that the UK has the necessary skills to implement the Green Deal. The Green Deal which aims to enable private firms offer their services to homes, communities and businesses with no upfront cost to then recoup costs through savings made on energy bills. The Green Deal Skills […]
Syntegra Consulting launch new Red Surveyor division
Syntegra Consulting continue to expand their offering in the Property Management Services and compliance sector. The new Red Surveyor brand, consisting of 5 specialist contractors will initially target work within the M25 to undertake the following services: Fire Risk Assessments (FRA) Fire extinguisher/Fire alarm/Access system/Emergency lighting/Fire door annual servicing Electrical PIR and PAT testing Remedial […]
Coalition governemnt set to reduce carbon emissions targets
A consultation held by the coalition government on changes to energy regulations is expected to reduce carbon emissions targets compared with the previous governments plans. The preceding government stated that carbon emissions would be cut by 25% in the 2013 version of part L compared with the 2010 version. However in the latest sign of […]
Solar Industry in ambiguity over feed-in-tariff legal battle
The solar industry is still debating whether the pursuit of a legal battle over government plans to reduce solar electricity tariffs is worth the ambiguity it’s causing the industry. Many solar businesses have complained about the uncertainty caused by the appeal by Friends of the Earth and solar companies who have complained against the government’s […]
Solar industry in limbo after government appeals to High Court judge over FIT’s
The government has appealed to a High Court ruling that said its cut off date for the feed-in-tariff for solar electricity was illegal. A High Court judge ruled that the government’s proposal to halve the FIT’s for solar electricity from April 2012 for installations completed after December 12 last year was illegal because it pre-dated […]
The Green Construction Board appoints leading industry figures to undertake review on green building incentives
A review on how to improve sustainability in construction is being backed by leading figures in the industry. The Green Construction Board has appointed people from inside and outside construction to look into boosting its green credentials and to look into the possibility of introducing government backed incentives to increase the demand for green buildings. […]
Green Deal potentially hazardous for old homes and calls for specialist assessors
The Green Deal is aiming to help over 60,000 homes become more energy efficient and allowing for these improvements to be made through a charge on electricity bills as an incentive. However the government is considering a training scheme for specialist Green Deal assessors to deal with older homes due to fear that green energy […]
Coalition governement discouraging investment in green construction
The construction industry is becoming increasingly impatient with the lack of growth and public investment for green construction under current government policies. Think tank Edge criticised the government’s financial approach and wrote to chancellor George Osborne ”Recent announcements have not only directly damaged businesses gearing up to deliver a low carbon built environment, but critically […]
Energy Procurement Contract EPC
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is a performance-based procurement method and financial mechanism whereby the savings made on utility bills by installing more sustainable and energy efficient building systems pay for the cost of the project. There are many benefits to Energy Performance Contracting including; Energy Security – EPC on a national level can make a […]
BRE proposes downgrading credit given to heat pumps for reducing buildings environmental impact
Building Research Establishment (BRE) has made proposals to downgrade the assessment of heat pumps environmental impact on buildings which could potentially make them less attractive to the industry. This follows a study carried out last year by the Energy Savings Trust which revealed heat pumps were far less energy efficient than previously thought. The findings […]
Government FIT budget £31m in red
The government’s budget for the solar feed-in-tariff (FIT) has been reported to be £31m in the red. Latest figures show that the £94m budget for 2011-2012 for solar subsidy is already overspent by 30%. This comes after the government’s controversial decision to halve the FIT which is being challenged in the courts. Shadow energy secretary […]
BREEAM IN-USE:Residential and Commercial Buildings use BREEAM to improve sustainability
The Building Research Establishment Assessment Method (BREEAM) is the leading environmental method used to measure a building’s environmental performance. The principles relate to UK Building Regulations and are relevant to all commercial, industrial, retail and residential buildings. Installing more sustainable energy measures in a building is a key factor in reducing carbon emissions; businesses can […]
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