The Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation alignment
The main driver for improving the energy efficiency of buildings is the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT), which places a legal obligation on energy companies to reduce CO2 emissions. If energy companies don’t hit their targets, Ofgem has the power to fine them upto 10% of their turnover. The CERT finishes at the end of […]
The future of Display Energy Certificates (DECs) up in the air
DECs had across the board support under Mays Carbon Plan. However, chancellor George Osborne blocked an amendment to the energy bill in September 2011 allowing this to take place. At the green construction board’s inaugural meeting it was agreed that measurement of energy usage in construction and in completed buildings would form one of the […]
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT REMAINS AT THE TOP OF THE BUSINESS AGENDA
Renewable energy is a massive opportunity for all businesses right now. Why? Well for one, it can help organisations to cut energy costs at a time when cost cutting is most definitely high on the agenda. But equally importantly, it offers a chance for companies to demonstrate their commitment to the environment – the kind […]
A boom for energy efficient lighting
One of the downturns of the global financial is that we will have to work more years than our parents and grandparents. Therefore, a comfortable working environment is vital and lighting is a major aspect of the working environment. A 60-year-old employee’s eyes receive only 40 percent as much light as a worker who is […]
The actual return on investment of PVs with Feed-In-Tarriffs
A lot has been said about ROI for PV installations. Everyone wants to know what kind of return they can expect on their PV installation. ROI is a tool, one of many, that helps to evaluate a potential investment and tells only a part of the story. Of course, the financial ROI is better than ever […]
Government blocks green energy policy for Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for the commercial property sector
As published in ‘Building(16.09.11)’ the government has been accused of a U-turn over applying key energy efficiency measure to commercial buildings, with huge repercussions to the construction and property industry. In March 2011 the coalition government committed to the roll out of Display Energy Certificates (DEC), which are used to rate the ‘actual’ energy performance […]
A guide to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) electrical testing
For those involved in the growing solar panel sector, awareness of installation and safety standards is crucial for system performance. The recent solar microgeneration boom reflects the impact of feed in tariffs (FITs) that came and the associated arrival of free installation schemes that enable the property owner to benefit from solar electricity while the […]
Renewable energy continued to grow in 2011-09-14
Despite the continuing economic recession, incentive cuts and low natural gas prices, the renewable energy sector continues to grow, says the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global status report. The report states that in 2010, renewable energy supplied an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption and delivered around 20% of global electricity production. Including all hydropower […]
Barn Conversion SAP calcs & building regs compliance report – Hope Farm, The Haven, Billingshurst, RH14 9BN
Syntegra Consulting appointed as energy assessors for a conversion of 5No. barns into a large detached residential property in Billingshurst.
Only 31 homes reach code level 6
Only 31 homes have been built to level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes since it was introduced four years ago, according to communities department research, writes Thomas Lane. The figures are revealed in a report published last week that shows how many homes have received the government’s “zero carbon” certification since the introduction […]
The politics of it all
All eyes have been on the UK in recent months as the Government’s decision to cut feed-in tariff (FIT) rates for installations greater than 50 kilowatts this summer threatens to destabilize the country’s fledging solar industry’s On April 2010, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched a suite of renewable energy FIT’s including […]
A review of your BEMS
Many buildings will already have a BEMS in place, and a useful first step on taking a proactive approach to building energy management through controls is to evluate the existing system to decide if it meets your present and future needs for the operation of your building or buldings. Much of this depends on the […]
It’s all change for the building regulations
In recent months there have been significant changes made to the building regulations, with several new approved documents and consolidated Building Regulations 2010 published. While the latest changes to Part L are not on the scale of 2006 revision, there is plenty of detail under the surface. It is important to remember that Part L […]
6 typical tasks of an energy manager
Monitoring energy consumption Awareness building within the organisation Legal requirements Internal communication programmes Energy management system (EnMS audit ) Energy Policy These are the tasks most frequently carried out in organisations that practice energy management but the last two pointers are considered elements of best practice yet appear well down the list. However experienced the […]
Keeping up the pace on energy efficiency
Prime Minister David Cameron promised “the greenest Government ever”and two flagship initiatives were announced – The green Deal and the Green Investment Bank. One year on, neither policy has come to effect although the plans for the Green Deal at least are now much more detailed. The energy bill currently going through Parliament will provide […]
Developers are set to face new carbon rule
Brighton and Hove council has launched a rule requiring developers to submit embodied energy calculations as a condition of planning permission. This is the first time that a council has has required developers to show how much carbon is in materials used for a scheme as well as the energy that is used for its […]
Celotex – Raising the standard on social housing
Thousands of families across the UK are living in houses which are not sufficiently warm, weather tight or thermally efficient. With buildings responsible for almost 50% of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions it has become even more pressing to refurbish and make sustainable our ageing social housing stock. As developers, how do you […]
Company to watch in 2011 – Launch of the Thames Valley 250 List
We are pleased to announce that Syntegra Consulting has been selected as a “company to watch” in the 2011 Thames Valley 250 list. Syntegra Consulting has enjoyed year on year growth since start-up of between 65%-85%. The Thames Valley 250 is an annual listing featured in The Business Magazine and sponsored by HSBC, Grant Thornton, […]
Taking the Measure of it
The UK target of an 80% cut in carbon by 2050 has been around for a while now. However, while it’s a big number, it’s also sufficiently far away for it to be someone else’s problem. That’s all going to change, because the government are committed at the recommendation of the independent Committee on Climate […]
House Sales are the lowest since January
The number of UK house sales dropped over the past quarter to its lowest level since January, thwarting hopes that the arrival of better weather could have led to a spike in home sales. The latest figures from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) indicate that the average number of completed sales per surveyor […]
3No. flats 235 Upper Richmond, London, SW15 6TQ
Syntegra Consulting appointed to undertake SAP calculations and On-Construction-EPCs for 3No. flats in Putney.
The Green Deal – additional potential for savings
For those who dont know the Green Deal, in it householders who take out an eco-loan will be offered an energy retrofit package which will be repaid by savings on the household energy bill. This loan will be attached to the house, not the householder. The offer will come from a range of financial instructions and […]
Carbon floor price to wipe out manufacturer profits
The proposed introduction of a floor price for carbon could wipe out the profits of construction product manufacturers, materials companies are claiming. Product makers are lobbying the government independantly and through trade associations to rethink the measure, which they say could double energy costs for intensive energy users. However, the chancellor-who in March announced a […]
Construction’s Green Investments are set to increase by 17%.
Both the materials and the constructions sector are set to increase their greening businesses by 17 % a year over the next 3 years, faster than the other industry sector, according to research published this week. All sectors will increase their spending in the green markets by 11-17% a year but construction will outpace 19 […]
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