Investment bank to help Green Deal
Industry leaders have hailed the government’s decision to consider offering Green Deal finance through the £3bn Green Investment Bank. The Green Deal aims to create a workforce of around 250.000 people to fit energy efficiency measures into properties – will be launched later this year. This week it was announced that former energy mogul Sir […]
Green Goodies
Green Goodies LED Lighting offers many quick wins when it comes to reducing a client’s energy bills. Artificial light accounts for about 19% of global energy consumption, yet almost 70% of this is delivered by solutions to which a more efficient alternative is available. There is huge scope to reduce carbon emissions by switching to […]
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme as a driver for air-conditioning inspections
Before Christmas the Government consulted on changes to the regulations introducing the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), postponing the first purchase of allowances for emissions for a year. However, it contained some worrying ideas about the landlord/tenant relationship, and it’s potentially another lost opportunity for air conditioning inspections. Landlord/tenant relationships are complex and can be difficult. […]
Renewable Heat Incentive is first in the World
The government has announced details of its Renewable Heat incentive, the first in the world, aimed at reducing carbon emissions from energy used to produce heat-about half the UK total. Phase 1 for the non residential buildings will be introduced in the autumn of 2012 to coincide with the advert of the Green Deal. Air […]
Government department blocks DEC proposal.
Government department blocks DEC proposal. Proposals to make energy efficiency certificates mandatory for all private sector buildings have been blocked by the Department for Business, Innovation and skills, despite support for other departments, Building understands. Two sources close to the government said that the communities and energy departments had backed the plan to roll out […]
Eco-upgrades may get veto by Social Landlords
The green Deal allows firms, including housing associations to borrow money in order to undertake energy efficiency improvements to homes, on the basis that it will be paid back through a cut of the reduction in the residents power bill. Housing associations look to have won the right to prevent tenants from arranging eco-upgrades to […]
Proposed Changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (the EPB Regulations)
Summary of the changes to the EPB Regulations The changes to the EPB Regulations can be summarised as follows: · the changes will extend the current requirements to commission an EPC that apply to residential buildings to all buildings sold or rented out; · the requirements for the provision of an EPC with written particulars […]
How to Build Sustainably
How to Build Sustainably Renewable Heat Incentive Earlier this month it was announced that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was £860m set aside for technologies such as biomass boilers, ground –source heat pumps, thermal solar panels, and bio-methane projects, which use organisms to break down organic waste to produce the gas. From July this year, […]
Taking the Timber route to Zero Carbon
The journey towards zero carbon is now underway, and where once, it appeared to be a very long time away in the future, it is now only 5 years away. Zero carbon for new builds will become mandatory in 2016 and many window manufacturers are working closely with building designers to assess their requirements now […]
Recent budget offers mixed results for the industry
The chancellor has announced that there will be a new shared equity programme to assist first-time buyers and reform of the planning process, but the focus is on new build rather than the secondary market. The lack of an announcement on stamp duty land tax incentives for retrofitting homes will be seen as a missed […]
Great Savings by converting to LED lighting technology
A US Department of Energy study has found more than 290 TWh in savings for lighting projects converted completely to LED lighting technology. The US Department of Energy has published a report that details the amount of energy saved in 2010 through retrofit to LED-based light sources. The research covers 8 specific product types spread […]
HB (High Brightness) LED manufacturing technology will bring down the cost of LEDs
Technical breakthroughs and manufacturing improvements should keep the LED industry on track to improve performance and reduce costs at an appropriate rate. However, the process of achieving this is not a 100% complete. Development of a volume market for general LED lighting depends on technical breakthroughs and manufacturing improvements that reduce costs per lumen by […]
Carbon Plan: Display Energy Certificates (DEC) – Mandatory for commercial buildings by October 2012
As publicised in Building magazine, it has been stated that under government plans all commercial buildings will require a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) which will be mandatory for all commercial buildings by October 2012. – This is part of green measures outlined this week in the coalition’s Carbon Plan. Unlike the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), […]
3 decisive issues when choosing a heat pump…
1. Annual Efficiency As a buyer of course you want to know how effective a heat pump is. There are different measurements of a heat pump’s efficiency. The most important is to rate the heat pump’s function over a complete calendar year-both the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. This is […]
How heat pumps work
1. Brine circulates in a collector coil and draws low temperature energy from the ground, air, bedrock or water. 2. At the heat exchanger (evaporator) the tepid brine in the collector coil meets the ice cold refrigerant in the heat pump which is then heated a few degrees and converted to gas. 3. In the […]
Rain Water Harvesting
Save Mains Water. Save Money We should all make the most of the rainwater coming off our own roof. We each use an average of 160 litres of tap water every day. But you don’t need drinking quality water brought in from miles away to flush WC’s, wash clothes, water the garden,clean the car, wash […]
10 questions to ask a PV installer
1. Do they have Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation? Without this you will not be able to claim your Feed in Tariff. They should have the MCS logo clearly displayed on their paperwork. 2. Do they offer a manufacturer backed 10 year warranty on their inverters at no extra cost so that you have piece […]
Is a PV array suitable for my property?
Where should a PV array be sited? Ideally a PV panel system should be sited on a south facing roof or ground mounted support system at a 30 degree to 40 degree pitch. However, an east or west facing array can also have up to 85% optimal performance. The size of the PV system will […]
What are the benefits and costs of PV?
The government has mandated that your electricity supplier must pay for each unit of electricity generated PLUS a further payment for every unit exported to the National Grid. These rates are guaranteed for 25 years and are index linked, so you have security of your income as well as free energy during daylight hours. Typical […]
What is PV?
What is PV and how does it work ? PV refers to photovoltaic (solar) panel systems, which convert sunlight into electricity using layers of semi-conducting materials. When exposed to natural daylight the panel produces a direct electrical current (DC), which is converted in to mains compatible alternating electrical current (AC) by an inverter. This AC […]
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
SUDS, or Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, combine individual water management products, processes and facilities in a way that harmonies with the draining of surface water with the local environment. It is a more sustainable approach than the traditional rapid conveyance of water through a pipe into a watercourse. It is important that SUDS, and all […]
Green Roofs-Flood and Water Management Act
In 2008 the Government’s Water Strategy for England acknowledged that the below-ground piped systems were insufficient when coping with extreme rainfall and identified the importance of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) and green roofs, for climate change mitigation and water management. The Green roofs inclusion within the SUDS strategies have been limited to date however must […]
From Waste to Energy……
Restrictions on putting waste into a hole in the ground are becoming more and more severe. We have to find new ways of dealing with our waste. Yes, we can evidently recycle a certain amount but what happens to the rest of it? One obvious solution to this would be to burn it and potentially […]
Kinetics and Prudential in £100m solar panel deal
It has been publicised by the Building magazine, that Kinetics is considering a joint venture with a number of housing associations. They have signed a £100m deal with Prudential to build up to 20,000 solar panels on the roofs of social housing blocks, despite the government’s regime. By joining with Prudential they can take advantage […]