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NEWS RELEASE
GA/lo/05.12.11
POLICY
1/3
GOVERNMENT POLICY MOVES TO SUBSIDISE HIGH COST ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MEASURES FOR THE VULNERABLE
Speakers at GAIN National Conference Discussed ‘Driving Green Policies
Forward’
When Green Deal comes into operation in October 2012, there will be a
massive overhaul. Government policy will move from obviously cost
effective measures to a ratio of cost and energy saving measures that
take longer to pay back. The Energy Company Obligation will subsidise
high cost measures that do not meet the basic criteria of Green Deal, to
repay the finance out of savings. This was likely to include poor and
vulnerable households who are currently under-heating their homes. This
will provide some follow-up to Warm Front.
So said David Purdy, Head of the Green Deal Team, Department
of Energy & Climate Change, and Keynote Speaker at the recent conference
entitled ‘Driving Green Policies Forward’, organised by the Grant Aided
Heating Installers Network, and held at Manchester United FC. “There was
a need to promote behavioural change and greater awareness. The public
do not understand the full benefits of energy efficiency. GAIN members
can help fill this gap.”
Some 200 delegates from RSLs and industry attended the
Conference, which was chaired by Tim Pollard of the Sustainable Building
Center, and sponsored by Worcester Bosch.
In discussing the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme, due
November 2011 for non-domestic buildings, 2012 for domestic, Lindsay
Goater of Ofgem explained the need. “The UK currently generated 1% heat
from renewable sources: the target was 12% by 2020, with a potential of
15%. By this time there should be several hundred thousand participants.
Meanwhile there was a gap in meeting legally binding renewable energy
targets, with heating a major contributor.”
The Scheme was a world-first financial incentive to promote
the generation of renewable heat, with the Scheme funded by taxation.
Eligible technologies included solid biomass, ground and water source
heat pumps, geothermal, solar thermal, biogas combustion and biomethane
injection.
Chairman of the Grant Aided Heating Installers Network,
Bryan Glendinning, enthusiastically explained that “the Association was
100% behind the Scheme concepts and members could deliver what was
needed – a warmer building”.
GAIN members are described by clients as ‘best of breed’ in
terms of quality of service and customer satisfaction and they remain
positive recognising opportunities to come. However some concerns were
expressed in that Schemes may be run entirely through the ‘big six’
energy suppliers with a tendency to deliver in-house. Schemes must be
operated at a fair and sustainable rate that will allow professional
installers, large and small, to provide a quality service. Members can
collectively provide a whole house approach, national coverage, and
potential joint ventures in partnership with multi nationals focussing
on main stream specialist contracts.
“Only 21% of homes have a full set of heating controls, and
eight-and-a-half million homes lacking a thermostat” (TACMA 2008 figures
from BERR). Steve Jones, Honeywell Control Systems Ltd, commented:
“These controls are vital as they control the energy efficiently. One
degree off the room thermostat can save up to 10% of the heating bill,
but you do need a room thermostat to achieve this.” “The 3Cs scheme is
an Ofgem approved CERT initiative to generate a marketing fund to
illustrate the efficiency of Honeywell Controls for the sole benefit of
the priority group customer.”
“The average fuel bill now stands at £1,132, more than
double the 2004 price, with 6.6 million households in fuel poverty.” Tim
Pollard, Director, Sustainable Building Center, spoke of the “challenge
to install microgeneration products in 26 million homes and 1.8 million
non-domestic buildings. There was resistance to change, but we need to
take up the challenge and move forward. Currently solar panels were top
of the list for best value for money.”
“Some 23 million out of 26 million households in the UK now
have central heating, making us one of the largest boiler markets in
Europe. In contrast in the renewables market we are starting from a low
base in Europe, with only 5.6% penetration, as against Sweden with 49%.”
This scene was set by Barry Wilson of Worcester Bosch, when he discussed
the latest heating technologies. “A quarter of new build homes now have
renewable energy products. Level 4 will be mandatory in 2013 with Level
6 for public sector buildings.”
Jack Whyman, New Linx Housing Trust, described their
retrofit programme, which commenced in 2008. “With 30 months to go to
the Decent Homes deadline, the aim was to install A-rated gas boilers
where gas was available. As oil systems were becoming too expensive for
tenants living off the gas network, ground source heat pump systems were
installed to over 200 properties, some with solar thermal. Tenants
reported £400 annual fuel savings. New Linx are now installing further
systems using RHI premium payment and CERT funding, and looking forward
to the Green Deal.”
A further case study was presented by Darren Green, Senior
Regeneration Manager, Aspire Housing Association, when he spoke of ‘PV
installation and behaviour change’. For their pilot scheme they selected
a sheltered scheme of 29 bungalows, housing a vulnerable group off the
gas network and dependent on electric storage heaters, together with a
communal building. They offered money saving advice, fuel switching, a
1.9 kWh PV system, and smart metering – at a total cost for the scheme
of £195,000. The anticipated FIT income is £20,407, with £9,600 coming
to the local council. The customer benefit is estimated at £106 per year
in fuel savings. The average fuel generation from February to October is
1,500 kWh, which if all used would equate to £180 per property.
In conclusion, Chairman, Tim Pollard, urged delegates to
maximise the various renewable opportunities presented by Government, in
order to achieve the de-carbonisation of the housing stock.
The Grant Aided Heating Installers Network is at P O Box 12,
Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH; tel: 01428 654011; fax: 01428 651401;
e-mail:
info@gainassociation.org.uk;
www.gainassociation.org.uk.
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Press Release on 10-Nov-2011 Conference (Event Summary)
