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If you know someone who might be interested in receiving eNews, please forward this issue and suggest that they register here
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Sustainable Cities: Assessing the Performance and Practice of Urban Environments – book launch. 1 June
 With more than half the global population now living in urban areas, one of the key issues confronting us today is how we make our growing cities sustainable. A new hardback book Sustainable Cities offers valuable insights for addressing this vital challenge. It evaluates our urban environments and assesses the progress that is being made towards achieving cities that are sustainable.
Our Chief Executive, Kerry Mashford, has written the chapter on energy use in buildings for Sustainable Cities, which is essential reading for academics and professionals in: urban planning; energy and environmental policy, practice and management; urban geography; climate change; and environmental science and technology.
Sustainable Cities will be launched at a free evening event at 6pm on Wednesday 1 June at the Town and County Planning Association (TCPA), 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AS.
Kerry would be delighted to see you there. Please register for a place here.
Assuring the performance of new homes: delivering what it says on the tin. 21 June
The Knowledge Transfer Network, the Sustainable Housing Action Partnership and the National Energy Foundation are holding a free, half-day morning event on new-build social housing. The session will include presentations relating to the findings of the recently-completed £8 million Innovate UK Building Performance Evaluation study comprising 350 homes, most of which were in the social housing sector. The project investigated the success and risk factors in narrowing energy, indoor air quality, comfort, and maintenance performance gaps.
The event will be an opportunity to:
- Hear from relevant organisations about their experiences and learning from the Innovate UK programme.
- Learn more about the recently-published Innovate UK social housing meta-analysis study undertaken by National Energy Foundation, and its recommendations.
- Find out how to access all the information and findings arising from the Building Performance Evaluation programme.
- Meet like-minded professionals to share experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Register for your FREE place.
 Volunteer Project Officer (Energy Envoys)
We are looking for someone to fill an exciting volunteer post supporting the promotion and roll-out of our Energy Envoys volunteering opportunity. Energy Envoys is offered to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants to complete the Bronze, Silver or Gold volunteering section of their Award.
The person who takes on the role will:
- Build relationships with schools and centres.
- Raise awareness of the scheme using social media and blogs.
- Develop opportunities for professionals in the energy efficiency and built environment sectors to mentor Energy Envoys during their volunteering.
New Trustee
The National Energy Foundation is delighted to welcome Eryl Hardman as its newest Trustee. She arrives with a wealth of legal experience, and will add strength and valuable expertise to the Foundation’s Board. After reading law in Birmingham, Eryl was called to the Bar in 1997, specialising in criminal defence. Having joined NTT Europe as General Counsel, Eryl led on corporate governance, compliance, and regulatory affairs in addition to having a commercial remit overseeing mergers and acquisitions, and multi-million pound property contracts with Europe and the Middle East.
 Getting ready for HECA
Dale Hoyland, our Strategic Development & Affordable Warmth Manager, considers the next round of Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) reporting, the deadline for which is 31 March 2017. He looks at how the National Energy Foundation can help councils report on their actions from their last reports, set out their energy-saving ambitions and targets, and outline the key actions and partnerships needed to deliver them.
The Retrofit Academy Retrofit Coordinator Diploma courses
The Retrofit Academy is the leading provider of training for businesses involved in the sustainable refurbishment of buildings, and provides Retrofit Coordinator Diploma courses on the following subjects in London, Manchester and Milton Keynes:
- Assessing Dwellings for Retrofit.
- Building Services Retrofit.
- Business Case for Retrofit.
- Introduction to Domestic Retrofit.
- Retrofit Building Fabric and Solid Wall Insulation.
- Retrofit Building Physics.
- Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management.
- Ventilation and Air Tightness for Retrofit.
The Retrofit Academy has secured government funding to cover the cost for local authorities (100% of course fees) and supply chain/SMEs (66% of course fees) but the funding is ONLY available for the Milton Keynes course and to organisations based in the following areas, on a first-come, first served basis: Aylesbury Vale, Bucks County, Cherwell, Chiltern, Cotswold, London Borough of Ealing, Milton Keynes, South Bucks District, South Oxfordshire, Three Rivers, Vale of White Horse, Watford Borough, West Berkshire, West Oxfordshire and Wycombe.
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UKGBC reaction to zero carbon defeat
The UKGBC responds to the fact that the Government scraps its zero carbon policy by just four votes after the House of Lords forces a debate.
What has the EU ever done for our household appliances?
A look at how EU policy has impacted on the quality and reliability of our white goods, such as toasters, and how it has forced manufacturers to produce appliances that are more energy-efficient.
Access to EPC and DEC data to be widened
The Government is to allow greater access to data from public authority Display Energy Certificates and both domestic and non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates issued in England and Wales.
High demand forces FIT queues
As a result of the Government introducing quarterly deployment caps as a way of restricting the cost of ‘green’ subsidies, feed-in tariffs for anaerobic digestion, standalone PV solar and wind (between 100 and 1500kW) are in such demand that they are currently queued to either the first or second quarter of 2017.
Latest ECO and Green Deal statistics
DECC releases the latest national household energy efficiency statistics on measures installed under the ECO and Green Deal schemes.
Mortgaging the future by scrapping zero carbon
A senior MP argues that the UK Government’s scrapping of its zero carbon homes policy and its failure to build new homes that are energy efficient will see future generations dealing with our costly mistakes.
London mandates zero carbon
Despite the Government sending zero carbon to the scrapheap, major housing developments in London are to be zero carbon from October this year.
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National Innovation Plan
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills opens consultation on the National Innovation Plan and calls for ideas, including in the energy sector. Closing date: (Bank Holiday) Monday, 30 May.
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Towards the delivery of a national residential energy efficiency programme
Having studied a number of large-scale residential retrofit schemes and having consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, a report by Arup proposes a series of steps that will enable the UK to halve its residential energy consumption.
UK progress on fuel poverty slowing
In the UK Fuel Poverty Monitor 2015 – 2016, leading charities report that progress on fuel poverty has slowed and the UK’s efforts to eradicate it have stalled.
Fuel poverty recommendations
Research undertaken by University of Sussex produces concrete policy recommendations that are presented to the Secretary of State, Amber Rudd, at a workshop on community solutions to fuel poverty.
Addressing the issue of peak demand
Thousands of Britons take part in a study for the METER project by logging their activity in a 24-hour diary to identify patterns of household electricity use, with a view to reducing peak demand.
Prepayment meters
Understanding the pros and cons of the pay-as-you-go way of buying energy – including, how to use them, moving into a house with a prepayment meter and switching suppliers.
More fuel banks
The Trussell Trust reports that, after four successful trials, more fuel banks are to be rolled out in 10 new areas, with npower committing £2.25 million to the project up to March 2018.
Fuel Poverty referral toolkit
The fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action, develops a referral tool for front-line workers, home visitors and others to identify those who are either in or at risk of fuel poverty, when on a home visit or when advising householders.
Affordable warmth and health impact evaluation toolkit
An affordable warmth and health impact evaluation toolkit developed in partnership between DECC and the Centre for Sustainable Energy, for use by local bodies to make evaluation of their schemes’ impacts easier and more effective.
Doubt over legality of plan to share non-switchers’ information
A warning that the CMA plan (announced as part of its investigation into the energy industry earlier this year) to share the contact details of households who fail to switch their energy suppliers could be illegal under EU law.
Interest-free energy efficiency loans available in Scotland
The Scottish HEEPS loan scheme opens offering owner-occupiers, private tenants and registered private sector landlords up to £15,000 interest-free loans for installing energy efficiency measures.
The cost of poor quality homes
A new DCLG/BRE report “The full cost of poor quality housing” shows that it costs the NHS in England £1.4 billion a year, and wider society £18.6 billion.
Electricity switching continues at over 400,000 per month
The number of customers switching electricity supplier in April was over 400,000 for third month in a row, thereby bringing the total number of switchers to 1.5 million so far in 2016.
Latest Public Attitudes Tracker
DECC issues the results of the latest quarterly Public Attitudes Tracker (Wave 17) which reports on the public’s views on energy bills, switching, energy saving, renewable energy, smart meters, and more…
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Biggest LA PV array in the UK
A council in London installs 6,000 solar panels on a market roof, and includes battery storage, making it the largest local authority PV array in the UK.
Community-scale heat pump plan for housing estate
Plans for a 1970s, 350-home Glasgow social housing estate to be retrofitted with a large-scale heat pump.
London university tops sustainability league
An installation of LED lighting at London Metropolitan University (and part of a wider sustainability scheme including solar photovoltaics, energy efficient fans and air conditioning controls) helps save energy, reduce costs and slash carbon emissions by 47%.
Mars goes green
The global confectionery manufacturer, Mars, makes a commitment to purchase 100% renewable electricity for all its 12 UK plants by 2040.
JLL moves closer towards its targets
As part of its 15 sustainability targets, real estate company, JLL, reduces its energy use by 38% per employee against its 2012 levels.
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Another trial for energy-making pavements
A street off London's busy Oxford Street is to be the next trial location for kinetic pavements, which generate energy from pedestrians’ footsteps.
Using recycled smartphone batteries to provide light
How lithium ion batteries from smartphones can be recycled into energy storage units for solar-powered LED lamps, suitable as replacements for the harmful and inefficient candle and kerosene lamps used in many rural communities in the third world.
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Delivering Building Performance
Examining industry approaches, tools and behaviours, a UKGBC Task Group focuses on how to maximise building performance, not just in energy terms, but also with regard to other aspects of performance that impact both the building user and the wider environment.
Centralised power will wain as storage increases
As the battery storage market ramps up – with significant developments in the domestic and automotive sectors, for example - it heralds what has been described as "a massive transition away from centralised power".
Power from first floating wind farm
The world's first floating wind farm is to be sited off the east coast of Scotland, and is scheduled to be up and running by late 2017. It will produce enough electricity for the equivalent of 20,000 homes.
Keep up-to-date with edie podcast
edie launches a new weekly podcast for sustainability professionals, in which members of the edie team discuss the week's big news, and key analysis and advice is provided through exclusive interviews with industry experts.
The performance gap
What is the performance gap? Why does it happen? How it can be avoided?
Call for single building energy performance metric
The UK Green Building Council calls for the building industry to adopt kWh per m2 as its single building energy performance metric as part of the move to close the gap between design and building performance.
The benefits of LED lighting
The low-down on LED lighting – 15 benefits, from efficiency and durability to colour and long-term cost.
LED questions?
Your questions answered about LED light bulbs.
City benefits from better buildings
Four ways how cities benefit from better energy-performing buildings – financial returns, economic opportunities, curbing climate change, reducing illness and death.
District heating for new university campus
The relocation of the University of Northampton includes a 1,600 metre district heating network to carry low-carbon heat and hot water across the new campus.
Football club moves increasingly green
Forest Green Rovers football club launches a design competition for its new Eco Park stadium off the M5 in Gloucestershire.
Microsoft commits on green energy
Global computer giant, Microsoft, commits to 50% of its data centres being powered by wind, solar or water by the end of 2018.
Poorly-designed schools to cost millions
A RIBA report identifies that poorly-designed schools will cost £450 million more than they should in heating, cooling and lighting between 2015 and 2018.
Crooked PV installers jailed
A group of connected PV installers are jailed for conning customers into handing over cash on the back of false promises.
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Jobs across the UK
Various energy-related jobs across the country are available on the following websites. Take a look at:
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Energy in London: Delivering the Mayor’s Manifesto. London. Thu 9 June
The new London Mayor has committed to being the greenest Mayor ever. Where should he start, and how should he get there? This free morning event will give attendees an opportunity to discuss how local authorities, property developers, and energy service providers can help him to achieve his manifesto commitments. This morning briefing event will address topics such as:
- The Mayor’s manifesto, its commitments on energy, and how to help ensure delivery
- The role of heat networks in capturing the city’s waste heat opportunities
- London’s Zero Carbon Commitment and what it means for planning policy
- Meeting ambitions on smart demand response solutions, local supply and renewable power
To register for a place, please e-mail william.caldwell@theade.co.uk
ESTA 3rd Annual Energy Conferences and Exhibitions
Energy Services and Technology Association events:
- Manchester. Wed 15 June.
- London. Tue 21 June.
- Birmingham. Thu 23 June.
PassivHaus Trust Local Authority Debate. London. Thu 23 June
The aim of this PassivHaus Trust afternoon is to find out:
- What local authorities have tried to do and why.
- How they’ve succeeded in getting to this point.
- If there are any barriers stopping them adopting Passivhaus.
- What the PassivHaus Trust can do to help remove some of the barriers.
Following this meeting, the PassivHaus Trust will form one or more Working Groups to discuss and research the findings of the meeting.
New approaches to funding and delivering energy-efficiency in homes. Watford. Tue 5 July
This one-day Retrofit4Change conference, aimed at housing associations, large private estate owners, architects and contractors, examines alternative funding for projects and explores how refurbishment projects can be made more efficient and cost-effective through improved management of the supply chain and the use of innovation.
Delivering Energy Efficient Homes. London. Wed 6 July
Westminster Briefing on the latest policy developments and a discussion on good practice in delivering energy-efficient homes. The session will also look at how stakeholders can work together to deliver, and the differing challenges faced with new and existing housing.
Zero Carbon Buildings Annual Conference. Birmingham. Thu 8 – Fri 9 Sep
Zero carbon building projects are becoming less of an exception and more of a norm. This international conference and exhibition provides a forum for exchange of knowledge, and for establishing collaboration networks and partnerships in this rapidly developing field.
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