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CONTENTS
Duke of Edinburgh Energy Envoys
SuperHomes Research Report 2014
Energy Efficiency Partnership for Buildings
NEF ‘How Much Energy Does Your Building Use?’ book
Ecobuild 2015
CoRE training courses
Government investigation into energy costs
Labour slates Treasury investigation plan
SWI literature review
400MW cap on new build dedicated biomass projects - guidance
Biomass boilers – not as previously thought
Not the fault of biomass per se
Millions of SWI still needed
Model energy performance contract
Public sector benefits
DECC Review
Advice for independent suppliers
Energy bills could be reduced
Scottish Power cuts gas prices
BG to lower gas prices
“Measly” saving
Complaints up steeply
A strategy for ending fuel poverty
Poor pay more
Working fuel poor
Fuel poverty costs NHS
Guide for elderly
Domestic energy efficiency
Passivhaus on the up
Missed savings for SMEs
Energy-producing boilers
Bosses rate energy procurement
Deep retrofit in Manchester
Education sector multi-million pound energy overspend
“Fifth fuel” savings
Horizon 2020 energy efficiency call
Making LEDs better
£4m for whole-life performance
Most green in the world?
Multi-million-pound energy efficiency investment
These tiles are made for generating
Former collieries go solar
John Lewis proves to be outstanding
Android thermal imaging
Walkie Talkie solar
Norwegian electricity excess
Textile points to no need for indoor heating
Not having to think much about energy saving
Use fines for energy efficiency
Jobs across the UK
Retrofit: How low can you go? Passivhaus Trust/AECB Joint Event. London. Thursday, 29 January
SMEs workshops on energy efficiency
Zero Carbon Hub Low Energy Know How Events
Passivhaus Delivery, ensuring quality and managing risk. Edinburgh. Thursday 5, February
Energy efficiency lessons from the food and beverage industry. Newcastle. Thursday, 5 February
Duke of Edinburgh Energy Envoys
As part of our 25-year anniversary activities - and in response to the issues revealed in our national energy survey - we launched our 10 'Big Ideas' projects at our President's Reception in September last year. We're now moving forward with our exciting idea for setting up a network of Duke of Edinburgh Energy Envoys, and we're now looking for potential sponsors/funders to get this project off the ground. Ideally, we'd like 9-10 co-sponsors to provide £10,000 each for each of the first three years alongside funding already allocated by our Trustees. If we can secure financial support soon, we plan to launch the Energy Envoy programme in time for the 2015/16 school year.
http://www.nef.org.uk/our-10-big-ideas/
SuperHomes Research Report 2014
Lots of interesting findings have emerged from the 2014 report, which brings together feedback from visitors to SuperHomes, website visitors, enquirers and SuperHome owners. One of the more striking findings is that 95% of SuperHome owners rate the comfort of their homes as Good or Excellent after retrofit, compared with just 8% before. This suggests that the SuperHomes type of whole-house refurbishment that produces a 60% plus carbon saving also usually delivers massively improved comfort levels.
Report: http://www.superhomes.org.uk/resources/superhomes-research-report-2014/
Highlights: http://www.superhomes.org.uk/news/superhomes-research-highlights-comfort-gains/
Energy Efficiency Partnership for Buildings
EEPB is now fully absorbed into the National Energy Foundation and its Twitter account and Linkedin page will no longer be maintained. In order to continue to receive updates and other postings etc, we suggest that EEPB followers move to the National Energy Foundation as soon as possible.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-energy-foundation?trk=biz-companies-cym
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNEF
NEF ‘How Much Energy Does Your Building Use?’ book
Our recently published book is now available through the CIBSE website – at a discounted price of £25.00.
http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/other-publishers/how-much-energy-does-your-building-use-new
Ecobuild 2015
Both our Chief Executive and Technical Director will be speaking at EcoBuild this year. On Tuesday, 3 March, Kerry Mashford will chair a session in the Building Performance Theatre and then make a presentation entitled “The programme overview and the overarching challenge” with Matt Colmer of Innovate UK on the Building Performance Programme. Later that same day, Kerry will chair the “Marketing and consumer engagement strategies for refurbishment” session in the Refurb and Retrofit Theatre. She will also give a presentation on “Identifying target markets, understanding motivations and tailoring effective marketing messages – lessons from the field”.
On Wednesday, 4 March, Malcolm Hanna will be one of the speakers in the “Successful energy management strategies” session in the Building Performance Theatre. His presentation will be entitled “The role of DECs and ESOS and other regulation in identifying energy saving opportunities”.
http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/page.cfm/Action=Visitor/VisitorID=3161
http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/Content/Refurb-and-Retrofit
http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/Content/Building-Performance
CoRE training courses
Understanding sustainable refurbishment. Stoke-on-Trent. Wed 14 January – Fri 16 January
http://www.core-skills.com/events/event-15081535278/#.VK5vByusUlQ
Coordination and risk management. Stoke-on-Trent. Tue 20 January
http://www.core-skills.com/events/event-15081651626/#.VK5vNiusUlQ
Understanding sustainable refurbishment. London. Wed 21 January – Fri 23 January
http://www.core-skills.com/events/event-15038413299/#.VK5vVCusUlQ
Retrofit ventilation. Stoke-on-Trent. Wed 28 January
http://www.core-skills.com/events/event-15081747914/#.VK5vbSusUlQ
Government investigation into energy costs
The Government begins an investigation into why household bills remain high despite plunging wholesale prices. The Treasury investigation into whether companies are passing on the benefits of cheaper oil and gas to customers could mean lower bills in the coming months.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/energy-bills/11329893/Energy-prices-tumble-so-how-far-
will-gas-and-electricity-bills-fall.html
Labour slates Treasury investigation plan
Labour’s Caroline Flint responds to the Treasury’s plan for another investigation into energy bills by saying: “We do not need another investigation – we already have one and we know what the problem is. We need action. “
http://press.labour.org.uk/post/107404265704/we-need-action-not-another-investigation-into
SWI literature review
DECC commissioned BRE to undertake research to improve understanding of the performance of solid wall properties in the UK housing stock and the effect on energy post-insulation. The first output of this research project is a literature review of existing research and knowledge on solid walls and solid wall insulation in the UK and other countries. The literature review considers: heat loss measurement and calculation methodologies; predicted performance compared to actual energy savings; occupant behaviour; unintended consequences of solid wall insulation; and heritage and conservation.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/solid-wall-heat-losses-and-the-potential-for-energy-savings-
literature-review
400MW cap on new build dedicated biomass projects - guidance
DECC publishes updated guidance on applying for a place within the 400MW cap on new build dedicated biomass generating capacity (Renewables Obligation). On 18 December 2012, DECC announced its intention to introduce a new dedicated biomass capacity cap, which has been set at 400MW and a notification process will be used to allocate places within the cap. Once the 400MW cap is triggered, DECC will consider consulting on proposals to exclude any further new build dedicated biomass deployment from our grandfathering policy. The notification process provides a mechanism for allocating a place within the cap, and to provide information to Government and the market on the amount of new dedicated biomass projects coming forward. This gives transparency as to how much of the cap is being filled.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-a-place-within-the-400mw-cap-on-new-build-
dedicated-biomass-projects-renewables-obligation
Biomass boilers – not as previously thought
Billions of pounds of public money will be spent supporting biomass boilers, despite evidence from the Government’s own experts and industry that they are less efficient than previously thought and they will do little to help the UK meet its carbon emissions targets.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/14/green-biomass-boilers-may-waste-billions-public-money
Not the fault of biomass per se
A response to the ‘inefficient biomass’ report blames the particular circumstances in which they are supplied, installed and used in the UK.
http://www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk/2015/01/euroheat-hits-back-at-inefficient-biomass-report/
Millions of SWI still needed
Official DECC data shows that around 7.6 million (95%) of homes with solid walls still need to be insulated.
http://www.rcimag.co.uk/newsitem.asp?newsID=2133
Model energy performance contract
DECC publishes a model energy performance contract, accompanying guidance notes and guide to best practices for the public sector.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-performance-contract-epc
Public sector benefits
DECC publishes a guide to increase awareness of the benefits to public sector organisations of investing in energy efficiency.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-financing-energy-efficiency-in-the-public-sector
DECC Review
A summary of the most important news during December from across DECC.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/392652/DECC_Review_December_2014.pdf
Advice for independent suppliers
A new DECC web page is launched aimed at independent energy suppliers giving guidance, key documents, events and departmental contacts for policy leads.
https://www.gov.uk/independent-energy-suppliers
Energy bills could be reduced
Claims that the energy firms could afford to cut gas bills by 14-15% and electricity bills by 5-6% as a result of continued large profits and a fall in wholesale prices.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/energy-firms-could-afford-slash-4937621
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-gas-urged-slash-bills-4997162
Scottish Power cuts gas prices
Scottish Power becomes the third of the Big Six to cut gas prices. They will be reduced by 4.8% from 20 February, saving £33 a year on the average standard tariff gas bill.
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jan/20/scottish-power-cuts-gas-prices
BG to lower gas prices
British Gas becomes the second of the Big Six to announce that it’s to cut gas prices. Prices will come down by 5% on 27 February, thereby reducing a typical household energy bill by £37 per year.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30880159
“Measly” saving
Having cut its gas prices by 3.5%, Eon customers will save a "measly" £24 a year.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/gas-customers-save-measly-24-4970538
Complaints up steeply
Complaints to the energy watchdog Ofgem are up by 191% in 2014 and increase to a record 52,308 over the year. Billing-related issues were the top cause of complaints, according to the energy ombudsman, accounting for 85% of all complaints recorded (44,385), and up 196% on 2013 (14,994).
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jan/10/complaints-uk-energy-watchdog-triple-ofgem
A strategy for ending fuel poverty
Citizens Advice and a number of other organisations formulate a strategy of seven core policies to save on fuel bills, generate jobs and solve fuel poverty for nine out of the 10 homes currently affected by it.
https://blogs.citizensadvice.org.uk/blog/are-high-energy-bills-an-election-issue/
Poor pay more
Research shows that energy bills for the poorest 10% have risen at twice the average rate. The research found that the lowest 10% of households on the income scale saw their electricity bills rise by 39.7% between 2010 and 2013, compared to 7.5% for the top 10% and an average of 22.2%.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/energy-bills-for-poorest-have-risen-at-twice-the-average-uk-rate-
research-shows-9976211.html
Working fuel poor
Half of fuel-poor households (1.1 million) are in work, a Policy Exchange report concludes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30743471
Fuel poverty costs NHS
Rising heating bills cost the NHS £1.5 billion a year, says national charity, National Energy Action. The NEA also believes that more than 30,000 lives could have been saved since 2010 if the Government had given the plight of those living in badly insulated homes, often the poorest in society, greater priority.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/soaring-heating-bills-cost-nhs-4962066
Guide for elderly
Age Concern London produces a guide to switching suppliers and energy efficiency for older people and organisations supporting the elderly.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/london/news--campaigns/age-uk-london-produce-energy-guide/
Domestic energy efficiency
Making your home more energy efficient and the funding and incentives available – Green Deal, ECO, Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentive.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/25247236
Passivhaus on the up
A Passivhaus Trust video on why the number of passivhaus buildings in UK is on the increase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhSQJJ-XJR4#t=48
Missed savings for SMEs
DECC reckons that the average value of the missed opportunity from energy efficiency for SMEs is between £5,800 and £12,200pa, which represents between 18% and 25% of their annual energy costs.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/392908/Barriers_to_
Energy_Efficiency_FINAL_2014-12-10.pdf
Energy-producing boilers
New combined heat and power boilers that produce electricity and benefit from Feed-in Tariff incentives are to be launched into the mass market.
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jan/17/new-boiler-generates-electricity
Bosses rate energy procurement
The Directors’ Energy Report 2015 shows how business bosses rate their energy suppliers, third party intermediaries/brokers and their own buying teams.
http://theenergyst.com/directors-rate-energy-suppliers-third-party-intermediaries-purchasing-teams/
Deep retrofit in Manchester
A deep retrofit programme tests technical boundaries to deliver large-scale energy efficiency improvements in a number of homes in Manchester, with the aim of reducing energy bills, fuel poverty and carbon emissions.
http://ontheplatform.org.uk/article/deep-retrofit-comes-greater-manchester
Education sector multi-million pound energy overspend
The education sector is overspending on energy by over £173 million per year, new analysis from the Energy Efficiency Financing (EEF) scheme has revealed. The analysis, based on official sources and proprietary EEF data, examined a number of sectors to calculate the amount that they were overpaying on their energy bills because of inefficient technology, equipment and controls.
http://www.edexec.co.uk/education-executive/articles/schools-overspending-on-energy-by-173m-a-year
-new-analysis-revealshttp://ow.ly/HxJXn
“Fifth fuel” savings
The cheapest and cleanest energy choice is not to waste it. The “fifth fuel”, as energy efficiency is sometimes called, is the cheapest of all. As the largest single chunk of final energy consumption, 31%, is in buildings (mainly through heating and cooling) there’s enormous potential to save energy.
http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21639016-biggest-innovation-energy-go-without-invisible-fuel?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/invisible_fuel
Horizon 2020 energy efficiency call
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over seven years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. The energy efficiency call 2014/15 provides support for innovation through: research and demonstration of more energy-efficient technologies and solutions; market uptake measures to remove market and governance barriers by addressing financing, regulations and the improvement of skills and knowledge.
http://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/energy
Making LEDs better
Researchers in Finland are investigating the possibility of making LEDs even better in an effort to reduce the amount of electricity used by lighting, which gobbles up an estimated one-fifth of global electricity output. Better LEDs could help reduce this consumption to a fraction of its present levels.
http://www.aalto.fi/en/current/news/2015-01-12-002/
£4m for whole-life performance
Innovate UK is offering £4 million for research and development projects leading to better whole-life performance of buildings. Registration opens on Monday 23, February and closes on Wednesday 1, April.
https://interact.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/-/asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/building
-whole-life-performance
Most green in the world?
After achieving the highest ever BREEAM rating, this Dutch office building is reckoned to be the most sustainable in the world.
http://www.fm-world.co.uk/news/fm-industry-news/dutch-building-rated-worlds-most-sustainable-office/
Multi-million-pound energy efficiency investment
A Coventry-based housing association invests £13.5 million in energy-saving measures, resulting in tenants, on average, saving £300 per home, per year due to lower fuel bills This adds up to a total saving of almost £1m a year on tenants’ heating bills and helps tackle fuel poverty. The environment also benefits from reduced carbon emissions.
http://www.24dash.com/news/housing/2015-01-12-Energy-to-tackle-fuel-poverty-helps-Coventry-stay-
warm-for-less?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
These tiles are made for generating
An entrepreneur develops a floor tile that converts kinetic energy from footsteps into electricity. The energy is stored in batteries and used to power lighting when it’s needed.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/11/floor-tile-generates-power-from-footsteps-energy-
electricity-startup
Former collieries go solar
A 30MW solar farm is being developed on former Nottinghamshire colliery sites and will provide enough electricity for around 10,000 homes.
http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/30mw-of-solar-to-be-built-on-former-notthinghamshire-colliery-sites-4386.aspx#.VLORVyusUlR
John Lewis proves to be outstanding
The new John Lewis department store in York is the retailer’s most sustainable shop and has been awarded a BREAAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.
http://www.yorkchamber.co.uk/john-lewis-york-achieves-breaam-outstanding-rating/
Android thermal imaging
A device that transforms an Android smartphone into a thermal imaging camera is marketed to a range of occupations such as: night guards, law enforcement officers, construction workers, air-conditioning technicians, service and maintenance personnel, physicians, veterinarians, farmers and hunters.
http://therm-app.com/
Walkie Talkie solar
A 50kWp solar array is fitted on the roof of London’s ‘Walkie Talkie’ building, and is claimed to be one of the UK’s highest solar installations.
http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/evoenergy_completes_50kwp_solar_array_on_londons_walkie_
talkie_building_34
Norwegian electricity excess
An eco home in Norway includes lots of energy efficiency features and produces three times more electricity than it needs - even though it has a heated pool and a sauna.
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2898884/A-REAL-powerhouse-Ecohome-comes-
complete-heated-pool-sauna-produces-THREE-times-electricity-needs.html
Textile points to no need for indoor heating
Focusing on heating people rather than empty space and inanimate objects, a team of researchers at Stanford University have published a paper on textiles dip-coated in silver nanowire solution. Textiles treated in this way could be used to make clothes and either reduce or eliminate the need for indoor heating.
http://phys.org/news/2015-01-super-insulated-indoor.html?utm_content=buffer45195&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Not having to think much about energy saving
Researchers at Southampton University are working on software to help people cut their energy use without having to spend too much time working out how to do it. Each individual’s workstation area is equipped with power-hungry equipment and is rigged up to a central database which displays a league of shame on a monitor.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20173641
Use fines for energy efficiency
The insulation industry calls for the fines recently imposed on the energy companies by Ofgem to be used to fund home improvements.
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2389148/insulation-industry-urges-ofgem-to-mandate-fresh-
gbp55m-wave-of-energy-saving-measures?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Twitterfeed&utm_content=BusinessGreen
Retrofit: How low can you go? Passivhaus Trust/AECB Joint Event. London. Thursday, 29 January
This event will be a light-hearted but factual debate about how far to go with energy efficiency on retrofit projects. It will aim to present a range of viewpoints, from passionate EnerPHit advocates through to non-Passivhaus supporters.
http://www.aecb.net/passivhaus-trust-aecb-joint-event-29th-january-2015-retrofit-low-can-go/
SMEs workshops on energy efficiency
London. Friday 30, January. 9am – 12noon
Manchester. Tuesday 3, February. 1:30 - 4:30pm
DECC workshops to discuss energy efficiency in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These free workshops will allow attendees to share thoughts on implementing energy measures and provide an opportunity to influence Government thinking on potential support options for SMEs. Each workshop will explore the barriers preventing SMEs from taking up energy efficiency measures and discuss the kinds of support Government could provide to help seize energy efficiency opportunities, reduce energy costs and cut out unnecessary waste.
https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/smes-workshops-energy-efficiency_2/
Zero Carbon Hub Low Energy Know How Events
Newcastle. Tuesday-Wednesday, 3-4 February
East Riding. Hull. Friday, 13 February
The Zero Carbon Hub, in collaboration with Saint-Gobain, provide these FREE events, which are an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest zero carbon homes policy, the zero carbon journey and definition, the performance gap project and the cost of meeting the Zero Carbon Standard. They will also provide a look at the proposed Allowable Solutions schemes, the importance of retrofitting existing homes and the timeline to 2016.
Delegates will be provided with the practical knowledge to meet regulations as Saint-Gobain will be presenting information on a number of product solutions designed to meet the zero carbon target.
Spaces are limited. To learn more and book a place, please visit:
Newcastle: http://www.zerocarbonhub.org/event/15
Hull: http://www.zerocarbonhub.org/event/14
Passivhaus Delivery, ensuring quality and managing risk. Edinburgh. Thursday 5, February
This masterclass is limited to around 20 participants. It will be delivered by experienced practicioners: Mark Siddall (LEAP) and Bill Butcher (Green Building Store) alongside architects Kirsty Maguire and Grigor Mitchell providing local context. It will focus on what to look out for when quoting for, specifying, designing, building and commissioning Passivhaus projects. The workshop will include examination of several practical projects and discussion of practical construction applications.
http://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/event_detail.php?eId=319#.VL9kj0esUlS
Energy efficiency lessons from the food and beverage industry. Newcastle. Thursday, 5 February
This half-day seminar and workshop will examine energy efficiency in the food and beverage industry at all scales and including in both buildings and industrial processes. The presentations will cover the EU GREENFOODS project, the UK meat industry, the brewing industry and an energy audit case study from an RPEC consultant. There will also be a number of workshops, which will be followed by an evening drinks reception.
https://www.energyinst.org/events/view/4449
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