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 eNews
Issue 419 Wednesday 2 September 2015
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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VACANCIES – Building Energy Specialist and Senior Building Energy Specialist
The National Energy Foundation is looking to strengthen its technical capability by recruiting a Building Energy Specialist and a Senior Building Energy Specialist (Non-domestic). The roles will build on our capacity to provide robust and innovative solutions that help to improve the use of energy in both non-domestic and domestic buildings. If you’re enthusiastic and self-motivated with excellent written and verbal communication skills and want to make a difference in the use of energy and the comfort of existing and new buildings, these jobs could be for you. Closing date: Monday 7 Sept.
40% DISCOUNT. Energy Performance in Property 2015. London. Fri 25 Sep
Aimed at those responsible for energy performance in property, this 2degrees masterclass focuses on working together to solve the practical problems of:
- How to get your CFO and senior management to take energy performance seriously.
- How to write the killer business case (including a take away copy of a practical ‘how to’ guide).
Tickets at a 40% discount are available to readers of eNews who are property owners/occupiers looking to improve their own buildings’ energy performance (rather than solution providers, consultants, etc). Book a ticket.
Verdantix Summit 2015: Getting Value from Investments in Energy Innovation. London. Thu 8 Oct
The Verdantix Summit will be attended by 250 senior managers and executives and will provide comprehensive analysis of all the key issues facing energy managers. The agenda covers: how to engage with finance, business case design, the changing role of utilities, demand response, ESOS, energy performance contracts, facility energy efficiency and post-election energy and carbon policy.
EMEX. ExCel, London. Wed 11 – Thu 12 Nov
EMEX is for anyone wanting to reduce their organisation’s energy consumption and it connects energy users with leading experts, policy makers, suppliers and technical solutions. The EMEX marketplace includes a free-to-attend conference programme that helps attendees control energy costs, gain industry insights, source innovations, share knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest and upcoming legislative changes and how these are affecting businesses in the UK. A speaker from the National Energy Foundation will be presenting on the second day – speaker and subject to be confirmed.
CoRE Retrofit Coordinator Course – discounted early bird bookings
The Centre of Refurbishment Excellence has developed a 10-day training programme to up-skill existing professionals to become Retrofit Coordinators. Courses are run regularly across the UK, and can even be delivered exclusively in-house for groups of 10 or more. Learners can complete the programme at their own pace – either taking a fast-track route or spreading units over several months to suit their schedule. This leads to successful participants being awarded a CoRE Diploma with a specialism in Retrofit Coordination. All courses are fully CPD accredited. Make an early bird booking.
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Proposed revised Feed-in Tariff rates will kill off industry
The Government is warned that its proposals to slash household solar subsides by as much as 87% (see Consultations below) will kill off the industry.
More reactions to FiT proposals
More reactions to the substantially reduced Feed-in Tariff rates proposed in the Government’s consultation, and to the scheme's possible closure.
PV might become non-viable
Experts warn that solar panels might not be viable for domestic users in the future, after the Government proposes significant reductions in the Feed-in Tariff rates.
BPVA reacts
The British Photovoltaic Association issues a sharp response in reaction to the substantially reduced Feed-in Tariff rates proposed in the Government’s consultation.
FiT policy change bad for AD
The proposed changes to FiT tariffs will put new small renewables projects at risk, and one industry expert reckons the Government’s policy shift will 'kill deployment' of anaerobic digestion.
Latest Green Deal statistics
DECC publishes the latest monthly statistics for the Green Deal and the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (both to the end of July) and ECO to the end of June. 1.57 million measures have been installed so far, 96% of which have been through ECO.
£5m for energy efficiency in Scotland
Almost 2,000 of Scotland’s poorest households will benefit from a £5 million fund to make their homes cheaper to keep warm. The HEEPS: Cashback Scheme, for social housing providers, offers funding to housing associations and local authority landlords towards installing energy efficiency measures.
Scottish fuel poverty task group
A new task force has been established to find ways of making it easier and more affordable for people in rural and remote Scotland to heat their homes. The Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force will explore the issues facing people in fuel poverty and prepare a report on its findings over the next year
Consumer protection at heart of Green Deal review
BRE Chief Executive, Peter Bonfield, who has been appointed to review options on domestic energy efficiency following the winding-down of the Green Deal, stresses that 'consumer protection' will be the touchstone of proposals he puts forward to the Government at the end of the review next April.
EDR Pilot Phase II guidance
DECC publishes a handbook and guidance documents for organisations wishing to take part in Phase II of the Electricity Demand Reduction Pilot. The documents include a ‘how to’ guide to participation and a step-by-step ‘walk-through’ each phase of the process.
Business not ready for ESOS
Research indicates that 73% of companies that qualify for ESOS have yet to start mandatory audits.
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Feed-in Tariff subsidy scheme
DECC opens consultation on its review of the UK’s Feed-in Tariff subsidy scheme for the generation of renewable electricity from small-scale installations. In particular, the consultation proposes to control costs and, if the scheme cannot be put on an affordable and sustainable footing, then there should be an end to generation tariffs for new applicants, possibly from January 2016. Consultation closes on Friday, 23 October.
Household energy efficiency national statistics
DECC launches consultation on changes to the frequency, format and content of its national statistics on Green Deal, ECO and insulation. Closing date: Wed 30 September.
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PAYG metering myths
Five common myths about ‘Pay As You Go’ metering in community heating schemes.
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Retrofit Pattern Book launched
A Greater Manchester network of organisations launches an innovative online ‘Pattern Book’ tool to help piece together best practice solutions for retrofitting buildings.
Air pumps benefit tenants
Air source heat pumps give housing association tenants in 200 Sentinel Housing homes cheaper heating and more controllable warmth.
UK's largest community rooftop solar scheme
Barnsley residents are being invited to invest in a £10 million solar rooftop community energy scheme - the largest of its kind in the UK. The scheme, known as Energise Barnsley, will see solar panels installed onto approximately 5,000 council houses and council-owned buildings.
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Antenna to boost PV efficiency
Scientists develop a unique "green" antenna that could double solar panel efficiency and make them more affordable.
Liquid technology promises massive improvements in solar generation
An American solar firm has launched a new liquid technology that turns regular windows into solar panels which could be up to 50 times more productive than normal roof-based photovoltaics.
A solar energy conundrum solved?
A team at a South African university might have solved the problem of generating cheap solar electricity using a small-scale array of mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy.
New light-emitting diode could help LED
Scientists develop a new highly efficient and low-cost light-emitting diode that could help increase the uptake of LED technology.
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Britain’s energy market in graphics
An Ofgem infographic depicts facts and figures about Britain’s energy market, its larger suppliers’ prices and profits, energy bills and switching.
Energy goals higher than reality
A survey reveals that the high energy management goals and aspirations that exist in the non-domestic sector are far ahead of reality.
Energy-efficient homes reduce rent arrears?
Research is launched into the theory that living in more energy-efficient homes leads to fewer social housing tenants going into rent arrears. If you’re a landlord managing over 500 homes, get involved. The deadline for involvement is Thursday, 17 September.
60% of landlords say no to energy efficiency
Research shows that 60% of private landlords have no intention of improving the energy efficiency of their properties, despite the Government’s recently introduced Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance Standards, which take effect as of April 2018.
Time to tap in to underused energy source - wasted heat
While millions of people worldwide can’t afford to keep their homes warm, valuable energy is being lost to the environment as heat. In the UK, industry wastes enough heat to warm more than two million households - equivalent to a third of final energy use.
EfW plant aims high
A new energy-from-waste facility in Suffolk is to process 269,000 tonnes of waste per year, generating electricity for around 30,000 homes. A time-lapse video shows the construction of the plant.
Energy from carnival waste
Waste from the Notting Hill Carnival converted at a south London energy-from-waste plant will generate enough energy to power 80,000 showers.
Whisky pot-ale and draff into biogas for renewable heat
Thanks to a new anaerobic digestion plant, the global drinks firm, Diageo, is to generate two million cubic metres of biogas per year from pot-ale and draff, the waste products from whisky production at its distillery in Scotland.
Electricity from fat-to-fuel project
Bradford tackles its blocked sewer problem with a fats-to-fuel scheme that generates electricity for local households.
Boiler energy use down
The University of Salford reduces its boiler energy consumption by 13.5%.
Office supplies company in top five for PV
Lyreco, a major office supplies company, orders one of the UK's top five largest rooftop solar panel installations with a capacity of 3.5MW for its 15-acre distribution centre.
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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:
Acre
Carbon Action Network
CIBSE
Ends Job Search
Energy Institute industry vacancies
Energy Institute vacancies
Environment Job
Environment Jobs
Hays
IEMA
National Energy Services
Reed
The Guardian
Total
Utility Week
Research Fellow (BEST) University of Salford
The School of Built Environment at the University of Salford has an opportunity for a researcher to build a long-term research and academic career, and to work at the Salford Energy House. Requirements include: good analytical skills, a developing research and publications profile and some good developing networks in the sector. Closing date: Sun 6 Sep.
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Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Briefings
These UK-GBC member briefings in Bristol and Manchester will explore the long-awaited Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regulations that will make it illegal (subject to some exemptions) to let buildings that fall below an EPC rating of E.
Fuel poverty: our vision for the future. Sheffield. Mon 14 – Wed 16 Sep
NEA Annual Conference focussing on six vision statements. Expert panels of speakers will explore each of these in turn, drawing upon the experience of those attending the conference.
Constructing quality homes to save lifetime costs and create better environments. London. Wed 16 Sep
This one-day Building4Quality conference will help delegates understand:
- The market for quality, low-carbon homes.
- Effective design approaches.
- How to engage the supply chain.
- Approaches to bridging the skills gap.
- Low-carbon design.
Low energy masterclasses
These free Zero Carbon Hub events will provide delegates with the latest policy updates and practical support to deliver energy-efficient new homes. They will look at commercially viable, practical examples to help deliver homes to current and future regulations. Attendees will also receive a copy of the ZCH good practice Builders’ Book, which is an easy-to-read guide on improving site processes, reducing risk and constructing high-quality, healthy homes.
Building Better Buildings. Manchester. Wed 23 Sep. 9:30 – 12:30
Join the Zero Carbon Hub and Innovate UK at this free event at the Manchester School of Architecture. The event, in collaboration with a number of leading industry partners, promises to demystify the ‘performance gap’ and highlight the latest learning from local domestic and non-domestic Building Performance Evaluation projects.
Powering Knowledge. London. Thu 1 Oct
A British Photovoltaic Association conference aiming to bring together Government Ministers, policy makers, the UK education sector representatives (Headmasters, Head teachers, Bursars, Facility Managers), local authorities , financiers, investors and key-players in the solar industry to discuss opportunities and barriers in deploying solar on schools.
The agenda will cover:
- Policy.
- UK market update and opportunities for the education sector.
- Technology, innovation, products and development.
- Case studies from solar schools.
- Financial solutions.
- Legal and planning.
Addressing the Retrofit Performance Gap. London. Wed 14 Oct
This Sustainable Homes national conference brings together experts from the sector as we discuss the issues around the ‘performance gap’ and how to address them:
- Commissioning more effectively to reduce risk.
- Managing installations and ensuring quality.
- Demanding more from contractors.
- Ensuring residents and landlords maximise savings.
Greenbuild Expo/Buildings & Energy Efficiency Event. Manchester. Tue 10 – Wed 11 Nov
This year, Greenbuild Expo 2015 will run alongside the new Buildings & Energy Efficiency (B&EE) Event, a show dedicated to helping businesses meet their energy efficiency objectives. Greenbuild Expo will continue its emphasis on promoting sustainable building practices and tackling some of the important issues of our time, such as building high-quality and sustainable housing, refurbishing the current stock and eradicating fuel poverty.
Retrofit and the Performance Gap. Salford. Wed 3 Dec
This Retrofit Innovation Network event will discuss what the ‘performance gap’ is, how it is shown in buildings and what issues we need to think about to ensure we deliver energy efficient buildings.
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