You can find out more about our Green Deal Assessor training here. This is the one-day update course for those who are already Domestic Energy Assessors right now; If you’re not already a DEA, then the course must include the other three days which is exactly the same. To save yourself some time, you can begin your DEA training today with Energy Foundation by taking a look at this page and contacting Energy Foundation on 0845 009 8642.

European PV installations have lead the way in, predictably, Germany and Italy, whom together count up just over 60% of Europe’s total PV capacity (7.5GW for Germany and 9.3GW for Italy). However, the EPIA insisted that these installation growths are unsustainable at their current rates, largely because countries will reach a subsidy cap where governments will have spent all finances reserved for renewable energy subsidization. A decrease to anything from 21.6 to 9.4GW of new European capacity has been suggested. The EPIA president, Dr Winfried Hoffmann, said that “The PV industry is now weathering a period of uncertainty in the short-term, but over the medium- and long-terms the prospects for continued robust growth are good. The results of 2011 – and indeed the outlook for the next several years – show that under the right policy conditions PV can continue its progress towards competitiveness in key electricity markets and become a mainstream energy source.”

The EPIA report continued on to state that, despite Europe’s current lead in PV capacity, the burgeoning US, Chinese and Japanese markets look set to reduce the region’s share of the PV market by next year. The global total installed solar capacity looks set to rise to anything from 20.6GW up to 41.4GW and up to 77.3GW for 2016.

Mr. Cameron went on to add that ”Britain has gone from virtually no capacity for renewables, to seeing them provide almost 10 per cent of our total electricity needs last year. And we’ve added more capacity… in the last two years than at any time in the last decade.”

However, the speech the Prime Minister gave to open a meeting of international ministers also outlined the renewable sector’s great challenge in the coming years; Financial stability. Mr. Cameron said that the UK has ”a different challenge. We need to make it financially sustainable.”

The speech comes after two years in office, after election pledges to have “the greenest economy ever”, which environmental campaigners have criticised as being a promise which so far has been largely unfulfilled.

It was after all Mr. Cameron’s government who led the fiasco over Feed-in-tariffs for the Solar PV industry, widely considered by industry leaders as being harmful overall to the condition of the sector. Mr. Cameron’s statements in the speech, coming after the Chancellor’s announcements in the March budget of £3bn in tax breaks for offshore fossil fuel extraction may seem, on balance, only a small portion of the bigger picture.

Nevertheless, Mr. Cameron remains optimistic about the role of the renewable energy sector in the United Kingdom, adding in his speech that ”Renewables are now the fastest growing energy source on the planet. And I am proud that Britain has played a leading role at the forefront of this… revolution”.

The Friends of the Earth group, in a statement from executive director Andy Atkins, responded to Mr. Cameron’s speech by pointing out that ”In the very week we find the UK back in recession there is more need than ever to build a clean economy, and create the thousands of jobs this would bring. With soaring gas costs sending household fuel bills rocketing, David Cameron should be championing clean British energy and leading the drive for a low-carbon future, not dodging the chance to advance this on the world stage.”

It seems clear that the renewable energy industry is still on the rise in the UK, with added incentives from a conflicted government such as Green Deal soon to go live across the country. Energy Foundation provide you with the means to get on board with the sector with our training courses.

Solar panel installer BSOLAR has re-launched their training arm following strong demand as a result of the new “Green Deal.”
The training arm, the Energy Foundation, is offering the necessary qualifications for energy assessors working in the sector.

Peter Bladen, Managing Director of BSOLAR said: “Previously to BSOLAR, I’d been working for five years training energy assessors and with the advent of the Green Deal there is now a huge demand for this training again.”

The “Green Deal” will start in October 2012 and allow homeowners to take out interest free loans to pay for green technology, to make their home more efficient.  These loans will then be paid off by the savings they make on their energy bills.

According to Peter Bladen, Energy Performance Certificates will be a vital part of the Green Deal and installers need to have training in this area.  Any green technology installation in a home will first require the property to be assessed for an EPC, so those working in the industry need to have the EPC training and accreditation.

Peter said: “From October, installers, be it solar panel installers or those putting in cavity wall insulation or any other form of technology will need to first conduct an Energy Performance Certificate of the property in order to be part of the Green Deal programme.  EPC training is essentially vital if you want to work in the industry.”

The Energy Foundation is offering courses around the country in domestic and non domestic EPCs and specific training for solar PV installers.  All courses include ABBE registration, assessment and exams.

Peter said: “The courses are proving extremely popular, with firms often preferring to be taught by instructors like ourselves who work in the industry as well as being qualified trainers.”

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http://www.clickliverpool.com/business/business-news/1215178-bsolar%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-re-launches-training-arm.html

The widely-expected cut, which ministers say is necessary to make small-scale  renewable subsidies sustainable, but which the industry warns could seriously  damage growth and jobs, would come in for panels installed from December 12.

The feed-in tariffs scheme was launched last year and it meant that  householders installing solar panels would be paid for the electricity they  generate.

However, the scheme has proved more popular than anticipated, so now the  amount people are paid for their energy is to be cut from 43.3p per kWh to 21p  per kWh.

The Government says the cut is necessary, as, without action to control the  situation, solar electricity would cost £980m – or £26 extra on the average  household electricity bill.

“Peter Bladen, managing director of Halsall-based solar panel firm BSOLAR,  added: “The Government’s announcement that it will slash the rates by more than  50%, and that this will come into effect in December, has taken many by  surprise.

Firms which have won sizeable contracts for early next year are now seeing  these contracts at risk, because the financial incentives have been cut.

The new rules are also hitting the ordinary householder that was looking to  generate some income from green technology.”

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ldpbusiness/business-local/2011/11/02/mersey-solar-panel-firms-shocked-at-feed-in-tariff-cut-92534-29702806/#ixzz1dIVPs4kP

This week all EPC accreditation schemes received draft details of the planned changes; and they are so substantial that they look likely to require all DEAs to pass a ‘top up’ exam. The changes are part of a DECC/DCLG drive to gear the industry up for the Green Deal, with the EPC being the lynchpin that tells householders what measures are relevant to their home, what the likely costs are and if the measures are likely to be eligible for Green Deal funding.
Regardless of the success or otherwise of the Green Deal, the changes will make RDSAP a much more useful tool containing options currently only available as part of a full SAP assessment. The changes will also make it possible to use RDSAP to reassess a dwelling previously assessed with full SAP when the dwelling was first built.

So what was the thinking behind the changes to RDSAP?
First and foremost was the need to eliminate those aspects of RDSAP that have been widely criticised and to make it a tool suitable for use in any serious attempt at improving the energy efficiency of existing homes. The view was that DEAs are now sufficiently confident, proficient and experienced to handle the increased complexity that this will require.
The starting point for improving RDSAP was that all energy efficiency / renewables measures installed into a home under the Green Deal have to be able to be entered into RDSAP software when the dwelling is reassessed for an EPC. This requirement led to over 20 areas of change to the RDSAP data entry process;
for example, if the gable wall of a house has been externally clad to a U-value of 0.20 W/m2K, then RDSAP has to allow the entry of a U-value of 0.20 W/m2K for that specific wall area. This requirement led to changes being made to enable the DEA to define an alternative wall for each building part (Main, extension 1, extension 2 etc) and to be able to enter a specific wall U-value; this was then extended to allow entry of an age band or a thickness/material. Similarly, if a dwelling has a boiler fitted with a Flue Gas Heat Recovery System then the DEA needs to be able to enter such a system into the software.

Although the changes to RDSAP are major, they have been designed to keep the process of assessing most homes as similar as possible to the present approach. Much of the additional data entry will only be required when documentary evidence is available that provides supplementary information to be entered into RDSAP. And so DEAs will NOT need to calculate U-values or, in most cases, carry out additional measurements.

The second driver for change was the need for RDSAP to be able to assess and where appropriate recommend every measure that is eligible for full or part funding under the Green Deal. Therefore, added to the current list of RDSAP Recommendations will be Flat roof insulation, Room In the Roof Insulation, Floor Insulation, Insulated Doors, Waste Water Heat Recovery and Flue Gas Heat Recovery.
There will be also be a section on the EPC for ‘Alternative’ Recommendations in addition to the main RDSAP recommendations: Heat pumps, micro CHP, Biomass boilers and External Insulation with cavity insulation. The look of the EPC will also be very different, containing more detailed information and less descriptive text.

The final key driver for change was the need for the estimates o f financial savings to be more accurate, because of the Green Deal’s ‘promise’ that the savings under standard occupancy conditions will be more than the cost of servicing the loan taken out for the installation of improvement measures. For example, RDSAP savings will now be based upon regional weather patterns.

But what will all this mean for DEAs in practice?
The first obvious impact will be the need to prepare for and sit the top up exam.
On the job, there will be some additional data entry to software and extra data collection. In cases there will be the need for more expert judgment; this will require clear new conventions to be agreed by all accreditation schemes. The main “additions to the survey process are:

• Entering wall thicknesses and entering separately any walls that are dry-lined

• Establishing if there is the possibility that wall cavities are < 50mm or if the dwelling is located in a high exposure area (as these need specialist installation techniques), or if there are obvious obstructions on site that might make cavity fill or cladding more difficult

• Entering additional data provided in documentary evidence, e.g.details of solar thermal, PV, part walls that have been insulated

• Checking that element areas of room rooms are not obviously wrong; and if they are then entering better estimates

• Assessing the approximate % of openings that are draught proofed and counting the number of doors

• If using extended glazing, then entering the orientation of each opening

• Recognising the presence of additional measures, e.g. flue gas heat recovery systems, waste water heat recovery systems

These changes place the EPC and with it the DEAs at the heart of government policy regarding tackling climate change and, in the long term, this has to be good for the industry. In the short term, it will require that DEAs put some time into increasing their skills and getting used to the changes. Hopefully, the way in which RDSAP 9.91 is structured and implemented will minimize the extra time needed on site. However, inevitably, there will be situations where more time is required to carry out the survey, especially when encountering new technologies and refining new processes.

Since the introduction of Feed-In Tariffs (01/04/10) renewable energy generation in the UK  has become a much more appealing and rewarding proposition to individuals and local community projects. Peter will be discussing how Lancastrians can embrace the future, help the environment and help their bank balance as well. 

As we all know Lancashire is already a green and pleasant county. Energy Foundation/BSolar is committed to helping keep it this way. Spreading the message Peter hopes that Lancashire can become a leading light in the UKs march towards the Governments’ commitment to achieving 20% energy generation from renewable sources by 2020.

The Energy Bill is to provide a step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses, and to put in place a framework to deliver a future with secure, low carbon energy supplies and fair competition in the energy markets.

The Queen’s Speech said that the Government would also seek effective global collaboration to combat climate change, including at the climate change conference in Mexico later this year. 

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

“The Queen’s Speech and last week’s programme of Government make clear that energy security and taking real action to tackle climate change aren’t add on extras for this new Government, but are vital to our national interest.”

“The Energy Bill is designed to help consumers put a stop to wasting energy in their homes through a green deal while making sure our energy system is fit for the 21st century.” 

Key Elements

The main elements of the Bill are:

• Implementation of a “Green deal” to deliver energy efficiency to homes and business – delivering a framework including potential incentives to energy suppliers and households that will transform the provision of energy efficiency in the UK by enabling a ‘pay as you save’ approach.

The Bill may also contain measures to:

• regulate the carbon emissions from coal-fired power stations
• reform energy markets to deliver security of supply and ensure fair competition
• put in place a framework to guide the development of a smart grid that will revolutionise the management of supply and demand for electricity
• require energy companies to provide more information on energy bills in order to empower consumers and to ensure fair access to energy supplies
• ensure that North Sea infrastructure is available to all companies to ease the exploitation of smaller and more difficult oil and gas fields 
• create a Green Investment Bank to support investment in low carbon projects to transform the economy

With regards to EPCs  the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Grant Shapps said that the Government is determined to help people reduce their energy bills, improve our energy security and tackle climate change by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. Sellers will therefore still be required to commission, but won’t need to have received, an EPC before marketing their property, and the Government will consider how the EPC can play its part in the new drive for a low carbon and eco-friendly economy. 

In order to ensure that people selling their homes continue to make an Energy Performance Certificate available to prospective buyers, we have also laid before Parliament the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 which introduce a number of new requirements including:

• a new duty on the seller to secure that an energy performance certificate (EPC) has been commissioned before marketing of the property commences where no such certificate is already available
• an EPC has been commissioned when a Domestic Energy Assessor has been instructed to prepare the EPC and the EPC has either been paid for or has given a clear undertaking to pay for it
• a new duty on the person acting on behalf of the seller to be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned before commencing marketing
• a new duty on both the seller and a person acting on their behalf to make reasonable efforts to secure an EPC within 28 days
• all of the new duties carry fixed penalties where somebody fails in the duty conferred on them by the new regulations

So in relation to DEA (Domestic Energy Assessors) this means that they will still be required to produce EPCs for clients looking to sell their properties. Which is good news for all the DEAs trained at Energy Foundation!

He replied ” I’ve been on trains all the time. I don’t think I have been on any more than one plane during this campaign time, I have been going around by trains. And I think actually our high speed rail network will allow people to get off the roads and also get off domestic air flights, and I think that’s incredibly important.

I would say the other thing I have done, and I’m very pleased we’ve managed to do this in our home in North Queensferry, we thought living on ahill with a huge amount of wind, not very good weather in Scotland, as you know, that a wind turbine would be the answer. In fact, we found, far better, even in this area where there’s not much sun is a solar panel. I would recommend people if they can use this form of energy because it allows us to heat our water in a way that is far more environmentally friendly.

We’ve got the first Climate Change Act in the world, we are due to reduce emissions substantially by 2020 and 2030, there is a lot more to be done individually and as a community. But we’ve also got to get a world agreement, we’ve got to work, David, with Europe to do so and work with the rest of the world, and that’s the way to get environmental emmissions down.”

Great to hear!!