Energy Performance Certificates
lowcarboneconomy.comGovernment legislation now dictates that Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are required in relation to the sale, letting or construction for all non domestic property. This covers everything from small retail units, offices, industrial units, hotels, schools and public buildings. These certificates rate the building energy performance on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient and G being the least.
All building owners, landlords and tenants considering selling or leasing their commercial premises are required to comply with these statutory regulations. There are certain exemptions where an EPC is not required although these are very limited. All EPCs must be lodged centrally on a national database and will be valid for up to 10 years.
EU COMMISSION ANNOUNCES €2.3BN FUNDING
EU COMMISSION ANNOUNCES €2.3BN FOR EUROPEAN ENERGY NETWORK
The EU Commission has announced funding of €2.3bn for 31 gas and 12 electricity projects, the remains of the €4bn economic recovery fund, created in 2008 in response to the economic crisis.
"Never before has the Commission agreed such an important amount for energy projects.” said Günther Oettinger, EU Energy Commissioner. “We have selected key projects which will help create a more integrated energy network in Europe”.
The funding comes at a critical time for these projects, which are seen by the EU as strategic to its energy and climate objectives but still lacked access to sufficient funding. The EU will fund up to 50% of total project costs, leaving the rest to be leveraged on a national and private level.
The announcement comes after the initial €1.5bn of recovery money allocation to 15 carbon capture and storage (CCS) and off-shore wind projects in December 2009. These sectors require large and risky investments, the bold financial moves by the EU have been taken to give confidence to market players that the projects remain on track.
How this announcement will be received by the renewable energy sector remains to be seen, where financing has been the major constraint since last year.
According to SENER, “If there is a real political will to achieve the 20/20 target, some additional efforts need to be made going forward in terms of guarantees, public funds availability etc. in order to make liquidity much more available to projects.”
In a statement released to the European Future Energy Forum, spokes person for the EU Energy Commissioner, Marlene Holzner, said about Europe 2020 targets “No Member State whatever its size or its relative position can tackle on its own such challenges in a global context. It is not about transferring more powers to Brussels. This is about all of us moving in the same direction.”
The ambitious 20/20 targets, required by the Promotion of Renewable Energy directive, means 20% of EU gross final energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020. Hotly anticipated are the member states national action plans, due on June 30th detailing their individual policies for achieving their quotas under the directive.
Funding will be a central topic of discussion at the European Future Energy Forum to be held 19-21 October in London this year. With a keynote session on the first day asking ‘Where is the money coming from to fund the new energy revolution?’, delegates can expect top-level politicians, decision makers and investors engaging in real dialogue to address the challenges facing this industry.
A panel debate will provide an opportunity for investors to communicate what kind of regulatory environment is truly commercially relevant to them, as well as giving policy makers the chance to discuss their visions on developing the low carbon energy supply we need.
Kirsty Hamilton, Associate Fellow, Renewable Energy Finance at Chatham House will also chair a Finance session examining policy, risk and investment. Finance panel members will be looking at how to calculate and compare risks in renewable projects, models and methodologies for costing projects, structuring risk to attract investment and creating effective incentives.
For more information see www.EuropeanFutureEnergyForum.com
The Future of Energy heads to London
lowcarboneconomyThe Future of Energy heads to London as business thrives
The UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, spoke at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday to highlight the UK’s leading role in meeting the global challenge of combating climate change with renewable energy.
With over 9,000 international business leaders and politicians attending the Summit on the opening day, this event has once again provided a platform for debate and finding solutions within the growing renewable and alternative energy market place.
The UK government will be developing an even closer relationship with the Future Energy series of events as the next event moves to London in October. The European Future Energy Forum 2010, in association with Masdar, will be taking place in ExCeL London, October 19/21 and will be the fifth event in the series since the initiative was launched in 2008.
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband said:
“The European Future Energy Forum , which we’ll be hosting in London in October, is an opportunity to show the world the huge strides we’re taking in the UK to develop renewable and low carbon technologies. It will help bring businesses together to identify investment opportunities as we develop the low carbon energy supply we need.”
Ed Miliband took time to visit Masdar’s stand at the Summit and met with CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber, who has been instrumental in the development of the Future Energy debate, as Abu Dhabi continues to emerge as a leading hub in the renewable energy field.
“We now look forward to building on this platform in the UK in October” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. “We will take the opportunity to share knowledge, advance solutions and explore partnerships within a European market.”
The cutting edge conference in London will build on the discussions in Abu Dhabi this week with special focus on necessary requirements both financially and in terms of infrastructure to enable projects to move forward. A first glimpse of the planned programme includes sessions raising questions such as ‘Where is the money coming from?’ and ‘how do we bridge the technology gap?’
Loft insulation improves energy ratings. Loft insulation grants available
DEFRA news release – 3rd February 2009
In October 2008 the Government announced a new scheme which would assist homeowners in getting their houses properly insulated in order to increase the energy efficiency rating of their homes and to reduce their carbon footprint.
The CERT insulation scheme now means that everybody now qualifies for some form of grant assistance for both loft insulation and cavity wall insulation and could save people over £300 per year on their energy bills. Some people will even qualify for free insulation!
HIP providers are welcoming these grants for loft insulation, because having loft insulation installed can dramatically improve a property’s EPC rating. People interested in HIP training (to become a HIP provider) should visit Your HIP Search.
For information regarding Loft Insulation Grants, visit the Loft Lagger insulation installer website. They offer free loft insulation surveys and access to government and Energy Company backed loft insulation grants. They offer loft insulation across the UK.
HIPs benefiting consumers. Plus delay of first day marketing
Communities and Local Government news release – 8th May 2008
The Government today announced a package of measures to help ensure consumers are seeing the vital information in Home Information Packs and are receiving a higher standard of service in the home buying and selling process.
The new measures include: developing a new set of standards with industry on what consumers should expect from property professionals in the home buying and selling process; further building on the quality of information in the packs; working with industry to ensure that consumers are fully seeing and benefiting from the HIP, including the EPC, early in the process; extending until the end of the year the provisions enabling consumers to market their home as long as they have ordered and committed to pay for a HIP, and the provision requiring the lease to be included in the HIP for leasehold properties.
The latest figures on HIPs show that consumers are already benefiting from the introduction of Home Information Packs. More than 700,000 homes now have energy ratings as a result of HIPs, helping home owners to save money on their fuel bills and cut carbon emissions. Greater competition in the property searches market is also leading to reductions in costs with some local authorities reducing their search fees by up to £120.
This announcement also meant that there is a delay of first day marketing; this was originally scheduled for the 1st June 2008 and has now been delayed until 31st December 2008.
The provision for first day marketing allows a property to be marketed without a HIP as long as the required documents have been commissioned and paid for (or arrangements for payment made) and there is an expectation they will arrive within 28 days.
Full roll out of HIPs announced
Ministerial Statement by Yvette Cooper – 22nd November 2007
The Government set out their approach and criteria for phasing the implementation of Home Information Packs (HIPs) including Energy Performance Certificates on 11 June. Sixty per cent of the market is now covered by HIPs. And the criteria for roll out to the rest of the market have now been met. We will therefore complete the phased roll out by extending coverage to the rest of the market from 14 December.
First time buyers of one and two bedroom homes will be the main beneficiaries as they will now get important information about their new home for free. Information such as searches for which they would previously have had to pay will now be included in the HIP paid for by the seller, reducing the costs of the first step onto the property ladder.
But all householders will benefit from having detailed information about the energy efficiency of their home, and measures to save on their fuel bills and cut carbon emissions.
HIPs required for properties with 3 or more bedrooms
Communities and Local Government news release – 10th September 2007
The Government is today extending EPCs and HIPs to three bedroom homes so more buyers will get the same information to cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills.
The early findings come from a snapshot survey of energy assessors and EPCs provided since the launch of HIPs, which show average 4 bedroom homes are being rated 'E' and could typically save £180 on heating, £60 on lighting and £30 on hot water bills, a year.
The top 5 recommendations given by assessors for improving energy efficiency have been: cavity wall insulation, changing to low energy lighting, putting thermostatic valves on radiators, loft insulation, and double glazing.
The introduction HIPs is already starting to reduce costs and improve transparency in the housing market. More than 85 local authorities have reduced their search costs, in some cases by more than £100
HIPs to be introduced on a phased basis
Ministerial Statement by Yvette Cooper – 22nd May 2007
The Government is today announcing that we will be implementing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Home Information Packs (HIPs) from 1 August instead of 1 June. The Government has also reached an agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on their judicial review of Energy Performance Certificates.
The Judge, considering the application for Judicial Review by RICS, had issued an Order preventing EPC's from being included in HIPs from 1 June until a court had fully considered the RICs application.
We did not consider it to be acceptable or practical to delay the introduction of EPCs in this way.
We have always made clear greater transparency in the housing market and tackling climate change goes hand in hand. In addition, we have created a new energy assessor workforce - the majority of whom expect to start work in June.
Therefore HIPs and EPCs will be introduced on August 1, implemented on a phased basis. From August 1 packs - including energy performance certificates - will be required for the sale of four bedroom properties and larger. These are the properties which are the most energy inefficient. We will phase in packs for smaller properties as sufficient energy assessors become ready to start work.
For all the latest Home Information Pack news, visit the Communities and Local Government (CLG) website.
