BREEAM – What is it? & What are it’s benefits?

BRE Environmental Assessment Method (colloquially known as BREEAM) is currently the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for commercial buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the ‘de-facto’ measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance.

BREEAM provides clients, developers, designers and other interested parties with:

·         market recognition for low environmental impact buildings

·         assurance that the best environmental practice is incorporated into a building

·         inspiration to find modern & innovative solutions that help minimise the environmental impact

·         a benchmark that is higher than regulation & therefore staying ahead of the times

·         a tool to help reduce running costs, and to improve working and living environments

·         a standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental objectives

BREEAM addresses wide-ranging environmental and sustainability issues and enables developers and designers to prove the environmental credentials of their buildings to planners and clients alike. This is because BREEAM:

·         uses a straightforward scoring system that is transparent, easy to understand and supported by evidence-based research

·         has a positive influence on the design, construction and management of buildings

·         sets and maintains a robust technical standard with rigorous quality assurance and certification

Therefore clients, planners development agencies, funders and developers use BREEAM to specify the sustainability performance of their buildings in a way that is quick, comprehensive, highly visible in the marketplace and provides a level playing field.

Property agents use it to promote the environmental credentials and benefits of a building to potential purchasers and tenants. Design teams use it as a tool to improve the performance of their buildings and their own experience and knowledge of environmental aspects of sustainability.

Finally, managers use it to reduce running costs, measure and improve the performance of buildings, empower staff, develop action plans and monitor and report performance at both the single building and portfolio level.

The Governments Act on CO₂ scheme has put together a website which allows individuals and households to assess their contribution to CO₂ emissions through our Homes, Appliances and Transport usage.

The ‘calculator’ asks a series of non-probing questions which then give you the contribution per section and then overall, per year.

You can then compare this to both the national average and the national target – an encouraging thing.

Finally you have the ability to view 6 top tips on how to reduce your carbon emissions or an even more in-depth action plan which you can then email onto other members of your family for encouragement.

Visit their site, check your contribution & see how you could reduce it:

http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html

Now, here at FES, we’re all for saving energy, the environment and of course money. Therefore, if you are like minded readers you may be interested to learn of a product which is relatively new to the UK market but which could save you both water and gas!

The Oxygenics® range of shower heads has been brought to our attention by our friends at Elite Energy (http://www.eeuk.net/oxygenics.html) and some of our employees have even tried some of the Skincare ^TM Series of showerhead in their own homes!

One of our colleagues was especially pleased with the results as they found the shower heads gave them a “refreshing, spa-esque” experience.

This is due to the patented technology behind the energy saving success of the Oxygenics® shower head range. Oxygenics® range of shower heads, do the following:

Self pressurise, take in air and introduce oxygen to aerate the water.

As I mentioned earlier, the shower head range produced by Oxygenics® do not only give a great shower experience (and look good!) they also save you money, here’s how:

•Your initial investment is all you need to spend, no replacing of shower heads as they all come with a life time guarantee.

•They all use less water than standard devices and therefore reduce water bills greatly.

•Using less water also means less energy to heat said water, therefore lowering heating costs.

•Shorter length showers such as those produced by Oxygenics® mean better pressure.

•The Oxygenics® lifetime warranty also means that it will never clog or fail – this also means greatly reduced maintenance.

To find out how much energy/money you could save by changing to Oxygenics® shower head range, please go to http://www.eeuk.net/oxygenics.html & click on the link to Elite Energy’s Savings Calculator.

Happy Showering!

An Energy Audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows in a domestic or commercial building with the objective of understanding the energy dynamics of the building under study. Commercial Energy Audits are usually undertaken by businesses who wisely seek opportunities to reduce the amount of energy input into the building without negatively affecting the output(s) – for example carbon dioxide emissions, heat loss and so on. When the object of study is an occupied building such as an office or factory, then reducing energy consumption while maintaining or improving human comfort, health and safety are of primary concern. An Energy Audit does more than simply identifying the sources of energy use, it seeks to prioritise the energy uses according to the greatest to least cost effective opportunities for energy savings.

The Government funded Warm Front could be coming your wayWarm Front is the Government’s largest scheme designed to combat fuel poverty in the private owner occupied and rented sector in England and is a key component of the Government’s UK Fuel Poverty Strategy (published 2001).

A household in “fuel poverty” is one where more than 10% of income is needed to heat the home to an adequate standard of warmth. Fuel poverty can come about as the result of a combination of poor energy efficiency in homes, energy prices and low incomes.

The Warm Front Scheme gives grants to applicants who own their own home or rent it from a private landlord and are on certain benefits. A grant can provide energy-efficiency advice, two energy-efficient light bulbs and a package of heating and insulation and heating improvements. This may include new central-heating, or repairs to an existing heating system. You could receive a grant of up to £3,500, or up to £6,000 if your home needs oil central heating.   

If you have received a Warm Front Grant before, you may qualify for extra insulation and heating work, depending on the improvements you originally received.

Over 1.7 million homes have been assisted by Warm Front since the scheme started in June 2000. Last year alone, 268,900 received improvements funded by the grant. Don’t miss out – you can apply today and The Warm Front Scheme look forward to hearing from you.

Do I qualify for a Warm Front Grant?

If you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,500 (or £6,000 if oil central heating is involved) under the Warm Front Scheme. Warm Front Grants are available in England only; other schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If the property has previously received Warm Front improvements, the grant now available will be the balance of £3,500 (or £6,000 if oil central heating is involved) less the value of all works previously completed.

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be eligible for the Warm Front Scheme.

1. Householders aged 60 or over in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

·         Income Support

·         Council Tax Benefit

·         Housing Benefit

·         Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)

·         Pension Credit

·         Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B1, in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

·         Income Support

·         Council Tax Benefit

·         Housing Benefit

·         Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)

·         Pension Credit

·         Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

·         Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460, which must include a disability element)

·         Disability Living Allowance

·         Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460)

·         Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)

·         Income Support (which must include a disability premium)

·         Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)

·         War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)

·         Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)

·         Attendance Allowance

NOTES:

·         The term ‘Householder’ includes the applicant’s spouse, or partner, if they are living with the applicant

·         Please note a Disability Living Allowance award for a child or non-dependent in your household will not qualify for the Warm Front grant.

If you are not in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed above, The Warm Front Scheme can offer you a full benefit assessment to establish if you are or should be receiving any benefits that would qualify you for the Warm Front Grant.

What will I get from Warm Front?

The Warm Front Scheme provides a package of insulation and/or heating measures up to a maximum value of £3,500 (or £6,000 if oil central heating is involved), less the value of all works previously completed in the property under Warm Front.

All successful grant applicants’ homes will be visited by a trained assessor, who will determine the full requirements of each individual property.

The assessor will:

·         call you to arrange a convenient time to visit you;

·         ask to see proof of your benefits;

·         discuss with you the energy improvements that are available under Warm Front; and

·         recommend improvements based on what you already have in your home and the needs of your property.

The visit will take no longer than one hour and will normally happen within 21 working days once The Warm Front Scheme have approved your application.

Improvements that the Warm Front Grant can provide include:

Loft insulation
This is one of the most effective ways to make your home more energy-efficient. The Warm Front Scheme fit two layers of insulation in the loft.

Draughtproofing
The Warm Front Scheme fit plastic strips to all windows and outside doors. Doors have plastic strips on the top and the two sides, and a brush on the bottom.

Cavity-wall insulation
The Warm Front Scheme fill the space betThe Warm Front Schemeen your cavity walls with insulation.

Hot-water-tank insulation
The Warm Front Scheme check the insulation around your hot-water tank, and fit a jacket if necessary.Energy-efficient light bulbs
The Warm Front Scheme will send you two energy-efficient light bulbs.

Gas, electric or oil central heating
The Warm Front Scheme install a combination boiler, up to five radiators including all valves and pipework. The Warm Front Scheme may also repair your existing heating system.

Glass-fronted fire
The Warm Front Scheme can convert your solid-fuel open fire to a glass-fronted fire.

If you have previously received a Warm Front Grant, you may now re-apply for further measures such as top-ups to your loft insulation, heating repairs and boiler replacements. Contact us to find out more.

Alternative Technologies and Warm Front

The Warm Front Management Board will consider applications to incorporate alternative technologies into the Scheme.

£300 heating rebate scheme

Since 2001 Warm Front has helped thousands of people receive insulation and heating improvements to make their homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient. More funds have now been made available to help some of those who would not otherwise be eligible for Warm Front.

If you do not qualify for a Warm Front Grant because you do not receive a relevant benefit, you may still be eligible for a £300 rebate.

This rebate is available to all householders aged 60 or over who own their home or rent it from a private landlord, who either have no central heating system or one which is inoperable.

Application Process

> Stage 1 - Application

All customers can apply via the Eaga Contact Centre on 0800 316 2805. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Or, you can write to us at the following address: Eaga plc, Freepost NAT 13708, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1ZL. You do not need to use a stamp. 

Customers who are not eligible for a Warm Front Grant will be given the opportunity to register for the Warm Front £300 Heating Rebate Scheme.

A Benefit Entitlement Check will be offered and if the Warm Front qualifying benefits are identified, the householder will follow the normal Warm Front route. If no benefits are identified, or the customer declines the Check, they will be passed to the Warm Front £300 Heating Rebate Scheme. The rebate can be used for gas, electric or solid fuel installations or repairs.

> Stage 2 - Installation

A letter and voucher/claim form is sent to the customer detailing names of six registered installers working in their area. Householders qualifying for funding will only be permitted to use installers approved by CORGI, NICEIC or OFTEC and who are registered with Eaga for the £300 Heating Rebate Scheme.

The customer’s letter and voucher/claim form will have a unique reference number, therefore photocopies will not be accepted. The voucher/claim form is valid for three months from the date shown on the letter. If the voucher is not used within this time, it is possible to reapply. Please remember, that funds are limited so the offer may not be available if a reapplication is made.

The customer will then contact one or more of the installers on the list to carry out a technical survey and provide a quote. The Warm Front Scheme recommend that customers obtain more than one quote. The customer will decide which installer they want to carry out the work and will contact them directly to arrange an installation date.

> Stage 3 - Redemption

Once the installation has been completed and the customer is satisfied, the installer will provide the client with an invoice for the works, showing a £300 deduction. The customer will then provide the installer with their signed voucher/claim form to enable the installer to claim the rebate from Eaga.

If, for any reason, the customer is unhappy with the installation works, they should approach the installer directly and agree a solution. Any remedial works should be carried out to the customer’s satisfaction prior to the submission of the voucher/claim form. Eaga will carry out a verification check on a proportion of installations to confirm that measures have been completed and the customer is satisfied.

Eaga has a dedicated team to monitor the performance of the heating and insulation contractors that it works with. Using a vendor rating system, companies are assessed according to their standards of quality, health and safety and customer care. This encourages best practice by increasing the work allocation to those contractors who perform consistently The Warm Front Schemell in all aspects.

If you have a query about the Warm Front Scheme, please contact enquiry@Eaga.com or call freephone 0800 316 2805

Many Warm Front customers are amongst the most vulnerable people in society; those who may not feel comfortable about contacting us directly for help. You can help reach those in greatest need by ensuring that everyone you come into contact with knows where to go for help.

The 2010 Toyota Prius is going to have them. The White House is on its second set and Israel’s now in the gang.

It seems like electricity-bill-reducing solar panels are showing up just about everywhere these days, wherever next, space?!

But if a rooftop array seems out of the question, or something your neighbours would not appreciate, an announcement last week from “Konarka Technology” could be encouraging. The Massachusetts based company makes a special, flexible, organic photovoltaic cell that looks more like rolls of film than silicon panels. Furthermore, last week, they signed a deal with Florida’s “Arch Aluminum” to put their products into commercial building materials – even windows!

“Until today, aesthetic and performance concerns limited the ability of architects to use [integrated photovoltaic] technology in their designs,” Arch Aluminium CEO Leon Silverstein said in a statement.

“these organic photovoltaics aren’t very efficient at converting sunlight to electricity and won’t last as long as a rooftop solar panel, which is typically under warranty for 25 years. Konarka said late last year that it achieved 6 percent efficiency in its labs but that’s not yet available in its products.” Whereas: “A high-efficiency silicon solar cell, the most common cell material, can be over 20 percent.”

Still, the development is a step forward as solar power has long been criticised for its high cost. But as the Monitor’s Mark Clayton points out, this is hopefully beginning to change. If we give organic photovoltaics a few years to develop, their applications will start to expand & eventually reach the domestic market as well as domestic sized pockets as prices will drop.

However, as to the debate as to what is better: a home photovoltaic system, or just striving for good energy efficiency – the outcome depends very much on your own circumstance. And, if these tough economic times make it hard to consider any investments of such grand scale energy-efficient home improvements, perhaps smaller adjustments such as energy efficient light bulbs or a new boiler may be easier for the average UK tax payer to swallow.

Future Energy Surveys…is moving!

Dear Sir/Madam

I am delighted to announce that from Monday 30th March 2009, Future Energy Surveys, is moving.

Subsequently, please could you note our new postal address and contact numbers for all future correspondence:

Future Energy Surveys

Clifford Chambers

4 Clifford Street

York

YO1 9RD

Tel: 01904 674890

Fax: 01904 656271

As a reminder though, our web and email addresses stay the same.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter, we look forward to continuing our relationship with you from our new premises.
Yours faithfully

Kath Wood

Office Manager

Future Energy Surveys

Clifford Chambers

4 Clifford Street

York

YO1 9RD

Future Energy Surveys…is growing!

CLG Announcement -  Data Collectors

The CLG (Communities and Local Government) have announced new guidance with regards to data collectors used in both Domestic and Non-Domestic energy assessments. There have been concerns raised about the quality of the EPC and therefore the public perception of the product which have lead to this announcement.

Please read and digest the following statement and forward.

1. The EA who lodges the EPC must visit the property - this applies to all types of EPCs and DECs.

a. Affirmation is required from the EA that a visit took place

b. Accreditation Schemes should put procedures in place to ensure EAs make declarations regarding visits

c. The onlyexception to this is for those assessments relating to on construction EPCs.

These changes are consistent with, but clarify existing guidance, and will take immediate effect.

The following changes may require changes to existing guidance and/or standards and should take effect from 1 April 2009.

2. Data gatherers are not permitted for domestic property. If a DEA uses existing data held by another on a property, they must verify this data through a site visit.

3. Data gatherers are not permitted for level 3 properties

4. Data gatherers are permitted for level 4 and 5 in the following circumstances:

a. Anyone collecting data for level 4 and 5 must be accredited to level 3 or provide documentary evidence that shows they are ‘fit and proper’ and qualified to undertake the work in hand

b. Any data gatherers used must work for the same company as the Energy Assessor

c. Energy Assessors must have ISO 9001 procedures in place and supervise the data gatherers in their employ and on site

d. The Energy Assessor is responsible for the quality of the data used for the certificate and the competence of any persons gathering data on their behalf

e. The names of all data gatherers used for the EPC must be logged and provided to the Accreditation Scheme.

5. Accreditation Schemes should monitor the number of EPCs that EAs are lodging and instigate additional audits for those lodging large numbers of EPCs from a diverse geographical area.

6. Any EAs breaching these rules should be suspended.

7. Organisations accepting remote lodgements in return for a fee are unacceptable.

As of today (4th January 2009) all commercial property marketed for sale or let must have a Commercial Energy Performance Certificate.

Want to know what the current situation is with CEPC’s since 1st October?

What must be done to comply from the 4th Jan 2009?

Follow this link to find out