ft.com — March 29th 2012
UK emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas,
have plunged to their lowest levels since records began more than 40
years ago, according to the energy and climate change department.
One of the biggest reasons for the fall to just 456m
tonnes last year was greater use of nuclear power, according to the data
- released on the same day two German companies announced they were
dropping plans to build reactors in the UK.
A warmer winter in 2011, especially compared with the great freeze of 2010, was another important factor.
A department spokesman confirmed last years level was the
lowest since DECCs carbon emission records started in 1970, at a time
when heavy manufacturing plants were much more dominant in Britains
industrial landscape and belched out 685m tonnes of carbon.
Latest EPC and energy news from Green Assess. Learn more about what’s happening in the energy and EPC related industries. Snippets of the latest energy news from the media and leading industry experts.
Thursday 29 March 2012
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Fuel poverty is rising in social housing and needs to be addressed
24dash — March 28th 2012
The Government has put restrictions on social landlords access to Energy Company Obligation funding - which will top up Green Deal finance.
But fuel poverty is rising is social housing and is a significant issue that needs to be addressed, warns an industry expert.
The Government has put restrictions on social landlords access to Energy Company Obligation funding - which will top up Green Deal finance.
But fuel poverty is rising is social housing and is a significant issue that needs to be addressed, warns an industry expert.
Energy efficiency certificate changes for landlords
Peterborough today — March
28th 2012
Landlords are being reminded about changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) which will affect rental properties in the UK.
An EPC gives information on the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a property, and is mandatory for all private-rented sector homes.
From April 6, 2012, landlords and lettings agents will have just seven days to produce an EPC after they have started to market the property to new tenants, rather than 28 days which was previously expected.
The full EPC report must now be provided to prospective tenants, rather than just the graph showing energy efficiency.
David Salusbury, chairman, National Landlords Association, said: "EPCs give tenants vital information about the energy efficiency of their property and also contain an estimate of their utility bills."
"They also help landlords make informed decisions about how to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties by recommending improvements."
Landlords are being reminded about changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) which will affect rental properties in the UK.
An EPC gives information on the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a property, and is mandatory for all private-rented sector homes.
From April 6, 2012, landlords and lettings agents will have just seven days to produce an EPC after they have started to market the property to new tenants, rather than 28 days which was previously expected.
The full EPC report must now be provided to prospective tenants, rather than just the graph showing energy efficiency.
David Salusbury, chairman, National Landlords Association, said: "EPCs give tenants vital information about the energy efficiency of their property and also contain an estimate of their utility bills."
"They also help landlords make informed decisions about how to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties by recommending improvements."
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Green Deal boost for small businesses
DECC — March 22nd 2012
In a keynote speech on 20th March at the annual ecobuild conference in London, Climate Change minister Greg Barker announced the coalition is to cut more red tape to allow small businesses in to the Green Deal market.
The Green Deal is the governments plan to improve the nations draughty homes at no up front cost to the consumer. It will be launched later this year.
Greg Barker said:
"I want to see a thriving Green Deal market which means we must make it as easy, as cheap and as straight forward as possible for businesses of any size to get involved. So i have cut the red tape to help promote a competitive market and reduce costs which will not help small businesses in particular but will also make the Green Deal a better deal for consumers."
In his speech Greg Barker also announced;
"Removal of the requirement to hold a surety bond in case of insolvency, Feedback from the consultation indicated having such a bond would be very costly, especially for smaller Green Deal providers and would act as a disincentive to join the market. Instead requirements will now be included within the Green Deal Framework Regulations and Green Deal Arrangements Agreement to ensure that a Green Deal providers ongoing obligations are fulfilled by the person who is entitled to the payments under a Green Deal Plan.
In a keynote speech on 20th March at the annual ecobuild conference in London, Climate Change minister Greg Barker announced the coalition is to cut more red tape to allow small businesses in to the Green Deal market.
The Green Deal is the governments plan to improve the nations draughty homes at no up front cost to the consumer. It will be launched later this year.
Greg Barker said:
"I want to see a thriving Green Deal market which means we must make it as easy, as cheap and as straight forward as possible for businesses of any size to get involved. So i have cut the red tape to help promote a competitive market and reduce costs which will not help small businesses in particular but will also make the Green Deal a better deal for consumers."
In his speech Greg Barker also announced;
"Removal of the requirement to hold a surety bond in case of insolvency, Feedback from the consultation indicated having such a bond would be very costly, especially for smaller Green Deal providers and would act as a disincentive to join the market. Instead requirements will now be included within the Green Deal Framework Regulations and Green Deal Arrangements Agreement to ensure that a Green Deal providers ongoing obligations are fulfilled by the person who is entitled to the payments under a Green Deal Plan.
Monday 12 March 2012
New Bristol Biomass Plant to benefit local community
DECC — March 12th 2012
Permission was granted today for a new 150MW dedicated biomass power stationer at Royal Portbury Dock in the Port of Bristol, North Somerset
The consent allows E.ON Climate and Renewables to construct a plant which could provide enough electricity to power up to 160,000 homes. The new plant will create up to 325 temporary jobs during construction, 35 full time jobs during operations and a further 20 contract personnel during routine and annual maintenance.
The plant will be fuelled mainly by imported virgin wood, dedicated energy crops and locally sourced waste wood.
E.ON will also set up a Community Investment Fund, which will contribute to £50,000 per annum for every year that the plant is operating, to support charitable and/or educational community projects. £75,000 will also be allocated to trial green buses and improve cycle routes in the local area.
Permission was granted today for a new 150MW dedicated biomass power stationer at Royal Portbury Dock in the Port of Bristol, North Somerset
The consent allows E.ON Climate and Renewables to construct a plant which could provide enough electricity to power up to 160,000 homes. The new plant will create up to 325 temporary jobs during construction, 35 full time jobs during operations and a further 20 contract personnel during routine and annual maintenance.
The plant will be fuelled mainly by imported virgin wood, dedicated energy crops and locally sourced waste wood.
E.ON will also set up a Community Investment Fund, which will contribute to £50,000 per annum for every year that the plant is operating, to support charitable and/or educational community projects. £75,000 will also be allocated to trial green buses and improve cycle routes in the local area.
Thursday 8 March 2012
Green Deal gets £3.5million cash injection
DECC — March 8th 2012
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced that it will provide £3.5million worth of funding to help train energy assessors and installers to participate in the upcoming Green Deal.
The Green Deal is the coalition Governments flagship environmental policy that holds lofty ambition of transforming the UK's property stock from draughty, inefficient buildings into more energy-efficient properties.
A quarter of the UK's carbon emissions are a direct result of domestic energy consumption, with a similar amount attributed commercial energy consumption. Government estimate that the Green Deal will support 65,000 jobs by 2015 and significantly reduce the Uks emissions and energy consumption.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced that it will provide £3.5million worth of funding to help train energy assessors and installers to participate in the upcoming Green Deal.
The Green Deal is the coalition Governments flagship environmental policy that holds lofty ambition of transforming the UK's property stock from draughty, inefficient buildings into more energy-efficient properties.
A quarter of the UK's carbon emissions are a direct result of domestic energy consumption, with a similar amount attributed commercial energy consumption. Government estimate that the Green Deal will support 65,000 jobs by 2015 and significantly reduce the Uks emissions and energy consumption.
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