Latest Office for National Statistics data shows there has been little improvement in home energy efficiency in recent years, writes Andrew Warren. Not far off half the energy the UK consumes each year is used in buildings. Two-thirds of that consumption happens in our homes. But the latest official statistics underscore the scale of draughty, inefficient homes.

Business Green 22nd Oct 2020 read more »

Engie has launched its Engie Zero retrofit scheme designed as a one-stop-shop to decentralise, digitalise and decarbonise homes. The scheme, whilst being designed as fabric first, also covers solutions such as solar PV and battery storage alongside mechanical ventilation, long-term maintenance and monitoring and what Engie has described as a low carbon heating and hot water solution. Smart technologies such as rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints can also be included, Engie said, as well as grid balancing technologies. The company pointed to how the scheme utilises savings generated from the technologies alongside existing revenue streams and government incentives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive, Energy Companies Obligation and grid balancing agreements to help finance the upfront costs of the works.

Solar Power Portal 20th Oct 2020 read more »

With rising global temperatures and increasingly severe heatwaves, much of the world’s population is vulnerable to the growing health risks of extreme heat. Cooling is critical for human wellbeing, health and the functioning of society. It enables thermal comfort of societies at high temperatures and is critical for industrial production and for the preservation of food and medicine. Climate change – alongside increasing affluence, space and comfort needs – means the world is facing an unprecedented growth in cooling demand. This has the potential to drive one of the most substantial increases in energy and greenhouse gas emissions in recent history. However, despite the central role of cooling in climate change and sustainable development, the risks and benefits of sustainable cooling remain a global blind spot. In a new “perspective” paper, published in Nature Sustainability, my colleagues and I explore the links between cooling and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and put together a framework to help identify solutions to deliver sustainable cooling for all.

Carbon Brief 19th Oct 2020 read more »

Engie has launched a new low carbon housing retrofit service, in a bid to help local authorities, housing associations and other housing providers decarbonise their stock in line with national, municipal and corporate net zero commitments. A range of retrofit solutions designed to help make homes greener and more energy efficient are being made available to Engie customers through the service, including solar PV and battery storage systems, fabric improvements to roof, walls and flooring, and low carbon heating and hot water solutions, the energy and facilities management firm announced yesterday. Moreover, a number of smart technologies, such as rapid EV charge points and grid balancing technologies are also on offer through the deal, it added. Engie said it had used its “extensive housing retrofit experience” – including working with Dutch energy efficient building upgrades approach Energiesprong – to develop the new suite of services, which it described as a “fabric first, one-stop shop to decentralise, digitalise and decarbonise homes”.

Business Green 20th Oct 2020 read more »

The European Commission has unveiled a new energy efficiency strategy that could see 35 million buildings renovated and up to 160,000 green jobs created. The strategy, named ‘Renovation Wave’ will prioritise the decarbonisation of heating and cooling, tackling energy poverty, upgrading the worst-performing buildings and renovating public buildings such as schools, hospitals and administrative buildings.

Energy Live News 16th Oct 2020 read more »

The government is facing further calls for it to move quickly to extend the deadline for its £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme and address flaws in the high profile energy efficiency programme or risk plans to support 100,000 green jobs falling flat. Just days after the National Insulation Association wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning that the March 31st deadline for households to use vouchers issued through the scheme did not give installers enough time to complete home upgrades or recruit more installers, the MCS certification body issued a similar call for the government to urgently rethink its approach.

Business Green 15th Oct 2020 read more »

The National Insulation Association (NIA) has today stepped up calls for the government to extend its £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme and clarify its long term plans for improving domestic energy efficiency, amidst fears the newly launched scheme is already facing teething problems. In an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the NIA warned that while its members had been “inundated” with inquiries from customers wanting to apply for the grants there were growing concerned across the sector that the government’s goal of upgrading 600,000 homes this winter is likely to be missed.

Business Green 12th Oct 2020 read more »

The Environmental Audit Committee hears from Government advisers, an academic, charity, think tank and energy company as they consider the overarching issues relating to the current state of play with energy efficiency of homes, and the impact energy efficiency potentially has on the UK meeting the net-zero carbon target. The evidence session follows the recent £2bn Government announcement aimed to improve energy efficiency of homes.

House of Commons 9th Oct 2020 read more »

Householders trying to apply for the government’s £5,000 Green Homes Grants to make energy improvements have described how it is nearly impossible to find an accredited installer to do the work. Homeowners in Cornwall have been pointed towards installers as far away as Scotland, Manchester and south Wales – who understandably, are not interested in quoting for their work. The Green Homes Grant scheme, which was first announced in July, went live last week. Green Homes Grant: homeowners can apply for up to £5,000 in England. To gain the grants, which cover two-thirds of the cost of insulation or installing low-carbon heating, householders have to get quotes from contractors who are TrustMark registered and listed on the official Simple Energy Advice (SEA) website. Large areas of the country appear to have no contractors willing or able to do the work – leading the founder of the Moneysavingexpert website, Martin Lewis, to warn that the scheme risks becoming a “postcode lottery” without immediate government intervention.

Guardian 9th Oct 2020 read more »

Andrew Warren: The biggest government funded energy efficiency drive in England for 30 years gets underway this month – but only for six months.

Energy in Buildings and Industry 8th Oct 2020 read more »