Green Deal: energy saving for your home or business

Householders are to be offered long-term loans to help make their homes more energy efficient and cut bills under a new government scheme launched today. Under the scheme, households can use cheap loans to spend on energy-saving improvements, such as insulation and new boilers, with no upfront cost.


The move to insulate the UK's aged housing stock is designed to save carbon emissions, keep people warm, and make energy affordable, the government said.

Anyone joining the scheme would first have their home reviewed by an independent assessor, advising on possible upgrades, costs and energy saving time scales.

Green Deal providers would then calculate quotes for the proposed work - with households free to get multiple quotes - before carrying out the changes.

Under the deal, improvements are installed at no initial cost. Instead, charges are covered with cheap loans via the not-for-profit Green Deal Finance Company, and recouped gradually over up to 25 years through customers' electricity bills.


How the Green Deal works

You can make energy-saving improvements to your home or business without having to pay all the costs up front through the Green Deal.

Energy-saving improvements include:

• insulation - eg loft or cavity wall insulation
• heating
• draught-proofing
• double glazing
• renewable energy technologies - eg solar panels or wind turbines

What you need to do:

Get an assessment of your property to see what improvements you can make and how much you could save on your energy bills.

Choose a Green Deal provider to carry out the work. You discuss with them what work you want done and whether the Green Deal is right for you.

If you go ahead with the improvements you must sign your Green Deal Plan - this is a contract between you and the provider stating what work will be done and how much it will cost. The provider will then arrange for a Green Deal installer to do the work.

Once the work is done, you’ll pay off the money in instalments through your electricity bill.


Urban Energy

We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Solar panel supporters given slither of hope in battle to stop cuts to feed-in tariff scheme

Supporters of Britain's hugely generous solar panel subsidy scheme were thrown a lifeline today after the High Court agreed to hear an application for permission to challenge a decision that would see it scaled back.

Friends of the Earth and two solar companies will argue their case at a hearing on Thursday 15 December.

An earlier High Court ruling, on 25 November, rejected permission for a legal challenge.

But FoE will argue again that the Government's decision to dramatically reduce the amount paid by 'feed-in tariffs' - on 12 December - is unlawful because the Government is currently running a consultation into the system that will not end until 23 December.

It will also ask the court to cap its potential legal costs for the case because, it says, international rules specify that costs should be limited in public interest cases on the environment.

Andy Atkins, FoE director, said: 'We strongly believe Government plans to abruptly slash solar subsidies are illegal, we hope the High Court agrees to allow our case to be heard as soon as possible.

'In a time of economic gloom, the solar industry has been one of the UK's brightest success stories, enabling homes and communities across the country to free themselves from expensive fossil fuels.'

More than 14,000 households registered for the scheme in October, the last time full figures were published, taking the total to 90,000. It compares with just 2,000 home registering in October 2010.

But November's full-month figures are expected to show another 40,000 households have taken advantage of the scheme, taking the total to 130,000.

Changes to the scheme were announced on 31 October, sparking a rush to beat the 12 December deadline.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Renewable Heat Incentive - Local Authority Funding

Details of the new Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme have been published.

The incentive, which is the first of its kind in the world, will encourage the installation of renewable heat equipment such as solar thermal technologies, biomass boilers and heat pumps. It will be funded from general Government funding, not through the previously proposed RHI levy.

Phase 1

From July 2011, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) tariffs for non-domestic installations in the industrial, business and public sector were introduced. There will also be support of around £15 million for households through the RHI Premium Payment from July 2011. In return for the payments, participants will have to provide feedback on how the equipment performs in practice.

Phase 2

From October 2012, RHI tariffs for domestic properties will become available at the same time as the introduction of the Green Deal. Anyone in receipt of Renewable Heat Premium Payments will be eligible for the RHI, as will anybody who has installed an eligible technology since 15 July 2009.

The RHI Premium Payment

Up to 25,000 installations from July will be supported by a 'RHI Premium Payment' to help cover the purchase price. Eligibility criteria for the payments will include:

• A fair spread of technologies across all regions of Great Britain.
• A well insulated home based on its Energy Performance Certificate.
• A focus on properties off the gas grid, where heating fuels such as heating oil are more expensive and have a higher carbon content.
• Agreement from the householder to monitor the performance of installations.

A DECC press release on 10 March 2011 indicated likely levels of support for RHI premium payments:
 

Technology	Likely level of support (per unit)
Solar thermal	£300
Air source heat pumps	£850
Biomass boilers	£950
Ground source heat pumps	£1250

Full details of the RHI Premium Payment were published in May 2011. Due to State Aid rules there may be limits to how the Premium Payment is applied to social landlords.

RHI tariffs - domestic

RHI payments will start for homes alongside the Green Deal in 2012 to allow for a more whole-house approach to heat production and energy saving. The Department for Energy and Climate Change will consult on the RHI tariffs later in the year.
Those who have taken up the RHI Premium Payment will be eligible for RHI tariffs, as will anyone else who has had eligible equipment installed since July 2009 (exceptions apply if a grant has been received which contributed to the direct costs of an installation).
In order to receive support, local authorities and housing associations will need to be the owner of the installation and retain the rights and liabilities of the equipment.

RHI tariffs - non-domestic

Biomass, ground source, water source, solar thermal and biomethane projects in the non-domestic sector that have been installed since July 2009 in Great Britain will be eligible for RHI payments from July 2011. The payments will be made quarterly over a 20 year period to the owner of the heat installation.
A non-domestic installation is a renewable heat unit in a building which is not used as a domestic premises. This includes office buildings, schools and district heating schemes (e.g. one boiler serving multiple homes).
The support that an installation receives will be fixed and adjusted annually with inflation. For more details, see the RHI tariffs for non-domestic installations.

Applying for support

Applications for support will need to be made to Ofgem once the scheme is launched and open for business.

Further information

For further information, see the Department for Energy and Climate Change website

Urban Energy

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Comprehensive Spending Review Summary

Chancellor George Osborne stood up in the House of Commons at 12.30pm today to detail the coalition Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Some key points:

The efficiency of feed-in tariffs will be improved at the next formal review, rebalancing them in favour of more cost effective carbon abatement technologies. This will save £40 million in 2014-15. Support for lower value innovation and technology projects will also be reduced, saving £70 million a year on average over the Spending Review period.

Therefore feed-in tariffs will be refocused on the most cost-effective technologies in 2014-15. The changes will be implemented at the first scheduled review of tariffs unless higher than expected deployment requires an early review.

The Renewable Energy Association’s (REA) PV Specialist Consultant, Ray Noble said of the review, “This is excellent news for the UK solar industry. It’s exactly what the market needs in order to fulfill its fantastic potential. The outcome of today’s review could not have been better.”

The review also outlined that over one billion pounds will be set aside for the Green Investment Bank, however the Chancellor said that he hopes much more will be invested from private sector and future government asset sales. By injecting such an amount into this bank, the coalition hopes to create jobs and reduce carbon emissions in order to meet the country’s 2050 emissions targets.

The government will also go ahead with the planned Green Deal, which has no upfront cost to homeowners, thus scrapping Warm Front, which spent £280m a year on improving energy efficiency for poorer households.

The Renewable Heat Incentive, funded from AME, will be introduced as planned from 2011-12. This will ensure the UK meets its 2020 renewable energy targets while making efficiency savings of 20%, or £105 million a year, by 2014-15 compared with the previous Government’s plans.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) settlement includes:

- Up to £1 billion of investment to create one of the world’s first commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration plants;

- Over £200 million for the development of low carbon technologies including offshore wind technology and manufacturing at port sites;

- Increased incentives for low carbon energy generation through the Renewable Heat Incentive;

- Enabling households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes at no upfront cost through a Green Deal; and

- Overall savings within DECC’s core resource budget of 30% in real terms by 2014-15, including through cutting lower value projects and focusing on key priorities.

The Spending Review settlement enables DECC to prioritise spending in areas where it can have most impact. For example, new low carbon technologies have the potential to contribute to growth as well as to emissions reductions. The Chancellor also announced that next month, the DECC will outline its reform plan for the next four years.

URBAN ENERGY

Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.

"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government incentive schemes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.

Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

UK June 2010 Budget: Renewable Energy Related Changes

The UK Government has announced a range of spending cuts in its revised budget for 2010, and there have been fears that this would hit the renewable energy industry. Here’s the (renewable) energy related changes.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has summarised the UK Budget 2010 revisions affecting renewable sources and ‘conventional’ energy.

Among the points are that:

“The Prime Minister has pledged to make this the greenest government ever.”

The UK needs £200 billion of investment to 2020 to provide secure low-carbon and renewable energy.

“This will require reform of the energy market and action to attract additional private sector funding.”

How to reach the goals

Assessing how the energy tax framework can provide the right incentives for investment, alongside wider market reforms. The Government will publish proposals in the autumn to reform the climate change levy in order to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price.

However, the relevant legislation will not be brought forward until the Finance Bill 2011.

Detailed proposals on the creation of the Green Investment Bank will be put forward.

The Government is also establishing a Green Deal for households in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill to help householders invest in energy efficiency improvements.

In addition the creation of green financial products to provide individuals with opportunities to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support the green economy will continue.

Compared to the coalition Government’s manifesto, the summary from DECC seems even vaguer on the Government’s commitment to investment in renewable energies at a first glance.

Climate Change Capital positive

Climate Change Capital Vice-Chairman, James Cameron, comments on the Budget: “It sets out an ambitious set of proposals for stimulating investment in the low carbon economy, with key policies including energy market reform, the creation of a Green Investment Bank and the introduction of a reformed upstream Climate Change Levy.

“Many of these proposals are subject to consultation, so we hope that this process helps to ensure that policies are able to deliver low carbon investment at the speed and scale required to tackle climate change, while also creating the industries and jobs of the future.

"This Budget increases opportunities for our business to invest in the UK," he concludes.

Reference: renewableenergyfocus.com

URBAN ENERGY

Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."

Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.

Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Renewable Heat Incentive will go ahead

After a period of uncertainty caused by the change in government, it seems that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is still very much in the pipeline. Speaking today at Portcullis House, Charles Hendry, Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, confirmed that the Government is looking seriously at the RHI and understands the benefits it can bring but that there are challenges in how to pay for it. These will be welcome words for the industry and all those who have or are considering investing in renewable heating systems, especially after the abrupt closure of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

The Renewable Heat Incentive will be a payment for generating heat from renewable sources. Like the Feed-In Tariffs, it is set centrally, however where it differs slightly is that it is administered by the official regulator Ofgem. However, the Renewable Heat Incentive is still for everyone – homeowners, tenants, businesses, schools, hospitals, farmers or landlords.

Householders will save money by not having to use any gas or oil, the prices of which have risen steadily in recent years. Additionally, they will be paid up to 18p/kWh for the hot water and heat they generate and use. It depends on exactly what systems are employed and how large they are as to what the exact tariff level is.

Tariffs will last between 10 and 23 years depending on the type of system. Solar thermal payments will run for 20 years. Which should be more than enough time to pay off their installation costs. Most will be paid for in about seven to nine years. According to the government, which has set the tariff levels, the average user will earn a return of around 8 to 12% per annum.

Tariffs will be paid starting in April 2011. However, any suitable system installed from now July 15th 2009 will be eligible for the tariffs when they begin. There are technical and accreditation requirements (MCS) but recommended suppliers will be able to cope with this.

URBAN ENERGY

Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."

Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.

Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/