INDUSTRYNEWS
The devil remains in the detail
Managing Director of NAPIT Certification , David Cowburn , discusses the release of the long awaited Bonfield Review and how its recommendations will improve energy efficiency in the UK and encourage the uptake of renewable technologies …
»»“ AFTER MONTHS OF DELAYS , THE Bonfield Review has finally been released . The ‘ Each Home Counts Review ’, which was conducted by Dr Peter Bonfield at the request of the government , looks at how to protect consumers and provide advice for when they install energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in their homes . To achieve this , the review sets out 27 recommendations for the government to consider . In this article I will examine some of the key proposals of the review , highlighting areas of both optimism and concern moving forward .
‘ improving the quality of future installations ’
To begin , the primary ‘ high-level ’ proposal of the review is the creation of a new quality mark for all future energy efficiency and renewable energy measures . The purpose of establishing a new quality mark is to provide clarity for all those who are operating in the sector , be that consumers or customers . For those who want to use the quality mark , the review lays out a ‘ framework ’ consisting of three key elements , which will need to be abided by . These three elements are : A Consumer Charter , a Code of Conduct and a Code of Practice . The review also details that those working within the framework will need to display certain requirements and skills , including technical competence and customer interfacing skills . Aside from meeting the three elements of the quality mark , the only other required step for installers , designers and assessors would be to prove that they have been certified by an approved certification body .
To enable this new framework to work effectively , the review outlines a number of recommendations for the supporting infrastructure that will need to be put in place . One of these is the development of a new central Information Hub which will act as a collection point for the best practices on standard , statistics and general
information approved under the framework . The hub , which will be both consumer and industry-facing , will only be available for those certified with the new quality mark . In conjunction with the creation of a central hub , the review recommends that a ‘ Data Warehouse ’ could also be created , which would enable consumers to access accurate data and information on their homes and allow companies to have a greater understanding of the needs of their customers and subsequently offer bespoke advice .
At the core of the review is its focus on improving the quality of future installations and ensuring that skilled installers are carrying out work to the correct standards . For this reason , the review recommends the creation of an industry-wide compliance and enforcement regime to be coordinated nationally . This regime would allow information on the quality of assessors to be shared and give designers and installers the ability to identify and sanction poor practice . Moving on from this , the review also reaffirms the government ’ s commitment to offering every home and small business in Great Britain with a smart meter by the end of 2020 and recommends that tailored home energy efficiency advice should be given to consumers during the smart meter installation visit .
‘ focus on quality and consumer protection is indeed something to be praised ’
All in all , the proposals set out in the review demonstrate the government ’ s commitment to improving the uptake of renewables end energy efficiency measures in the UK , however there are still some issues that need to be addressed . To begin with , these proposals carry a risk of adding yet another layer of bureaucracy onto a sector which already has Gas Safe , Competent Person Schemes and the Microgeneration Certification Scheme . The report promises to build on such schemes rather than duplicate their requirements , but does not yet set out the details for how they would be integrated . The report also appears to promise higher standards , more promotion , more enforcement and more inspection , while at the same time suggesting that savings will accrue from the removal of duplication without identifying where such savings will be found .
To conclude , whilst we are optimistic that the proposals set out in the Bonfield Review signify the government ’ s backing for the energy efficiency and renewables industry , the devil remains in the detail . The review ’ s focus on quality and consumer protection is indeed something to be praised , however without proper promotion and enforcement all of these proposals could be in vain .
10 » FEB 2017 » CLEARVIEW-UK . COM