Clearview South November 2013 - Issue 144 | Page 72

energyefficiency ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY thermal performances. Previously the highest WER possible had been an A-rating, although with the increasing number of windows that achieved this specificaiton, it had become increasingly difficult for homeowners and specifiers to distinguish different levels of performance within this band. The new A+ branding will now help Eurocell customers highlight the ‘best of the best’ in terms of energy efficiency, when using windows fabricated using the Eurologik 70 Casement The Eurocell Eurologik 70 Casement window profile system has become one of the first in the UK to be officially awarded the BFRC’s new A+ Window Energy Rating (WER). Only windows that achieve an Energy Index of 10 or greater can achieve the new ‘best of the best’ A+ band. The BFRC extended its window energy ratings bands to include an A+ to reflect the work that the industry is doing to push the boundaries of PVC-U window system, and therefore provide a clearer indication of thermal performance. Phil Parry, Eurocell Accreditations Manager, says, “Gaining an A+ rating is a great way for our fabricators and installers to differentiate their highest energy rated products from the other standard A-rated windows in the market.” Call 0800 988 3049, email: [email protected] or visit www.eurocell.co.uk/eurologikA+. HOMEOWNER ENERGY RATING CERTIFICATE BFRC has responded to requests from its registered businesses to launch a homeowner’s window energy rating certificate. The certificate will be specific to the property and the products installed and will feature the installers name and date of installation as well as the wellknown ‘rainbow’ colour label. It is the only such certificate available in the UK glazing sector. If an installer uses BFRC energy ratings as the route to compliance for ADL (rather than U-values) then this Homeowner Certificate can be issued for the client. At the point of notification on the FENSA website installers will now be asked if they would like this BFRC Homeowner Certificate issued and dispatched with the FENSA certificate. This new certificate will give homeowners proof of the level of energy efficiency their new windows have achieved as verified by the premier, independent authority on window energy ratings, BFRC. It can be kept by the homeowner and presented to an Energy Performance Certificate surveyor and any prospective purchasers when it comes to selling the property. This new BFRC Homeowner Energy Rating Certificate will cost the installer just £1.50 (ex VAT). For further information, please contact: Lis Clarke, BFRC, tel: [phone], email: lclarke@ bfrc.org GREEN DEAL WILL FAIL UNLESS GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION The Green Deal will fail unless the Government takes swift and decisive action to incentivise consumer demand for energy efficiency, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). According to a recent survey of all FMB members in Great Britain, more than 70% think a reduced rate of VAT would be a “successful” or “highly successful” way of encouraging their customers to commission energy 72 NOV 2013 efficiency work. Almost two thirds of FMB members (65%) think a free energy efficiency assessment would encourage more of their customers to improve the energy efficiency of their home. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “The latest Government statistics show that just over 70,000 Green Deal assessments have been undertaken to date, but only 12 Green Deal Plans are ‘live’, demonstrating that a growing number of home owners want to improve the energy efficiency of their properties but they aren’t interested in paying for it using Green Deal finance. A reduction in VAT would reduce the overall cost of the work and make Green Deal finance more attractive to home owners who may be deterred by a large debt against their property.” To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com