Clearview South September 2013 - Issue 142 | Page 74

energyefficiency

A+ RATING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS LAUNCHED
BFRC has officially launched a new ‘A+’ band at the top of its energy efficiency scale for Window Energy Ratings (WERs). BFRC is now accepting applications for the new ‘A+’ band, which applies to windows only. Any BFRC ‘A’ rated product that achieves a rating index of 10 or more can be upgraded to an ‘A+’ for an administration fee of £50 (ex VAT). Alternatively, manufacturers can also apply for new ‘A+’ licences. All applications must be accompanied by a simulation report and can be made either directly to BFRC or through an Independent Agency. These new ‘A+’ licences are available both as Simplified Energy Licences (SELs) and Detailed Energy Licences (DELs). The first batch of ‘A+’ rated windows were announced on the same day in August. “The availability of the BFRC ‘A+’ rating band allows manufacturers to offer the most energy efficient product to homeowners,” commented BFRC Chairman Giles Willson. “It also allows the most technically advanced producers to benefit from the marketing opportunities derived from BFRC ratings and being among the first in the industry to offer ‘A+’ windows”.

For more information on ‘A+’ please contact BFRC direct: Tel [phone] or enquiries@ bfrc.org

Green Deal will ‘take-off’ in the autumn, says industry expert
The Green Deal has come in for significant criticism in recent weeks, due to the DECC statistics for the first six months which showed only four approved schemes have been put in place. “The big challenge we face is the sniping and unwarranted criticism, which could de-rail the whole scheme,” commented Paul Joyner, director of Sustainable Building Solutions, Travis Perkins

‘The big challenge we face is sniping and unwarranted criticism, which could de-rail the whole scheme’
Group. “Yes, mistakes have been made, not least in terms of managing expectations by underpromising, but this is a long-term scheme designed to deal with the issue of this country’s ageing and poorly insulated housing stock, not a short-term fix.” Joyner revealed he was confident all the criteria for success would shortly be in place. “I was asked recently by an installer when he would be able to access Green Deal finance. I told him finance will be widely available and much easier to access in the autumn of this year – that is the key date that the Travis Perkins Group and our partner and Green Deal provider, Toriga, are working towards. What’s more, I am confident that, once the finance is in place, the Green Deal will really take-off.” Source: Energy & Environment Management

Government strengthens building energy efficiency standards
The government has bolstered energy efficiency standards for new homes and nonresidential buildings amid criticism that the changes don’t go far enough. Following a lengthy consultation period, new houses will have to improve efficiency and reduce emissions by 6% more than the 2010 regulations state and 9% more for offices and other non-domestic buildings. The government hopes the plans will help it progress its plans for zero carbon homes by 2016, an idea reaffirmed in this year’s budget. Announcing the plans, parliamentary under secretary of state Baroness Hanham said: “Strengthening these requirements takes the next step towards our zero carbon ambitions, will contribute to national emission reduction targets and help to lower people’s fuel bills. The changes are projected to deliver savings of £16 million per year to business and 6.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.” Industry groups are not entirely satisfied with the outcome from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). “The uplift is less ambitious than any of the options originally consulted upon – even less than Government’s previously ‘preferred options’, particularly for non-domestic buildings,” said John Alker, director of policy and communications at the UK Green Building Council. “However, the fact there is any uplift at all is good news,” said Alker. “There can be no excuses for the length of time this has taken, but finally industry has the clarity on Part L that it craves,” he said. Source: Solar Power Portal

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SEP 2013

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