A&M Energy Solutions is delighted to announce the opening of a new office in Leicester. The branch will be headed up by Mike Grant, formerly of Mark Group, who joins the business with a wealth of industry experience.

‘We expect the new branch to take the expertise that A&M Energy Solutions has in the installation of insulation and providing energy advice to a wider target market place in the UK, including homeowners, contractors and private landlords’, stated Branch Manager Mike Grant.

‘Our location on the outskirts of Leicester city centre is perfect for us to service the East of the country, providing our Commercial clients a wider site coverage and an opportunity for domestic clients to access government endorsed funding for free insulation’

To contact the branch, please call 0116 235 0726.

From April 2018, the proposed legislative changes to The Energy Act 2011 makes it unlawful to let residential properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of F or G.

“From 2016, any tenant or their representatives asking for their landlord’s consent to make reasonable energy efficiency improvements cannot be refused. From 2018, the rental of the very worst performing properties – those rated F and G – will be banned through a minimum energy efficiency standard”. Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, 10 May 2011.

There are about 680,000 rented properties in England with the worst energy efficiency ratings of F and G. Over forty per cent of households in these worst insulated rented homes live in fuel poverty.

Research for Friends of the Earth estimates that tenants living in these homes should save an average of £488 a year off their energy bill when they are improved to meet the proposed minimum standard of Energy Performance Certificate.

If you do not have an up to date EPC for your property, you may not be aware how good or bad your energy rating is for your property. Our qualified assessors are able to carry out an EPC to help identify from your property portfolio which are a priority to improve their insulation, to therefore meet legislation but to also keep your tenants comfortable.

Funding is available to support the installation of cavity wall and loft insulation, therefore making it an ideal time to get ahead of the legislative changes, and upgrade your properties.

For further information, please email info@am-energy.com or call 0800 318867 to discuss how you could access this funding.

Neil Marshall, chief executive of the National Insulation Association (NIA), has called upon the government to address ongoing uncertainties surrounding the future of green policies in the UK.

Following the end of the government’s previous flagship initiative for home sustainability improvements the Green Deal, as well as the forthcoming winding up of the Energy Companies Obligation, there is considerable uncertainty regarding what comes next for the UK’s insulation providers and green businesses.

Mr Marshall stated: “Whilst government has outlined its intention to introduce a new long-term policy framework for energy efficiency, which we welcome, the insulation industry is currently in a state of crisis as a result of the absence of robust transitional arrangements to bridge the gap until the new policies and schemes are introduced.”

Overall, the impact of the lack of planning has so far resulted in the loss of more than 2,000 jobs among the nation’s home insulation installers and green firms, with the current policy void expected to result in further losses in the months ahead if action is not soon taken.

The scale of the problem is currently going unnoticed by many officials and MPs in Westminster, Mr Marshall argued, but it is a problem that could have lasting impact for the future sustainability goals of the nation as a whole if left unchecked.

“Without urgent intervention there will be further casualties, job losses and a loss of confidence to invest among insulation companies,” the NIA chief concluded.

Nowadays, there is more than enough evidence that points at how climate change has a direct effect on global weather patterns. In turn, changes in climate impact society, so governments around the world have seen the need for mitigating the effects of climate change by implementing new policies. These policies have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and consumers. However, as it usually happens with official policy documents, understanding the real impact of policy changes is not always straightforward, so in this post we have summarised how the most recent energy and climate change policy will likely affect consumers in the UK.

The cost of energy bills

Market analysts predict that energy bills will continue their upward trend in the short term. Contrary to popular belief, this inescapable fact is not a direct effect of climate change policy, but rather a consequence of the declining availability of fossil fuels and of the soaring costs involved in their extraction and distribution. Some aspects of climate change policy will add to your energy bills, whereas others will contribute to lowering them. So what exactly will be the economic impact of climate change policy on the average consumer? According to the DECC, by 2020 average energy bills in UK households will be £166 lower than they would be had new policies not been implemented. 

New government schemes and initiatives

In an attempt to offset the rising costs of energy bills, the UK government has devised a series of schemes and initiatives with the objective of mitigating the social, human, and economic costs of climate change. Several aspects of the Electricity Market Reform are already underway. This policy development aims to facilitate the shift to a low-carbon electricity generation industry in a way that guarantees energy supply to UK households at the lowest possible cost. It is estimated that by 2030 and as a result of this reform, average domestic energy bills will be £38 and £53 lower than they currently are. What is more, the full implementation of the Electricity Market Reform will impact consumers in other ways too, as it is expected that it will help create new jobs as the demand for skilled professionals grows.

Schemes like the Green Deal and the Warm Home Discount Scheme have been set up to improve the energy efficiency of UK households while bringing better quality of life to consumers and reducing their energy bills. These schemes will affect everything from lighting to TV set-top boxes, and including smart meters, condensing boilers, and fully insulated homes.

To sum up, as consumers we can expect that climate change policies will translate into more efficient and economical homes and household appliances, as our energy consumption habits become more aligned with international climate change policy directives.

Homeowners in England and Wales have the opportunity to apply for Green Deal Cashback Funding Scheme. The Green Deal Cashback Scheme allows owners to make home improvements in order to save energy, without bearing the full cost for the improvements. Thus, you can make energy saving changes to your home and the Government will provide you with cash-back for some of the  expense.

Eligibility

Every homeowner within England and Wales can qualify for the Cashback Scheme by conducting improvements within their home once they have applied for the Green Deal scheme. The Government will pay nearly two-thirds of the costs of the energy efficient changes. Thus, the more changes you make, the more you are paid.

Take the Green Deal Test here to check eligibility

Process

In order to apply for a Green Deal Cashback Scheme, you should follow this process:

1. First, you need to apply for a Green Deal assessment of your home. Once the assessment has been completed, it will provide you with a list of recommended measures in which you can attain cash-back on them.
2. To determine the amount of cashback, get quotes from a Green Deal Provider who can estimate the costs and benefits of various energy saving methods for your property.
3. Apply for the Cashback Scheme prior to beginning the improvement work. You can either register yourself online or get assistance from a valid Green Deal Provider.
4. The Scheme clearly states that all changes must be made within 3 months of registration, except for the process of solid wall insulation, which can take as long as 6 months for completion.
5. With the help of your Green Deal Provider, you can ascertain that you have made all of the necessary modifications within your home, and thus, you are eligible for a cashback. You will only receive payment for the changes once they have been completed.

Valid Improvements

There are a number of home improvements that are valid within the Green Deal Cashback Funding Scheme. These include:

• Different types of insulation processes for roofs, walls and other areas around the house.
• Altering performance of boilers to assure better performance with reduced energy consumption and wastage.
• Replacement of old heating units to provide efficient performance and conserve energy.

To facilitate the process of the assessment and installation of energy saving technology approved by the Green Deal Scheme, contact A&M Energy Solutions, who is authorized to provide homeowners with energy saving solutions and services as stated in the Green Deal policy.

As the rush to make Britain greener, and reduce fuel bills, gathers pace the effect of ECO Funding is becoming apparent in people’s homes. Of energy saving measures that have been installed in British households a staggering 98% have been through the ECO Fund. Coincidentally, the release of these figures came when speculation was rife as to whether or not the initiatives would be scrapped.

The ECO (Energy Companies Obligation) Fund was brought in by the British government to help improve energy efficiency for fuel poor families, and for homes in isolated areas. The UK energy industry is compelled by law to offer the required funds, and so ensure that customers can, where necessary, benefit from a variety of energy efficiency measures, which include free insulation and free boiler installation.

According to The Guardian, Greg Barker, the Energy and climate change minister, stated that the ECO Fund and the Green Deal had been successful so far. Mr. Barker was quoted as saying that over 270,000 properties had benefited from the two initiatives, and that this was a sign that Britain’s homeowners were “serious” about increasing the heat in their homes and with “taking control of their energy bills.”

UK Green Building Council’s Paul Green was not so enthused by the figures, however. He pointed out that there was a massive difference between the success of the ECO Fund measures compared to that of the Green Deal.

The intention of both the ECO Fund and the Green Deal is to bring down energy bills. But whereas the ECO Fund is free, because energy companies provide the funds, the Green Deal is either paid for by the customer in full or through a loan which is paid back by accumulated energy bill savings. Both can benefit from the Green Deal Cashback. For now, though, both initiatives will remain as they are.

It’s clear that the ECO Fund is working better than the Green Deal at the moment, and some changes may be necessary to make the latter more popular. With rising energy prices a constant topic for debate, the two initiatives will, no doubt, continue to be examined over the coming years.