Why You Must Get An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) For Your Home

Many homeowners throughout the UK do not realise the importance of getting an energy certificate for their house particularly with the Green Deal plan coming into effect in January 2013. Now more than ever is the time to obtain an EPC www.epcforepcs.co.uk as you could miss out on some free energy saving home improvements which even include solar panels for free electricity from the sun, which will help you cut your energy bill. Don't have an energy certificate? It is needed as part of a green deal assessment to determine what improvement measures can be applied to a property, so it is important to get a survey done and and a certificate issued.

A typical Energy Performance Certificate

If you saw £10,000 lying outside your front door would you pick it up? Well we think in most cases that most people would, however that is what is on offer for owners of homes, landlords and registered social landlords. The grant allows all these groups to benefit from the free supply and installation of a range of measures which includes insulation, new heating boilers, and renewable energy systems which can be installed in your home. To date the take-up for the grant has been slow, largely due to poor public awareness of the scheme. This post aims to improve awareness so that the general public can take advantage of free home improvements.

Listed below are the Cash Back Schemes available:

• Loft Insulation (incl.top up) £100
• Cavity Wall insulation £250
• Solid Wall Insulation £650
• Flat roof insulation £390
• Room in roof insulation £220
• Floor Insulation £150
• Hot water cylinder insulation (top up) £10
• Draught Proofing £50
• Heating controls (roomstat and/or programmer & time/temperature zone controls) £70
• Condensing oil boiler from non-condensing oil heating or other £310
• Energy Efficient Gas Boilers Upgrade boiler to condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other. £270
• Flue Gas heat recovery (condensing combi boiler) only alongside replacement boiler £90
• New or replacement storage heaters £150
• Replacement warm-air unit £60
• Waste water heat recovery systems £60
• Double Glazing Double/Triple Glazing (old single glazing to A rated) £20 per m2 up to a maximum of £320
• Secondary glazing £15 per m2 up to a maximum of £230
• Insulated Doors High performance replacement doors £40
Some terms and conditions apply. Check with your local green deal provider for advice.

A Typical Domestic Air Source Heat Pump

If that's not enough you can also benefit from the installation of renewable energy technologies such as:

Air Source Heat Pumps which are used for space heating and cooling.

Ground Source Heat Pumps which are used to provide domestic hot water.

Solar Panels or PV which is used to produce electricity for your home.

Some terms and conditions apply. Keep up to date with the latest events and stories by free subscription to Green Deal News. Check with your local green deal provider for advice. So don't miss out contact an assessor today.
Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com.

Green Deal Assessment Knowing Your Rights

Green Deal Assessment

There are many frequently asked questions that arise when an assessor arrives for a home survey, so its best to know your rights with regard to the green deal plan for energy efficiency home improvement measures

Many questions have been raised about assessments so here is a checklist that provides details of what will happen when you get a visit from a Green Deal assessor to your home or business premises.

Know your rights

Before your visit

If you get an unsolicited call this is what happens:
An assessor must provide a minimum of at least 24 hours if they are cold calling and making an assessment on your property. If you make the request then they can call the same day. You should check their identification, a registered person has the the Green Deal Quality Mark.
Make sure that you have a copy of all your energy bills for at least a year, the assessor will need these to determine if you qualify under the "golden rule" criteria, you will also need a copy of your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). The assessor must disclose what other companies they are representing for the provision of energy saving measures such as insulation or energy efficient boiler.
Remember that you can get more than one quote for your Green Deal plan for your property, you can apply to any registered installation company for quotes based on the assessment.

During the visit

A Green Deal advice report will be provided, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property energy efficiency scale from A to G, and in addition, the assessor will provide an Occupancy Assessment, this is important as this report is used to assess how you use energy in the property. The representative must provide impartial advice about your home. They will offer a quote and finance for the installation costs for your home. Remember that you can obtain other quotes from registered companies. The assessor will ask questions about your home, such as what insulation is installed and also the occupancy of the home.

After the visit

It is important to note that you are not obliged to accept the terms of any quote provided, seek advice or request another assessor to carry out a survey if you wish to do so. As with any salesman, be wary of any offers made that are too good to be true. Shop around and get another quote, and get a detailed explanation of the terms of financing the improvements in writing and do not sign up for a contract if you are not satisfied with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com
 

Green Deal Heat Pumps Installation For Domestic Use

 Air & Ground Source Heat Pump Installation

We aim to reveal more facts about the green deal plan in the near future that the general public may be unaware of as part of their home energy saving improvements, however here are some examples of what you can get under the scheme.

Some home owners may be aware that home insulation is a key aspect of improving your home's energy efficiency but there is also the prospect of having solar powered equipment installed as part of the package of measures which also includes Air Source and Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps.

A heat pump is a clever way to extract heat from its ambient temperature surroundings, for example a ground source heating pump can extract warmth from underground and this can be circulated through ground collectors back to your domestic hot water supply.

A typical controller looks like this:

This can be a wall or floor mounted cabinet that can be installed outside or inside your home. This in turn can be connected to the domestic hot water supply to help save on your energy bills.

The advantage of a GSHP is that it can produce heated water all year round - day or night.

Another type of pump is an air source pump (ASHP) this works generally as a heat recovery unit using air as a medium.Energy is derived from the difference in air temperature between the outside, and the inside of your home.

An airsource heat pump has greatest efficiency when installed close to the external wall of the property, this reduces transmission losses. An advantage of this system is that the operation is reversible, so when it is hot in summer you can use it as an air cooler, and in winter it helps to supply additional heating in the home environment.

A typical unit is shown below:

They look similar to an air conditioning unit but this equipment benefits from higher efficiency ratings.

Both types of heat pump make useful additions for home heating, they are also eco-friendly. Either unit can be fitted by a registered green deal installer provided that the "golden rule" criteria is met.

A green deal adviser can provide you with advice about both of these solar energy products.


To find out more about these and other solar power equipment refer to the Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com website

Green Deal frequently asked questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers under the plan.

 

Green Deal For Home Owners

How do you know if a home has a Green Deal?

 
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in England and Wales, or in
Scotland, the Recommendations Report attached to the EPC will show if there is a Green Deal on a home. If there is, the certificate or report will show the improvements made, the repayment amounts and how long repayments need to be made for.

The owner or landlord must provide you with a copy of the relevant document. They may do this via their estate agent or letting agent. If you don’t receive a copy, you should ask for it. If you have more questions about the Green Deal repayments you should ask to see a copy of the
Green Deal Plan.

What happens when switching energy providers with a Green Deal?

You can still change electricity supplier when you choose. The Green Deal repayments will automatically be charged by your new electricity supplier.

Can I use a home improvements installer of my choice?

Yes - You can choose any installer including local independent contractors from your area provided they are registered under the green deal scheme.

Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com

Green Deal Cash-Back Scheme | Free Home Improvements

Cash Back for Home Improvements

A Green Deal cash back scheme will be launched in early 2013. It will reward households that take early action to improve the energy efficiency of their property through the Green Deal, with direct cash rewards from the Government. A first-come, first-served offer is available to householders who can claim cashback from Government on energy saving improvements such as loft, cavity wall insulation, front doors, double glazed windows and energy efficient boilers. Packages could be worth over £1000 - the more you do, the more you get. It is available from 28 January 2013 for households in England and Wales. Community groups will be able to register with the scheme, enabling customers to donate their cash-back to the group or charity of their choice. This money can then be used to support other projects that will benefit the community.

Cashback is a limited offer while funds last. The Cashback is open to any householder making energy saving improvements under the Green Deal, after 28th January 2013. This includes owner-occupiers, those renting privately or in social housing. Landlords, both private and social, are also eligible where they pay installation costs, up to certain limits. In all cases, Cashback will be capped at 50% of the householder’s contribution to costs.

Insulated external doors are just one energy saving benefit when applying for the green deal plan as part of your home improvement.

Here are some of the energy saving measures available with a cash back grant in £

Loft insulation (incl.top up) £100

Cavity Wall insulation £250

Solid Wall Insulation £650

Flat roof insulation £390

Room in roof insulation £220

Floor Insulation £150

Hot water cylinder insulation (top up) £10

Draught Proofing £50

Heating controls (roomstat and/or programmer & time/temperature zone controls) £70

Condensing oil boiler from non-condensing oil heating or other £310

Energy Efficient Gas Boilers Upgrade boiler to condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other. £270

Flue Gas heat recovery (condensing combi boiler) only alongside replacement boiler £90

New or replacement storage heaters £150

Replacement warm-air unit £60

Waste water heat recovery systems £60

Double Glazing Double/Triple Glazing (old single to A) £20 per m2 up to a maximum of £320

Secondary glazing £15 per m2 up to a maximum of £230

Insulated Doors High performance replacement doors £40

Some terms and conditions apply. Check with your local green deal provider for advice.Householders will need to apply for a voucher which they use to claim the Cashback when work is completed.
To qualify for the Cashback householders must:

have a Green Deal assessment carried out on the property

get and agree quotes from a Green Deal Provider (this could be directly with a national brand or through a local tradesperson linked with a Provider)

apply for Cashback voucher online or by phone. To make things easier some Providers will be able to apply on behalf of their customers

receive voucher confirming the Cashback

complete works within specified period

redeem voucher, along with evidence of works completed, for Cashback.

Householders can fund improvements through a Green Deal Plan, or however they wish, and get the Cashback but they must use a Green Deal Provider to arrange the work. The more improvements a householder makes, the bigger the Cashback. The homeowner must use an authorised green deal installer to benefit from these energy saving measures for the home.

Media and Press Releases

Green Deal Marketing and Strategy http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2013/1/prweb10365407.htm

UK Biodiesel sales and trends http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10463144.htm

Forums

Energy assessment of domestic and commercial buildings forum http://energyassessorsforums.co.uk/ 

Green Deal May Be Hard To Sell To The Public

The UK Government's flagship initiative known as the Green Deal was rolled out with a low profile reception this month, and as expected the press and media didn't pay much attention to the announcement either. Some newspapers featured small columns about the plan so once again the public remains in the dark about what it is all about. Scouring the DECC website for a  news press release revealed little, so it was left to the great British press to print some downbeat comments about the scheme.

Marketing strategy will be key if Britain's homeowners are to take on the green deal plan

A similar event happened in 2007 when the then Labour Government launched the Energy Performance Certificate; once again this was quietly launched on an unsuspecting public. As regards the green deal, after years of wrangling and thrashing out the details we are left with all the cards being held by the "big six" energy companies. It looks like the small independent traders will have a tough time competing against the corporate might of the energy giants. Raising public awareness of the plan is key to its success and it will have to be marketed successfully to avoid public suspicion about the Green Deal. Back in the day, Home Information Packs got a hot reception from homeowners who had to pay out to put their home on the market. As usual the press prints out plenty of negative views regarding the plan, however there's no escaping the fact that this initiative will create thousands of much needed jobs around the UK.

Early predictions suggest that installing energy efficiency measures into around 20 million homes will be a 10-year plan, however, in reality this may be an underestimate. With so much at stake let’s hope that the Government ramps up the marketing strategy in the short term. We suspect that if you stopped people in the street today and asked them "Do You Know Anything About The Green Deal Scheme" 9 out of 10 would respond with "No I Don't - What is it?". The press, TV and other media could help things along by at least featuring a positive news story periodically to inform the masses that something is happening. They could pose the question to members of the public such as "Are you worried about your energy bills going up every year?" now I think everyone knows the answer to that one. You can get more Green Deal News at www.greendealadvisersuk.com

How To Become A Green Deal Provider

Under the scheme a provider is the counter-signatory to the Green Deal Plan and provides both finance and for arranging the energy efficiency works for the household.

As providers they will be able to carry out assessment of homes and the supply of materials including  installation using their own employees, or instruct sub-contractors to do the work. If your planning on being a green deal provider you must first gain accreditation, this also applies to installation contractors.

What does a Green Deal Provider do?

They are responsible for the supply of the Green Deal Plan to consumers, the plan is based upon  recommendations from an accredited energy assessor. The plan stipulates the financial terms of the agreement with the householder and includes measures of consumer protection including warranties to cover the work and the installation of materials and equipment.

The provider will arrange for the energy efficiency work to be undertaken, this must be done using an approved installer, the provider will also handle any complaints regarding installation, workmanship and will offer advice on resolution of such matters. More information is available about the Green Deal Registration, and the launch of the Green Deal Provider authorisation process on the GD ORB website. Find out more about the Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com

How To Get Free Double Glazing With The Green Deal

There are various options available to home owners, landlords and tenants under the Governments green deal scheme. One such grant under the plan is free double glazing, however there is a catch.

A large proportion of Britain's housing stock has single glazing fitted, as a result the energy performance rating of the home would be lower than houses fitted with "A" rated double glazed windows which have better thermal performance and keep your home warmer on cold winter days and nights.

The good news is that under the scheme if you meet the "golden rule" eligibility criteria set out by the Government (the rules are explained by your local green deal advisor) then you can have new UPVC double glazing fitted as a replacement.

Ensure you get a recommended installer

 Having double or secondary glazing can help you reduce your energy bills, cut carbon emissions and save you money. Most installers will conduct an initial survey of your home and on delivery most homes can have a complete installation carried out in a couple of days. Thereafter you can reap the benefits of staying warmer in winter and the extra piece of mind that your heating bills will also be cut.

So what's the catch - well unlike the other home improvement options available through the plan in the case of Double Glazing the property owner will have to pay a proportion of the cost of the supply and installation for this upgrade. The final amount that you would have to pay has not been decided as yet, however it will be substantially less than buying double glazed windows outright. If your interested in improving the energy efficiency of your home then find out more about Home Improvements.

For more information about the Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com

Energy Saving Central Heating Improvements - Green Deal

There are many types of appliances on the market today that can make your home more energy efficient and can help you save money on your fuel bills. Many homes are still fitted with old style back boilers, which usually have an integral gas fire, this in turn heats domestic hot water and supplies a cylinder to store the hot water.

This type of installation can be quite inefficient as a large quantity of water is stored but in some instances may never be used. In addition, the boiler itself is quite inefficient with a rating of around 60 per cent. Condensing modern combi-boilers by comparison are 90 per cent efficient as they only heat the water on demand so there is no need to store it for use later. The design features a heat recovery system, which extracts heat from the waste gas flue and reuses this energy to supplement the heating of the central heating system. As a replacement they can provide significant benefits over an older conventional boiler, for example, it is less likely that repairs are required, an with improved reliability you wont have to call a gas engineer to attend to breakdowns in the winter.

They also require less maintenance than older models and use less fuel so you can save all round. Spares are also becoming more difficult to obtain for older models. If you are looking for a significant home improvement then the good news is that there are a range of models available that can meet your particular needs, in rural areas and remote locations there is no mains gas supply. However an eco-friendly biomass boiler which uses wood based fuel from sustainable sources can be fitted in your home with the added simplicity that many appliances now have automatic wood pellet feeds saving you time from manually charging the boiler, fireplace or stove. LPG and Oil boilers are also available, which perform just as well as natural gas models.

Further information and to find out more about energy saving Home Improvements and local installers for LPG, Oil and Gas Boilers UK or an introduction on how to get a grant under the Green Deal scheme for Boiler Installers www.greendealadvisersuk.com

All of these appliances look and operate in a similar way to your conventional boiler. If you do opt for replacing your boiler ensure you get a Gas Safe fitter or qualified plumber to carry out the work, you will also get a guarantee of good workmanship and recourse if something go wrong. For biomass installations it is best to call MCS certified tradesmen for this type of installation. You may qualify for a grant under the green deal scheme if the eligibility criteria are met.

Specialists are available in your local area

Green Deal Advisors