A social housing property in Oxfordshire has been chosen to showcase the energy efficiency benefits of installing green technologies as part of a ‘Retrofit for the Future’ scheme to improve the UK’s social housing stock.

Owned by Soha Housing, the fairly nondescript property in the South Oxfordshire town of Didcot has been transformed as part of the Technology Strategy Board’s Retrofit for the Future programme. The largest social housing provider in South Oxfordshire, Soha Housing manages more than 5,500 homes, and the energy efficiency programme is designed to showcase innovative technologies, and how using them can reduce emissions.

As part of the retrofit scheme, the Didcot property has been “upgraded” to include a new energy efficient boiler, solar water heating and increased draught proofing. As part of the programme, the home’s energy performance will be monitored over the course of two years, but the property’s tenants are already reaping the benefits of the modifications, which are helping to reduce their energy bills.

“We intend to use the lessons we learn throughout the two years that this project runs to improve the energy efficiency of our stock,” commented Steve Lynch, SohaHousing’s director of property and development.

“We are very grateful to the residents for enduring the inconvenience disurbance.  Without their enthusiasm and support, this project would not have been successful,” he added.

The Government has set a target of an 80% reduction in CO₂ levels by 2050, and retrofit programmes like this are essentially a means of implementing best practice retrofitting, to determining how the nation’s existing housing stock – the majority of which is poor insulated – can be upgraded to be more energy efficient.

Under the Retrofit for the Future programme – which is funded and managed by the Technology Strategy Board – some 86 social housing units across the UK will be retrofitted with innovative new technologies, such as solar thermal panels, heat pumps and solar PV systems. As part of the scheme, emissions and energy usage will be monitored for two years.

Pupils in West Yorkshire have become the latest recruits to earn their energy saving stripes by taking part in npower’s Climate Cops Academy.

Image courtesy of npower

Since its launch in 2007, the initiative has reached 38,000 students across the UK, and almost 200 pupils from schools in West Yorkshire have become the last group to participate in the programme.

Climate Cops Academy teaches children how to go green and become more energy conscious by saving energy in a fun and engaging way, and around 70 Year 4 and Year 5 students from Sharlston Community School in Wakefield were shown ways to save energy. The interactive day featured a range of activities, ranging from miniature examples of renewable energy to the effects of insulation and generating electricity through body movement.

“The children really enjoyed the day; it taught them about climate change and saving energy in a fun, engaging way,” commented Karen Riley, headteacher at Sharlston Community School.

“They’ve learnt some simple ways to conserve energy that will make a big difference to the school, their homes and the environment,” she added.

Climate Cops Academy – an integral part of npower’s Brighter Futures education programme – was designed to visit schools across the country. Encouraging staff and pupils alike to do their bit for climate change by reducing their carbon footprint, the programme has seen npower join forces with local councils to help schools become greener and more energy efficient.

“It’s wonderful that the Climate Cops programme is helping schools across the UK to become greener and more sustainable and is inspiring young people to get involved in energy efficiency, themselves,” said Clare McDougall, npower’s head of community and education.

The search is underway to find two families to test-drive two eco-homes in Northamptonshire – by living in them for a year, rent free.

Packed with carbon and energy saving technology, Velux have built two brand new eco-homes and have launched a campaign to find suitable “tenants” to test-drive them, as part of an initiative to prove that eco-friendly living can reduce household bills and help the environment.

The Velux CarbonLight Homes will transform the way people see sustainable living, and these pioneering homes are part of the group’s Model Home 2020 project.

The two properties in Rothwell, Northamptonshire come fully furnished and the search to find real families to test drive real homes will officially be launched at the Grand Designs Live roadshow at the NEC in Birmingham from 7th-9th October.

Viewed as a practical and affordable solution to mass market new builds in the UK, the 3 and 4 bed-roomed energy efficient properties benefit from renewable energy technology, including air source heat pumps and a solar hot water heating, enabling the house to generate its own energy. With ‘smart’ temperature controlling technology, to help reduce energy consumption and household running costs, lights have been designed to go on and off automatically, depending on room activity and available daylight.

“Our search for families to test drive these homes will provide us with a chance to further drive consumer awareness of affordable and sustainable future living practises,” commented Keith Riddle, Managing Director at VELUX.

“The test residency would be ideal for anyone in the region currently planning a house move or undertaking a self-build project and in need of a new temporary home base for 12 months,” he added.

To be eligible to be one of the families chosen to test-drive a “home of the future”, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a two adult / two children family unit or a two adult / one child family unit.
• Have at least a basic understanding of eco practises.
• Be prepared to review and maintain a diary detailing their time spent at the CarbonLight Homes.
• Be able to move in to the property in March 2012 for a full 12 months.

For further information, and to register your interest, visit www.velux.co.uk/family or alternatively pop along to Grand Designs Live Birmingham, between the 7th and 9th of October. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2011.

Energy saving measures installed under the Government’s flagship Green Deal should benefit from a reduced VAT rate of 5% across the board.

From the WWF to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, more than 26 organisations are urging the Government to fix the rate of VAT, cutting it from 20% to 5%. The measure, the group collective says, is necessary to ensure people take part in the scheme, which is designed to reduce carbon emissions and lower fuel bills.

As it stands, certain measures – including certain small-scale renewables – are charged at 5% VAT. But most, such as fitting energy efficient boilers are not eligible for a reduced rate in VAT.

MPs are currently in the process of finalising legislation that will bring the Green Deal to fruition.  And the Government is being warned it still needs to do a lot more to encourage households to implement energy saving packages. In short, for it to be a success, the Green Deal must be made more affordable.

Aside from making it more attractive to consumers, a lower rate of VAT would also make it easier to meet the scheme’s so-called “golden rule”. Repayments have to be lower than the savings consumers make on their bills.

Under the Green Deal, the upfront costs of making energy efficient improvements, such as installing a new energy efficient boiler, cavity wall insulation or loft insulation will be met, and the money will be paid back through savings on energy bills.

Ian Fletcher, from the British Property Foundation, said they were urging MPs to encourage the Government to levy VAT at 5% for all green-deal approved measures.

“The Government must prepare for the green deal by stimulating further demand in the energy-saving market,” said Mr Fletcher, adding:

“A package of incentives will help to draw consumer attention to the green deal, bring more works within eligibility, and help support a successful launch.”

A hospital in South Manchester has been recognised for its energy saving measures, as part of an environmental drive to reform energy efficient standards across the NHS.

Hospitals are not known for being the most environmentally friendly places, but the University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM) is a pioneer when it comes to implementing green energy saving ways.

Energy efficiency measures are high on the hospital’s agenda, and part of a growing movement to improve the environmental performance of hospitals across the UK. The hospital already benefits from a wealth of renewable energy technology, including ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers and more efficient lighting and insulation, thanks to central government funding in less-leaner times.

The hospital is determined to improve on its success so far, by employing more efficient, more sustainable technologies – and promoting better housekeeping techniques to control energy use.

Paying £12 for every tonne of carbon emitted – currently £250,000 a year – the installation of biomass boilers has enabled the hospital to save £40,000 annually. In fact, the University Hospital is already way ahead when it comes to beating its 2012 carbon reduction target of 20%, although thanks to expansion plans, its 2020 goal of 34% may prove harder to beat.

Last year the Government conducted a survey which shockingly, although perhaps not surprisingly, revealed that eight of the ten worst emitters of greenhouse gases in England and Wales were hospitals.

In 2009-10, the NHS used a mammoth amount of energy – 42.74m gigajoules of energy to be exact – which produced 3.72 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide and cost £5.62m.

But things are changing – albeit slowly. Take Wythenshawe Hospital, as another example. Last year the hospital – run by University Hospital of South Manchester foundation trust, won the Guardian Public Services Award for implementing a package of environmental measures.

Elsewhere, Musgrove Park Hospital has apparently set itself up as the first hospital in the UK to achieve its green energy efficiency ambitions thanks to private finance. Over the next two years, the hospital aims to cut its consumption by more than 40% and carbon emissions by 43%. With a £1.8m annual energy bill and costs forecast to double by 2017, it would enable Musgrove Park to save £17m over two decades.

With the NHS hemorrhaging money in fuel and electricity bills, it seems more and more hospitals are looking to the benefits of investing in sustainable technologies.

A leading resource for green and renewable energy installers and suppliers, Renewables Guide has just been launched.

From the team behind Boiler Guide and Solar Guide, the website is an ideal resource for homeowners who are looking to benefit from green sources of energy, by investing in renewable energy technologies like heat pumps, wind turbines and solar PV technology.

Renewables Guide features all the latest renewable energy news, and will keep you informed and updated about the latest Government grants and incentives, such as the feed in tariff (Fit) scheme and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which are designed to financially assist and encourage the uptake of green technologies.

As interest in renewable technologies continues to grow, Renewables Guide is the ideal place to go to for all your renewable energy needs. From advice and information, to providing free quotes to help you find a suitable Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installer, Renewables Guide is the leading resource for green energy installers and suppliers.

The website’s renewable energy calculators are an ideal place to start, and have been designed to help you determine how much you could save by installing solar and wind renewable energy solutions.

David Holmes, founder of Renewables Guide said: “For anyone considering investing in renewable energy solutions, be it wind turbines, solar energy or heat pump technology, Renewables Guide is the place to go to for all your renewable energy needs.

“Whether you’re looking for a heat pump installer or just seeking some more information about the type of technologies available, Renewables Guide is the leading resource when it comes to green and renewable energy installers and suppliers.”

For homeowners looking for quotes and advice about renewables – or if you’re a renewable energy installer and wish to register your details – there’s no better time to check out www.renewablesguide.co.uk

It’s one of the UK’s favourite dishes and soon your favourite chicken tikka masala could be helping to provide heat to homes across Britain.

A groundbreaking venture between British Gas, the UK’s leading energy provider, and the Bio Group will see the construction of a £5million plant that will be capable of processing food waste from takeaways and curry restaurants, as well as hotels and businesses.

It may sound like a lot of hot air but the plant in Stockport, Greater Manchester, will be able to process around 25,000 tonnes of food waste every year, helping to produce enough gas to supply more than 1,400 homes.

Once the leftover scraps have been heated after being slopped into large containers, natural bacteria will then break down the food, creating biomethane, which is also known as renewable gas. Very similar to the natural gas we use in our homes for cooking and central heating, once cleaned the biomethane will be fed into the national grid.

“This project shows how recycling waste that would otherwise go to landfill is not only good for the environment but can also play a vital role in meeting people’s everyday energy needs,” said managing director of new markets at British Gas, Gearóid Lane.

The Stockport plant will be the first purpose-built project in the country to benefit from the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

Residents in a Welsh village are celebrating after winning £100,000 and taking the title of the greenest community in the UK in the process.

Designed to encourage neighbourhoods and communities to save and generate as much electricity as possible, the British Gas Green Streets Community Challenge recognised the 1,300 residents of Llangattock in the Brecon Beacons National Park for their environmental awareness.

Residents expect to shave around £62,000 off their combined energy bill over the next five years and has high ambitions, aiming to become a carbon negative community by 2015.

Over the past 18 months, a number of measures were implemented in homes and community buildings to help residents cut their energy use and reduce carbon emissions. Homes in the village have installed cavity wall insulation, solar photovoltaic panels, loft insulation and biomass boilers to improve energy efficiency. Llangattock Primary School now boasts a solar power electricity system and the village hall has an air-source heat pump.

“The people of Llangattock have shown some amazing levels of commitment to cutting carbon emissions, changing their behaviour and educating the wider community about what can be done, ” said Gearoid Lane, the managing director of British Gas new markets.

Michael Butterfield, project leader at Llangattock, added: “We’ve all worked really hard to get this far. We’re committed to building on this, and to helping neighbouring communities develop their own sustainable vision.”

Llangattock was chosen from 100 nationwide projects to be one of the final 14 communities who would go head-to-head over 14 months, before emerging as the UK’s greenest community.

After more than a decade of planning, a father and daughter are finally building a new eco-friendly home – the exterior of which should take only three days to complete.

Tucker and Kirstie Finlayson conceived the idea to build the three bedroom environmentally friendly home in West Hampstead some 12 years ago, but numerous problems and obstacles have stood in their way.

This week, however, the dream to build the split-level property is set to be realised after Mr Finlayson contracted German firm MH to construct the home in segments at the firm’s factory in Hamlin, Germany. Assuming all goes to plan, the home will be made watertight and secure within three days, with plumbing, electrics and interior fixtures likely to be finished inside three months.

Lesley Gross, of MH, said: “Off-site construction – we prefer not to call it prefab – is becoming more and more popular. Sometimes clients simply want a house built quickly, but we want them to come to us because they want an eco-home. We believe in it and it works, delivering energy cost savings to clients”.

Explaining the decision to erect the ‘DIY’ eco-home on the tiny plot of land, Mr Finlayson said: “One night I got drunk with a mate of mine who’s an architect and he suggested I build a house at the end of the garden. It’s amazing what one drunken night can lead to”.

Discussing his protracted battle to secure planning permission, Mr Finlayson added: “It became a little game with the council. It was fun. I had to eliminate everything they objected to, one by one, until there was nothing left for them to object to”.

The first MH home to be erected in the UK is occupied by Brigid Sundaram, who said: “MH said we could build a 180 square metre, four to five bedroom home in two days, which was true and now we have all the eco technology you could wish for. I wanted to prove to my teenage children that you can have all the mod-cons and still be eco-friendly”.

Ms Sundaram’s home uses solar panels to generate around 65 per cent of its hot water supply. MH homes also use recycled Fermacell insulation.

Recent Government initiatives have seen a push towards promoting sustainable businesses, by encouraging them to take advantage of new business opportunities within the new low carbon economic sectors. Bedford College is getting in on the act, by leading a regional push to offer free training in ‘green’ renewable energy jobs to the unemployed.

The European Social Fund has provided £650,000 to help unemployed people find work in low carbon jobs. This is being promoted through the Skills for Sustainable Development (SSD) Project, whose main aim is to help people who are economically inactive or looking for work by offering them free training in skills that will ultimately encourage a low carbon society.

Bedford College is working closely with partner agencies across the region – including other colleges, as well as employers and local councils – to ensure the effective delivery of the project.

Current courses include Awards in Environmental and Sustainable Development, Renewable Electricity (solar photovoltaic systems, micro wind), and Renewable Heat (solar thermal, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps). Courses are free and easy to enrol on and the length of courses ranges from one day to a maximum of two weeks.

Skills for Sustainable Development Project Manager, Janette Eustace, who is also a member of the Bedford College Sustainability Team, said:

“By engaging with so many groups we can encourage more sustainable business practices and therefore look towards our low carbon future, whilst providing unemployed people with added skills for their chosen careers.”

For more information about the courses available, go to www.greenbedfordcollege.com