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Green Deal accreditation scheme to keep out Rough Traders| Act On Rough Traders
Government is promising a bonanza in the insulation business in the next decade with its Green Deal, but contractors looking to benefit will have to be accredited first.
Amplify’d from www.theconstructionindex.co.uk
Green Deal accreditation scheme to keep out rogue traders
Government is promising a bonanza in the insulation business in the next decade with its Green Deal, but contractors looking to benefit will have to be accredited first.
The Green Deal accreditation scheme was revealed by energy secretary Chris Huhne yesterday when he published his Energy Bill.
A key plank of the bill is the Green Deal scheme, due to start in 2012, which government intends will enable private companies to make energy efficiency available to all at no upfront cost. Work to improve insulation on the property will be paid back from saving on energy bills, government says. It will be available to householders and business premises.
According to the department of energy and climate change, the number of people employed in insulation alone could soar from the present 27,000 to 100,000 by 2015, eventually rising to a peak of 250,000 in the next decade.
Huhne said: “I’m confident the Green Deal will catch on with the public. It’ll make upgrading our nation’s draughty homes a no brainer. But I don’t want people to be hoodwinked by rogue traders or receive dodgy advice. Trust is important when it comes to having work done in our homes. Consumer protection will be built into the Green Deal from the word go. Accreditation, a quality mark, insurance-backed warranties – there’ll be no place for cowboys to get a foothold in the Green Deal.”
The Federation of Master Builders acknowledged that an accreditation scheme would help ensure the success of Green Deal, but it would not solve the problem of consumer demand. FMB director general Richard Diment said: "The government is completely right to recognise the fact that accreditation is vital to the success of the Green Deal. The opportunity to transform our existing homes is too big an opportunity for legitimate builders seeking new work to be to be undermined by the cowboy builders who need to be stamped out from the construction industry once and for all. It is important that those charged with carrying out the energy efficiency improvement work are recognised as competent in order to safeguard householders as well as reputable builders.”
He continued: “Unlike other countries, there is no formal registration system for builders in this country with the result that every year over £170m is stolen by unscrupulous builders from homeowners across the UK. The Green Deal gives us an opportunity to tackle this problem and the Government and the building trade must not be found to be wanting; the Green Deal 'quality mark' must stand up to the test.”
Diment concluded: “Sadly it seems thus far that the government has failed to take proper account of the need for sufficient incentives for homeowners to upgrade their properties. Housing is responsible for more than a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions, As new build adds only 0.75% to the total housing stock in any one year, it is essential that a market is created to drive the retrofitting of our existing stock. Therefore, financial incentives, such as a reduction in VAT, are desperately needed to help cover the upfront costs and kick-start the retrofit market.”
Key highlights of the promised protection measures include:
All customers will receive accredited advice on how to make their property more energy efficient
The Green Deal measures must be installed by an accredited installer working for a reputable company
Rules will prevent customers being subjected to unfair or misleading selling practices
A ‘Green Deal’ quality mark to ensure trust in the scheme
Insurance-backed warranties to cover the work so consumers are covered if there are faults with the advice or installation of measures
A competitive market for Green Deal delivery which enables new market entrants, like high street retailers, builders’ merchants or local authorities, to be advisers, providers and accredited installers.
The Energy Bill also includes measures to:
encourage investment in low carbon electricity generation include enabling implementation of the enduring offshore electricity transmission regime beyond 2010 to ensure that wind farms can connect to the grid and giving investors in new nuclear increased certainty over their obligations.
improve energy security,including stronger arrangements to monitor future electricity security; and strengthening market incentive mechanisms for ensuring sufficient gas is available during a gas supply emergency.
give companies improved access to upstream oil and gas infrastructure.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/eqXN2s
Green Deal accreditation scheme to keep out Rough Traders| Act On Rough Traders http://bit.ly/eqXN2s
SOLAR POWER FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Amplify’d from www.ourgeneration.org.uk
SOLAR POWER FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Join the growing number of schools across Britain which are enjoying the benefits of renewable energy. Our Generation works with schools and public sector organisations, helping them to save energy by using solar power technology, on a pay as you go basis.
Why Our Generation Solar for you school?
- Solar Power installed for free
- No installation or maintenance hassles
- Flexible, large scale arrays for any size roof
- Tried and tested technology and fitting methods
- Protection against utility price rises with agreed
energy costs for 25 years
- Curriculum support & lesson plans to use with students
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/fEhrcG
SOLAR POWER FOR YOUR SCHOOL
SOLAR POWER FOR YOUR SCHOOL
How it Works
There is an energy services contract, whereby the establishment agrees to buy back electricity from Our Generation for the duration of the contract. The price per unit of electricity & the annual price rise is agreed at the start of the contract and therefore known for the duration of the contract, so there are no hidden costs or unforeseen rises in cost.
STEP BY STEP REASSURANCE
- Free no obligation initial survey to identify suitable projects
- Report findings of survey, with project proposals, including expected pricing
- Full structural survey
- Final project proposal & pricing
- Pre installation meetings
- Installation
- Go – Live
In order to ensure the highest quality service and materials, the Our Generation initiative has been developed in conjunction with Mark Group who is the preferred installation partner for these projects. Mark Group is a national company, with over 1,400 employees, dedicated to providing solutions for energy-efficiency and specialising in insulation and renewable energy solutions.
SOLAR POWER FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Join the growing number of schools across Britain which are enjoying the benefits of renewable energy. Our Generation works with schools and public sector organisations, helping them to save energy by using solar power technology, on a pay as you go basis.
WHY OUR GENERATION SOLAR FOR YOU SCHOOL?
- Solar Power installed for free
- No installation or maintenance hassles
- Flexible, large scale arrays for any size roof
- Tried and tested technology and fitting methods
- Protection against utility price rises with agreed
energy costs for 25 years - Curriculum support & lesson plans to use with students
with regards
Act On Solar Power Limited
Harish Dabasia
18 Roundwood Rd
Willesden
London
NW10 9TJMobile: 07956883334mail at: dabasiah@gmail.com
Skype: hdabasia
GE Helps UK Schools Capture Solar Power |Act On Solar for Schools
One of the obstacles to installing a solar electricity system is often the high upfront cost associated with solar panels. But in the UK, GE has changed that thanks to a partnership with Solarcentury.
Amplify’d from www.gereports.com
GE Helps UK Schools Capture Solar Power
One of the obstacles to installing a solar electricity system is often the high upfront cost associated with solar panels. But in the UK, GE has changed that thanks to a partnership with Solarcentury.
The goal of the partnership is to make it affordable to install solar electricity in schools throughout the UK through Solarcentury’s Solar4Schools program. Solar4Schools has already installed solar electric systems in more than 250 schools in the UK and hopes to work with hundreds more over the next two years under the partnership.
GE has partnered with Solarcentury to make solar power affordable for hundreds of schools throughout the UK. The program helps schools reduce their carbon footprint and save money on electricity costs.
“By linking up with Solarcentury and the Soalr4Schools program, we will be able to help schools throughout the UK recognize the positive impact of green technologies by reducing their carbon footprint, saving money on their energy costs and generating income through their energy consumption,” Mark Elborne, GE’s National Executive for North Europe, said.
The partnership shows, “how the financial services sector can help the UK in its aim to reduce carbon emissions, by enabling change,” Elborne said.
For schools and local authorities in the UK looking to save money and protect against rising electricity prices, Solar4Schools offers a financial package allowing schools to install solar technology without the high initial capital cost.
While the school would pay a small initial deposit, GE Capital will fund the cost of installing the solar technology. The school will then pay back the equipment cost over 15 years, using income generated from the recently introduced Solar Feed-in Tariff.
The Feed-in Tariff was launched by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change this part April. It pays a premium to those with solar electric systems on all the electricity they generate for a guaranteed 25 years.
Through the Solar4Schools program, schools can generate income from the electricity generated by the solar equipment.
The joining of GE Capital and Solarcentury shows how vital a role the private sector can play in tackling broader societal problems.
“It’s a great example of private sector innovation for community scale benefit,” Derry Newman, CEO of Solarcentury, said.
Part of the Solar4Schools program provides educational material for students on solar power, including a display of how much energy is generated and the amount of CO2 saved.
“Solar electricity is a very positive investment for schools, as it introduces a long term income stream as well as cutting CO2 emissions and bill costs,” Newman said. “As local authorities face budget cuts, this is an opportunity for them to create a long term revenue stream as well as educate children on the importance of renewable energy for a sustainable future.”
And unlike other school solar initiatives, the GE backed plan allows schools to own its solar electricity equipment once the lease is repaid.
Educating students is also a part of the Solar4Schools program. Schools have access to a range of lesson plans focused on teaching the benefits of low carbon energy and the amount of electricity generated and CO2 savings will be shown on display in schools with data available online.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/e7KGLg
The Register for approved Solar Energy Tradesmen
Approved Solar Energy Tradesmen,Approved Solar Power Tradesmen,Approved Solar Panels Tradesmen
Amplify’d from www.accreditus.com
How It Works
Looking through the web you see many cut down copies of our service claiming to monitor builders. Our Accreditus System of monitoring has been perfected over decades, and comprises of 6 steps: -
Every applicant is personally visited by a Regional Manager.
We do not accept Applications via the Telephone, Post or Web.
We check all Traders for a history of detrimental financial information on application, and monitor them thereafter.
All Traders agree to be bound by our Code of Conduct, which gives added protection to both the Customer and the Trader. In the unlikely event that a Client is unhappy with their work, the Code of Conduct provides a set procedure for resolving the dispute. The Better Business Group is Independent in this process and will support whoever is found to be in the right.
A substantial number of previous Customers are surveyed in depth regarding all aspects of their experiences with the Applicant Company. The results are analysed and discussed with the Trader, forming a template for improving the Business.
A copy of a valid certificate must be held on our files at all times.
Once accepted onto the Register, all Traders' performance is monitored on a continual basis by means of the Accreditus System. Only Traders who maintain the highest levels of Customer Satisfaction are allowed onto our register.
AND VERY IMPORTANTLY
We send a survey form from our office directly to the customer, as soon as they make contact with the Trader. We don't allow the Trader to give surveys or rating cards to the customer that he could fill in himself, or give to only his best customers who would rate him highly.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/eIdaGy
Welcome to Accreditus - The Register for approved Tradesmen
Amplify’d from www.accreditus.com
Welcome to Accreditus -
The Register for approved Tradesmen
Established in 1995, the Accreditus Register is a unique vetting and continual monitoring system for Tradesmen. Developed through 8 years of intensive research, the Accreditus Register is still the benchmark organisation for Vetted Tradesmen in the UK.
Unlike other organisations, we check the Traders out thoroughly and send survey questionnaires directly to every person they quote for work – not just the completed jobs. The Trader can’t choose only the good ones for us to talk to.
All the surveys are combined into a Rating Certificate on the Trader. Only Traders who maintain the highest levels of customer satisfaction are accepted onto our Register.
That Is Why You Will Only Ever Have To Take 4 Simple Steps To Ensure You Choose The Right Trader For You:
- Step 1 - Request a Trader
- Step 2 - We Match Your Requirements
- Step 3 - Receive the Grading Certificates of Your Matches
- Step 4 - Instruct Your Tradesman.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/hOPuuR
Trusted Web Traders Accredited Introducer
Amplify’d from www.linesave.co.uk
Trusted Web Traders Accredited Introducer
Linesave UK LTD is an accredded introducer for TrustedWebTraders.com.
A Web Site displaying the 'Trusted Web Traders' Shield on their web site agrees to Optimised Shopping Cart - Optimised E-commerce
Website follow the 'Trusted Web Traders' Code of Practice (Code of Practice). This enables the consumer to shop online with confidence.
TrustedWebTraders.com believe that online shopping can be both convenient and safe. A code of practice has been devised for online
traders to encourage the highest possible standards and make sure that consumers are treated fairly. Companies which agree to abide by
our code can display the TrustedWebTraders.com logo.
When a company applies for permission to display this mark, they must agree to keep to the code and they must supply their details
and contact information. TrustedWebTraders.com will then initiate checks to validate that the company/traders information and web site
is genuine. Once these are accepted, TrustedWebTraders.com we will carry out random checks to ensure they are keeping to the code.
If TrustedWebTraders.com were to receive reports that certain or specific companies were not keeping to the code, this would be
investigated fully. The company/trader would have to ensure that they upheld the high standards of TrustedWebTraders.com or their
TrustedWebTraders.com status will be revoked. The process for making a complaint about a 'Trusted Web Trader' is detailed at our
disputes page.
Laws which apply to other forms of shopping also apply to 'Trusted Web Traders'. We will do our best, with your help and feedback,
to make sure that the TrustedWebTraders.com Code of Practice gives online shoppers the level of confidence they deserve. You can get
tips and advice about shopping over the Internet from the Office of Fair Trading (www.oft.gov.uk).
Trusted Web Traders Accredited Introducer
Linesave UK LTD is an accredded introducer for TrustedWebTraders.com.
A Web Site displaying the 'Trusted Web Traders' Shield on their web site agrees to Optimised Shopping Cart - Optimised E-commerce
Website follow the 'Trusted Web Traders' Code of Practice (Code of Practice). This enables the consumer to shop online with confidence.TrustedWebTraders.com believe that online shopping can be both convenient and safe. A code of practice has been devised for online
traders to encourage the highest possible standards and make sure that consumers are treated fairly. Companies which agree to abide by
our code can display the TrustedWebTraders.com logo.When a company applies for permission to display this mark, they must agree to keep to the code and they must supply their details
and contact information. TrustedWebTraders.com will then initiate checks to validate that the company/traders information and web site
is genuine. Once these are accepted, TrustedWebTraders.com we will carry out random checks to ensure they are keeping to the code.If TrustedWebTraders.com were to receive reports that certain or specific companies were not keeping to the code, this would be
investigated fully. The company/trader would have to ensure that they upheld the high standards of TrustedWebTraders.com or their
TrustedWebTraders.com status will be revoked. The process for making a complaint about a 'Trusted Web Trader' is detailed at our
disputes page.Laws which apply to other forms of shopping also apply to 'Trusted Web Traders'. We will do our best, with your help and feedback,
to make sure that the TrustedWebTraders.com Code of Practice gives online shoppers the level of confidence they deserve. You can get
tips and advice about shopping over the Internet from the Office of Fair Trading (www.oft.gov.uk).Give Your UK Online Website The Credentials It Needs.
If you would like to join Trustedwebtraders.com simply complete the Quick Enquiry Form at the top-right of this page, or for further information visit
http://www.trustedwebtraders.com
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/h7pTQd
Can the DECC really afford not to pay for solar power?
Amplify’d from www.solarpowerportal.co.uk
Can the DECC really afford not to pay for solar power?
- Posted in Blogs by Emma Hughes
- Published on 01 December 2010
- Updated on 09 December 2010
Solar panels have proved to be the most successful source of 'green power' under the feed-in tariff
If the past few months have proved anything about renewable energy, it’s that solar power, under the direction of the feed-in tariff (FiT), is the fastest-growing source of green power in the UK. According to the latest figures from Ofgem, since the introduction of the FiT on April 1, 2010, the total installed capacity of solar was almost 40MW (39.241MW) while wind reached 13.021MW and hydro and micro CHP only managed 7.666MW and 0.014MW, respectively.
So, if the solar power industry is taking off at such a great rate, why is the Government so keen to put the kybosh on its growth?
The recent Spending Review saw the first industry wobble as we all waited with bated breath to see whether the very same Government that gave us the FiT with one hand was about to take it away with the other. A collective sigh of relief followed this review as it was announced that there will be no changes to the (41.3 pence per kilowatt hour) tariff until 2013.
It wasn’t long, however, before the next blow was delivered, this time in the form of Greg Barker at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). On November 11 Barker revealed that, “We inherited a system that failed to anticipate industrial field arrays. While we will not act retrospectively, large field arrays should not be allowed to distort the market for roof mounted and other PV or other renewables.” At a closed industry meeting later that week, Barker confirmed my suspicions that the Government plans to reduce the subsidy for large-scale solar in order to boost the market for microgeneration technologies.
To top all of this off, the Renewable Energy Association (REA) reported last week that the Government plans to effectively ‘cap’ the amount of money set aside for renewable energy. The total amount spent on FiTs during the period 2014–15 cannot now exceed £360 million, which is a 10% reduction on the previous estimate of £400 million.
All of these elements together have significantly shaken investor confidence in the UK solar sector, with many large-scale developers already turning their backs on the industry. Not only that, but it seems that the Government is for some reason trying to slow the escalation of solar power, which is something that has been baffling me in light of a recent Public Accounts Committee report on ‘Funding the Development of Renewable Energy Technologies.’
This report leaked onto the wires yesterday, shining light into some very dark, but very interesting corners of the DECC. The main point outlined by the report was that the Energy Department had actually admitted that it was not going to reach its target of 10% renewable energy generation in the UK by the end of 2010. In fact, it doesn’t expect to meet the 10% target until 2012, from its starting position of 2.7% in 2000.
In light of this disclosure, it seems an ambitious move for the UK to agree to the legally-binding EU target of supplying 15% of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2020, despite having no “clear plans, targets for each renewable energy technology, estimates of funding required or understanding how the rate at which planning applications for onshore wind turbines were being rejected might affect progress.” Nevertheless, the country has agreed to this, and if these targets are not met, the UK could face huge fines.
As if these points weren’t enough, it has also emerged that between 2000 and 2009 the DECC and its predecessors failed to use nearly half of the resources available to it to encourage innovation in renewable energy. Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Margaret Hodge, said that “some £180m of the funds allocated to support renewable energy technologies had gone unspent. This is a wasted opportunity for providing investment that could have helped increase the supply of renewable energy.”
Now, while the DECC is the body responsible for ensuring a series of targets are met over the next 40 years, the direct Government funding for developing renewable energy technologies is delivered through a complex web of organisations that the Department does not control. So, the Energy Department does not in fact have a clue as to “how much has been spent or what has been achieved,” the report said.
Despite all of this, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said the coalition Government, or ‘the greenest Government ever,’ was determined to “deliver on the low-carbon economy”. Yet he blames the previous Government for the slow progress:
“The last 10 years have been a lost decade for renewables. Labour’s tragic legacy is that we are 25th out of 27 EU member states on renewables. We have been playing as amateurs when we should have been in the Premiership.”
While I agree to some extent, it was Labour who put the FiT policy in place, and it clearly works. If we want to climb up from 25th spot, then the Government needs to leave the successful technologies’ subsidy alone, promoting a reasonable growth rate which can reach EU targets.
To wrap up: in the same week that the DECC announced that it will ‘cap’ the feed-in tariff for the most successful renewable energy source in the country and cut subsidies for large-scale plants, it also admitted that it has no hope of reaching its legally-binding energy targets.
Is anyone else confused?
The Public Accounts Committee report states in response to these points that the Department needs “a greater sense of urgency and purpose” when thinking about these targets. “Given the urgency and importance of the issue, progress in meeting renewable energy targets has been unacceptably slow over the last decade,” said Hodge.
In order to reach these targets, the DECC must ensure a proper balance between providing effective incentives and a stable framework for private investors whilst minimising the cost to bill payers, the report says. The Committee points towards the Renewables Obligation (RO), which provides the major subsidy for renewable energy by placing an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers to source a specified and annually increasing proportion of their electricity sales from renewable sources, or pay a penalty, to help solve this problem. “The Department needs to get the best value and impacts from this funding framework.”
Working with industry bodies, including the REA, Friends of the Earth and Micropower council, the Solar Power Portal will continue to support lobbying action against the DECC threats. By highlighting the strict targets that must be reached, as well as passing on your comments, together we can begin climbing our way up the league table, one day reaching Huhne’s Premiership goal.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/dHQJVC
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