Since the Chancellor’s statement at the Conservative Party Conference, there are rumours circulating that the Green Deal may be scrapped. This follows hot on the heels of the further postponement (until April 2012) of the revised requirements for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

Does all this point to a U-turn by the Government on energy policy and climate change initiatives? Andrew Morphet, Managing Director of Synergy Property Services Ltd., gives us his latest thoughts:

“I don’t believe so. What George Osborne said related to a previously stated ambition for the UK to meet its carbon emission targets quicker than its legal obligation...

Last month we reported that the implementation of the latest Energy Bill (the revisions to the Energy Performance in Buildings Regulations - EPBR) had been postponed until the autumn. With summer now upon us, we wondered if the energy gurus and politicians had perhaps taken an extended summer break: We asked Andrew Morphet, Managing Director of Synergy Property Services Limited if he’d seen any signs:

“I’m pleased to say, there has been a lot happening in July – although not all of it positive. Despite assurances from Chris Huhne, Secretary of State at the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) that the Green Deal will be delivered on time; the shelving of the Energy Bill until October is an issue that must ultimately have an effect. It is also likely to have an adverse effect on the DECC’s timeline for the Green Deal proposals. The timeline was already ambitious - now it is almost impossible for this to be met.”

Andrew Morphet, MD of Energy Consultant Synergy Property Services Ltd. states “I believe Energy Assessors are best placed to lead the consultancy to home and business owners once the Green Deal scheme is launched, but up to now they have not been represented on Forums set up to help formulate workable implementation plans and shape training requirements .”

In a written statement to the House on the 10th March 2011, Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change announced the long awaited proposals for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme.

The Government is aiming for this to be approved by Parliament in summer 2011 and introduced shortly thereafter. We asked Andrew Morphet, Managing Director of Energy Consultants, Synergy Property Services Ltd to explain what this is about.

NEWSFLASH: Synergy Property Services Ltd., are delighted to have been appointed by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council as their approved supplier of Display Energy Certificates for schools, Council premises and other Public Buildings in the Borough.

Many people believe that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is the pair of multi-coloured graphs showing the energy efficiency of a property. To those selling or letting a property an EPC is seen as an un-necessary cost and administrative burden delaying their activity. To prospective home buyers and those renting property they are often simply the final page of the Agents particulars; viewed as being less important than the size of the spare room!

Andrew Morphet of Synergy Property Services Ltd tells us an EPC is an important document that should be helping people make decisions about the house they buy or which office to rent: “Many Estate and Lettings Agents are not much wiser about the nature and content of an EPC than the consumers and clients with whom they interact: This is very frustrating.”

Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently re-affirmed his commitment for all new build homes to be zero-carbon from 2016. He also confirmed the work, carried out last year for the previous Government, in creating the 'Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard'.

Is the timescale realistic and what needs to happen to achieve this? Andrew Morphet of Synergy Property Services Ltd comments:

Shortly after his election, David Cameron pledged to make the coalition the "greenest government ever" saying: "We've got a big, big opportunity here; I want us to be the greenest government ever. It's a very simple ambition and one I'm absolutely committed to achieving.” Almost 3 months later; how’s he getting on?

The COALITION parties have agreed to implement a full programme of measures to fulfil their joint ambitions for a low carbon, eco-friendly, and energy efficient economy. They have also agreed, subject to advice from the Climate Change Committee, to increase the energy target from renewable sources.

It is now more than two years since Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were introduced. EPCs not only show the energy efficiency of a property, the likely fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions, but also give recommendations on how to improve the energy rating and deliver energy cost savings. Sceptics claim these are "worthless" but a recent survey by National Energy Services (NES) tells a very different story.

"Our experience with clients at Synergy, tells us that commercial buildings are generally in a far worse condition than homes and therefore present even bigger opportunities for saving costs and reducing emissions. As qualified Energy Assessors we already have the skills to help all landlords, agents, building owners and occupiers save money whilst staying on the right side of impending energy legislation." 

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is designed to tackle climate change by reducing the amount of carbon produced by our buildings. But is it working?
Legislation is often unpopular and seen as an imposition, so the sad part is that the real benefit of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which is the energy saving advice that comes with it is being missed.

When the going gets tough; the tough get going: Few would deny that the going is tough; so it follows that businesses that are going to come out of this recession successfully will be those that make tough decisions and get going.

One such tough decision is to seek help: Synergy Property Services offers practical, straight forward energy management solutions to cutting energy costs without compromising the business; offering solutions where the saving is guaranteed – not a tough decision at all!

Most people involved in property, already know that the Government intend to raise the bar at regular intervals over the next few years regarding improved energy conservation in buildings. With the next phase of the European Energy Performance in Buildings Directive already well into its consultation phase, the UK Government is now focused on UK problems and targets. So for property owners, builders and developers, what do these proposals for energy conservation mean?

A second piece of legislation under the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD) is currently in Consultation and is expected to be published in the autumn and put into force in 2010.
If you are a private company or public private partnership; you might think “so what, commercial energy assessments don’t affect me!”
If you are a Public Body; you might think you have got all the energy performance certificates you need.
In both cases you would be wrong!

Householders will soon be able to have the services of a qualified Home Energy Assessor to help them address the problems of CO2 emissions, wasted energy and, therefore, money arising from their energy-inefficient homes if a Government plan is approved.