NIA and its members to build the value back into home insulation

For the past 20 years, there have been large subsidies and grants available from energy companies and Government towards the cost of home insulation for both fuel poor households and 'able to pay' households.

Whilst this has been very helpful for those households in the greatest need who are suffering from fuel poverty, it has also resulted in insulation being devalued with householders focusing on price and grants only and not appreciating the true benefits insulation provides.  This autumn will see a major change as under the new £640m per year Energy Company Obligation 3 scheme subsidies and grants will be restricted to vulnerable and fuel poor households only and not available to those 'able to pay'.

This provides a significant opportunity for the industry to build the value back into insulation by promoting the benefits of the different measures:

External Wall Insulation, for example, can transform the appearance and add value and curb appeal to a building as well as reducing fuel bills whilst Cavity Wall Insulation can be undertaken in just a few hours and pay for itself in under 3 years even without a subsidy or grant.

In order to get these messages across to the general public, the NIA and its members are teaming up with the Energy Saving Trust, the independent national energy efficiency experts and other advice agencies to promote the true benefits of insulation.

Ends

Scottish Government announces Route Map and funding for fuel poverty and energy efficiency

The National Insulation Association (NIA) has welcomed today’s announcement from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of funding of £54.5 million, to help tackle fuel poverty and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the Route Map to an Energy Efficient Scotland which outlines action to ensure that by 2040, all homes are improved so they achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least Band C.

The First Minister said*: “The Scottish Government’s energy efficiency programme will help ensure all our buildings are warmer, greener and more energy efficient.

“The major investment in this programme highlights our clear commitment to ensuring that we tackle fuel poverty and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – helping those on low incomes as well as protecting our environment.”

George Donaldson, Chair of NIA Scotland which represents the insulation industry in Scotland, commented; "The NIA Scotland and our members welcome this announcement and the ambitious plan set out by the First Minister and stand ready to support the delivery of the programme.”

Insulation not only tackles fuel poverty and climate change but delivers long-term, sustainable savings on energy bills, create jobs, reduces NHS costs and helps regenerate communities.

ENDS.

*As quoted on www.gov.scot

NIA to Launch Handbook and Online Directory

We're excited to announce that we will soon be launching a new insulation handbook and online directory with free listings for NIA member’s, editorial content and display advertising from just £125.

We'll also provide both regional and national listings.

It will be targeted at energy companies, local authorities, housing associations, builders, architects, surveyors, householders, and businesses to name a few. 

To learn more about our Insulation Handbook and Online Directory and how you can be part of it email directory@nia-uk.org

Interest free loans for home insulation now available from the Scottish Government – contact an NIA member for details.

The Scottish Government HEEPS Loan Scheme for energy efficiency measures is now open and the National Insulation Association (NIA) is urging Scottish householders to contact its members to take advantage of the scheme to upgrade their property’s insulation.

Householders can obtain an interest free loan of up to £15,000 for installing a variety of measures including solid wall, cavity wall, loft and roof insulation, draught proofing and boilers.

The scheme is open to owner occupiers, private tenants and registered private sector landlords in Scotland. The repayment period varies based on the amount borrowed but those taking out higher value loans for solid wall insulation for example will be able to pay back over 10 years.

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the NIA commented: “We welcome the loan scheme which will make home insulation more affordable and we are urging householders in Scotland to contact their local NIA registered member to find out if their home requires additional insulation and for details of this scheme.

 “By installing SWI savings of up to £455 per year can be made on fuel bills and £275 per year from CWI. Loft Insulation can also save up to £240 per year and Draught-proofing windows and doors can save between £25 and £50 per year and when installed with other measures will greatly increase the comfort in a home.”

Householders  can be safe in the knowledge that an NIA registered member  will have signed up to a strict Code of Professional Practice, meaning peace of mind comes as standard.

To find a local NIA registered member, householders and landlords in Scotland should visit the NIA website www.niaconsumer.co.uk

NIA responds to Governments planned 400,000 new homes

The NIA shares its surprise and concerns with the Committee on Climate Change at reports that the Government intends to build 400,000 new homes in the next few years that may have to be retro-fitted with insulation and other energy saving measures to meet the UKs carbon saving targets.

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the NIA commented: “If this proposal goes ahead and new homes are not adequately insulated when built it will mean that these homes will be less energy efficient resulting in the occupants facing much higher energy bills which is a major concern given continued rising energy prices and unnecessary additional costs from retrofitting later.

Earlier this year government scrapped building standards that would have made new houses zero-carbon from next year, without indicating whether new standards would be forthcoming. In addition it would be a further blow for the home energy efficiency sector where installation rates for existing homes have plummeted as a result of cuts to ECO and the  Green Deal and Green Deal Hone Improvement fund being ended abruptly without putting in place alternatives.

Yesterday the Chancellor also announced further major funding cuts for the future Energy Company Obligation meaning there could be a 78% reduction in the number of households that will receive energy efficiency improvements over the next 5 years compared to the previous Parliament.  We would therefore urge a rethink in the energy efficiency policy for new homes"

The Committee on Climate Change published it Fifth Carbon Budget today highlighting that if the UK is to meet its targets by the 2030s, insulation would need to be installed in nearly all UK homes where it is cost-effective.

NIA is supporting its members during challenging times

There are currently serious concerns across the insulation industry about future activity levels from Government related schemes including ECO, the Green Deal and GDHIF.  We are therefore working hard on behalf of our members with Government and other key stakeholders to influence the shape and design of future policies and schemes to increase activity levels and provide a longer term sustainable policy landscape for the industry.  This work includes:

• Calling on Government to make Energy Efficiency Retrofit of the UK Housing Stock a National Infrastructure Priority supported by appropriate levels of capital expenditure and a long term delivery plan.
• Seeking early decisions from Government Ministers on the future of the Energy Company Obligation after the current obligation ends in April 2017 and a longer term ECO, preferably five years.
• Working with DECC, Ofgem and Energy Companies to review and revise the compliance requirements for ECO in order to simplify these and reduce compliance costs for future schemes.
• Seeking urgent clarification from Government Ministers on their future intentions for the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund and Green Deal Communities scheme as well as putting forward proposals to make these or alternatives even more effective.
• Submitting proposals on changes that could be made to the Green Deal to make it simpler and more attractive to householders.
• Contributing to the Chief Construction Advisers current review of the Solid Wall Insulation (SWI) market including recommendation on how to most effectively tackle the 7m homes that still require SWI.

Whilst this work in influencing Government policy and programmes is extremely important in securing a long term sustainable future for the industry, we are also committed to helping our member’s access additional business opportunities outside of the ECO and Green Deal right now.

To this end we have undertaken a range of activities designed to stimulate additional insulation work and clearly position our members as the preferred choice to carry out work among specifiers and householders.  This includes:

• Launching a new consumer website www.nia-uk.org/consumer with an installer postcode locator which is receiving around 50,000 searches a year and providing free leads and referrals to our members.
• Working with leading consumer groups including the Energy Saving Trust and Money Saving Expert to promote the benefits of insulation and referring householders to our members.
• Undertaking a major PR Campaign to promote insulation and our members
• Creating new business opportunities in the new build and commercial markets by providing our members with market intelligence and information and promoting insulation to key specifiers in these sectors.  In addition we introduced a new Code of Professional Practice for NIA members operating in the New Build and Commercial markets to differentiate them and provide competitive advantage vs. non NIA members.
• Introduced a new free service for Local Authorities, Housing Associatons and Procurement Framework Operators to access and specify our members via expressions of interest and tender requests.

“Our activities to support our members during these challenging times is having a positive impact on the NIA’s reputation and benefits of membership among insulation companies and we have seen a 20% increase in membership so far this year.”

The NIA is the leading trade association for insulation in the UK and represents the manufacturers, system suppliers and installers of cavity wall, external wall, internal wall, roof, loft and floor insulation plus draught-proofing.    

If you are interested in membership of the NIA or working with our members please contact Neil Marshall neil.marshall@nia-uk.org or call 01525 383313

NIA welcomes the Scottish Governments decision to make Energy Efficiency an infrastructure priority

For some time we have been calling on all political parties to designate  energy efficiency  a national infrastructure priority and in Scotland this included  meetings with  Scottish Government Ministers prior to the General Election.  We were therefore delighted with the recent announcement from the Scottish Government.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 09th June 2015, Climate Change Minister Aileen McLeod revealed that Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme will be made an infrastructure priority in an effort to improve the energy efficiency ratings of both homes and non-domestic buildings over the next 20 years.

The Scottish Government will also examine how supplier obligations on energy efficiency and fuel poverty can be designed for Scottish circumstances and to leverage private sector investment using new devolved powers in the Scotland Bill.

Dr McLeod said: “The Scottish Government has already increased investment in domestic energy efficiency – from £99m last year to £119m this year. And since 2009 we have allocated over half a billion pounds on fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes.

“But we must do more to meet Scotland’s world-leading and ambitious climate change targets. That is why I am announcing that improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s buildings will be designated a national infrastructure priority.”

The announcement represents real progress for energy efficiency and the call from industry that energy efficiency should be designated a national infrastructure priority by central Government and all political parties.  Further details could be announced in the Scottish Budget and Infrastructure Investment Plan, which are expected in the Autumn.

Below is the press release issued by the Scottish Government last week

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Climate-change-action-heats-up-19c8.aspx

NIA asks for cross party support to be extended to a national energy efficiency programme

The NIA welcomes the recent cross party agreement for action on climate change and is urging party leaders to agree support for an ambitious national energy efficiency programme.

With over 7m households lacking solid wall insulation, 6m lacking cavity wall insulation and over 7m having inadequate loft insulation the NIA is asking party leaders to build on their recent commitment to tackle climate change by agreeing to make energy efficiency retrofit of the UK housing stock a national infrastructure priority.  Supported by additional funding from the Government Infrastructure budget and to pledge to provide support to 6m low income households by 2025.

Recent reports have highlighted the scale of the problem and demonstrated why a fresh approach and step change in funding for energy efficiency and installation rates is needed:

• The rate of insulation installations has collapsed under the current Energy Company Obligation and Green Deal and is well behind the trajectory needed to achieve the UKs carbon saving targets according to the Committee on Climate Change.  At the current rates of installation it will take:

o   Around 150 years to insulate all of the remaining solid wall properties

o   Over 30 years to insulate all of the remaining cavity wall properties

o   And around 60 years to insulate all of the remaining lofts to the correct level

• A recent study by leading think tank Policy Exchange identified that over 1m of the 2.3m fuel poor households in England have a family member at work and that Government funding to tackle fuel poverty is currently around £700m-a-year below that needed.

   

• Research conducted by Cambridge Econometrics and Verco for the Energy Bill Revolution identified that a far more ambitious home energy efficiency investment programme would pay for itself and significantly boost the UK economy.  The report revealed that the programme would:

o   add £13.9bn annually to the UK economy by 2030

o   create over 100,000 new jobs 

o   deliver average energy savings of £372 and result in £4.95 billion in financial savingsper year for UK households by 2030

o   cut gas imports by 25%, boosting energy security

o   provide a £1.27 return in tax revenue for every £1 invested by Government

Neil Marshall said: "the evidence is there for all to see - the current policies, programmes and funding are inadequate and yet the benefits to Government, the economy and hard pressed householders from a properly funded energy efficiency programme are huge.  Therefore today we are calling on all political parties to go further, faster by committing to the following in their election manifestos:

• To make energy efficiency retrofit of the UK housing stock a UK infrastructure investment priority supported by appropriate levels of funding and a robust delivery plan developed with industry.
• As part of the programme insulate 2 million low income homes to EPC band C by 2020 and all 6 million low income homes to band C by 2025."

NIA responds to the Conservatives’ plan to exempt new starter homes from ‘zero carbon’ regulations

The NIA has expressed its surprise and concern at reports that the Conservative party intends to remove the requirement for new homes for first time buyers under the age of 40 to meet the zero carbon standard that is supposed to apply to all new homes built from 2016.

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the NIA commented: “if this proposal goes ahead it will mean that these new homes will be less energy efficient resulting in the occupants facing much higher energy bills which is a major concern given rising energy prices.  In addition it would be a further blow for home energy efficiency where installation rates for existing homes have plummeted since 2013 under the Green Deal and ECO.  We would therefore urge a rethink.”

The UK Green Building Council has  also responded to this news  

NIA welcomes Liberal Democrats' commitment to Energy Efficiency

Following the announcement of the 5 new laws for a greener Britain that will be included in the Liberal Democrat manifesto, Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the National Insulation Association (NIA) commented: “We welcome and are encouraged by the proposals to introduce new regulations to address energy efficiency, including a new heating and energy efficiency bill and a national programme to raise energy efficiency standards for all British households.  This is very much in line with the recommendations from industry in its report ‘A housing stock fit for the future’ launched on 24th June 2014.”

He added: “We still have over 7 million homes that have inadequate Loft Insulation, over 5 million that require Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI) and almost 8 million homes that need Solid Wall Insulation (SWI). We therefore need to be strengthening our energy efficiency programmes and accelerating the pace of delivery.  We require a long term structured plan to achieve this and transform the nation’s housing stock and we look forward to working with all political parties in bringing this about.”