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 launches New Build/Commercial Code of Professional Practice

The National Insulation Association (NIA) is pleased to announce the introduction of a new Code of Professional Practice (CoPP) specifically for installer members working in the New Build and Commercial sectors.

The new CoPP has been designed to give additional reassurance and peace of mind to specifiers, developers, architects and builders and to highlight the quality, standards and professionalism they can expect from an NIA member. Therefore, NIA Members should be the preferred choice for their upcoming projects.

All NIA installer members working in the new build/commercial sectors will have to follow the new code which contains standards for; Training/Accreditation, Technical Competence, Health & Safety, Insurance, Complaint Handling, Service Levels, Quality Assurance, Technical Advice & Support, Client Care, Approved Products/Materials and Guarantees.

Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the NIA commented: “We advise specifiers, funders and project managers looking for insulation installers to work on New Build and Commercial projects to use our members who have signed up to this new code. It will ensure they get the highest possible standards from within the industry. The NIA is the lead trade body for insulation measures in the UK and our members can provide multi measure solutions.

“Insulation companies involved in the New Build/Commercial sectors should join the NIA as our COPP will set them apart from others.

“We have also introduced a free ‘expressions of interest’ service for specifiers and funders whereby we will issue project specifications together with expressions of interest and tender requests to our members on their behalf saving them time and money in locating insulation companies.”

Any organisation interested in NIA membership or our expressions of interest service please contact Bev Coombe at the NIA email bev.coombe@nia-uk.org or call 01525 383313

Scottish Government funding for Energy Efficiency upgrades now available

Following today’s launch by the Scottish Government of its new HEEPS Cashback and Interest Free Loan schemes, the National Insulation Association (NIA) is urging Scottish householders to contact its members to take advantage of the schemes to upgrade their property’s energy efficiency.

Under the new phase of the HEEPS Cashback scheme Scottish householders can claim up £5,800 and apply for:

• 75% of the cost of Solid Wall Insulation up to a maximum of £4,500, and;
• Up to £1200 for a range of other recommended energy efficiency   measures, from within three categories including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, draught proofing and boilers.
• Up to £100 refund for their Green Deal Advice Report if at least one recommended measure is installed.

Households in Scotland can now also apply for an interest free loan of up to £10,000 for installing a variety of measures including solid wall, cavity wall, loft and roof insulation, draught proofing and boilers.

The HEEPS Loan 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 new Cashback and Loan schemes which will make home insulation even more affordable and we are urging householders in Scotland to contact their local NIA member to find out if their home requires additional insulation and for details of these new schemes.

 “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 member  will have signed up to a strict Code of Professional Practice, meaning peace of mind comes as standard.

To find a local NIA member and details on the HEEPS Cashback and loan schemes, householders and landlords in Scotland should visit the NIA 

website www.nia-uk.org or call 08451 636363.

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 membership now available to Green Deal Assessors

Over the last few weeks we have been contacted by a significant number of Green Deal Assessors and Green Deal Assessor Organisations expressing an interest in joining the NIA and in response we have now opened up membership for GDAs and GDAOs.  Affiliate Membership is available at an  annual cost of £309 + VAT.

Membership of the NIA will provide GDAs/GDAOs with a number of important benefits including:

• Access to information, advice and guidance on Green Deal, GDHIF and the Energy Company Obligation.
• Opportunity to network and develop relationships with our other members including Green Deal Installers and Greed Deal Providers.
• Opportunity to raise any issues or concerns you have with the current schemes which we can voice on your behalf with Government , energy companies and other key stakeholders.
• Attend our local briefing events and Annual Conference/gala dinner. 

If you are interested in membership please contact Bev Hodson bev.hodson@nia-uk.org 01525 383313

NIA Introduces New Service for Local Authorities and Housing Associations

With the cuts to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) announced by Government last year, an increasing number of Local Authorities and Housing Associations are now unable to secure ECO funding for insulation programmes and are therefore funding these from their own budgets - as a result we are increasingly being contacted by them asking for our help in finding local installers to carry out work on their behalf.

In response to these requests the National Insulation Association (NIA) is pleased to announce the introduction of a new service for Local Authorities and Housing Associations looking for insulation companies to work on their projects. They can provide us with details of these  projects and we will then issue expressions of interest and tender requests on their behalf to our members through our electronic communication system.  This provides the benefit of avoiding the need to contact lots of different companies and is immediate.

The NIA is the lead trade body for insulation measures in the UK representing manufacturers and installers of cavity wall, external wall, internal wall, roof and loft insulation and draught proofing and therefore our members can provide multi measure solutions.  In addition, NIA  members are required to meet our robust membership criteria and adhere to our strict code of professional practice and therefore using our members provides additional reassurance and peace of mind.

If you would like to use this service please email or telephone Bev Hodson at NIA bev.hodson@nia-uk.org   01525 383313

NIA Calls on all Party Leaders to Commit to making Energy Efficiency Retrofit an Infrastructure Investment Priority in their Manifestos

With over 7m households lacking solid wall insulation, 6m lacking cavity wall insulation and over 7m having inadequate loft insulation Neil Marshall, CEO of the NIA is today calling on all party leaders 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."