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Latest News and Press Releases
This section contains details of latest News and/or Press Releases relating to Climate Change.
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NHER update on EPCs and Home Information Packs - 23rd May 2007
Yesterday the government announced significant changes to the implementation of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates in England and Wales.
You can read the CLG news release by clicking here (opens in new browser window).
The key elements are:
Measure your Carbon Footprint and see how green you are
Find out what your carbon footprint is and how you can make some simple changes to help tackle climate change: www.actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html
NHER update on EPCs and Home Information Packs - 23rd May 2007
Yesterday the government announced significant changes to the implementation of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates in England and Wales.
You can read the CLG news release by clicking here (opens in new browser window).
The key elements are:
- The implementation of Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will begin on 1 August, rather than the original date of 1 June.
- There will also be a phased implementation, beginning with HIPs and EPCs for properties with four or more bedrooms.
- Our understanding is that the HIP regulations have been revoked, removing the obligations for EPCs, Predicted Energy Assessments (PEAs) and Interim Energy Assessments (IEAs) on marketed homes.
- They will be laying new regulations
- CLG also say they will be working with councils and registered social landlords to introduce voluntary EPCs in the social housing sector. We are speaking to CLG to find out more about this initiative.
The NHER is very disappointed by yesterday’s announcement. Much of the debate about EPCs centred on the numbers of qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessors able to produce EPCs in the marketed homes sector. Of the 520 fully qualified and registered assessors, 419 belong to the NHER Accreditation Scheme. We have an additional 360 in the process of becoming accredited, and another 1000 coming towards the end of their training.
The reason for this delayed and phased implementation is a Judicial Review by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), who objected to the inclusion of the EPC in the HIP.
National Energy Services issued a press release in response to the CLG announcement. You can read it by clicking here.
We will issue another update when we have confirmation from CLG regarding their timescales for implementation of EPCs and HIPs.
The NHER team
EAGA Launches £1 Million Hardship Fund - EAGA, the UK leading residential energy efficiency provider has announced that it is making an additional £1 million available through its new Hardship Fund. The aim of the Hardship Fund is to provide additional support to people who qualify for EAGA’s Warm Front grant. Currently, vulnerable households such as older people, families with children under 16, expectant mothers, disabled people and people suffering from a long term illness may qualify for a Warm Front grant of up to £2,700 towards energy efficiency improvements in their homes. The Hardship Fund aims to provide help to those households where the maximum grant will not cover all their needs and an additional payment may be required. To qualify for a Warm Front grant, householders should be in receipt of a disability or income related benefit and live in their own home or rent it from a private landlord. Further information is available on their website at: www.eagagroup.com/media_centre/press/feb07/02_hf.html
Low Carbon Buildings Programme - Additional Funding and Re-shaping of the Scheme Announced - A 50% increase in funding for householders to install small-scale renewables such as micro wind turbines and solar panels was announced in the Budget on 21 March 2007. The increase will take the total available under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (Phase 1) to more than 18 million. At the same time, it has been decided to re-shape the scheme to make best use of the extra funding, with proposals for the new-look scheme expected to be announced in May 2007. Allocations for April 2007 will be suspended whilst the re-shaping takes place. DTI Ministers will be meeting with industry to discuss how best to operate the scheme. A key aim of the additional funding is to bring on a microgeneration sector that can stand on its own two feet without further subsidy when the scheme closes in mid 2008.
Further information is available on their website at: www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
The reason for this delayed and phased implementation is a Judicial Review by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), who objected to the inclusion of the EPC in the HIP.
National Energy Services issued a press release in response to the CLG announcement. You can read it by clicking here.
We will issue another update when we have confirmation from CLG regarding their timescales for implementation of EPCs and HIPs.
The NHER team
EAGA Launches £1 Million Hardship Fund - EAGA, the UK leading residential energy efficiency provider has announced that it is making an additional £1 million available through its new Hardship Fund. The aim of the Hardship Fund is to provide additional support to people who qualify for EAGA’s Warm Front grant. Currently, vulnerable households such as older people, families with children under 16, expectant mothers, disabled people and people suffering from a long term illness may qualify for a Warm Front grant of up to £2,700 towards energy efficiency improvements in their homes. The Hardship Fund aims to provide help to those households where the maximum grant will not cover all their needs and an additional payment may be required. To qualify for a Warm Front grant, householders should be in receipt of a disability or income related benefit and live in their own home or rent it from a private landlord. Further information is available on their website at: www.eagagroup.com/media_centre/press/feb07/02_hf.html
Low Carbon Buildings Programme - Additional Funding and Re-shaping of the Scheme Announced - A 50% increase in funding for householders to install small-scale renewables such as micro wind turbines and solar panels was announced in the Budget on 21 March 2007. The increase will take the total available under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (Phase 1) to more than 18 million. At the same time, it has been decided to re-shape the scheme to make best use of the extra funding, with proposals for the new-look scheme expected to be announced in May 2007. Allocations for April 2007 will be suspended whilst the re-shaping takes place. DTI Ministers will be meeting with industry to discuss how best to operate the scheme. A key aim of the additional funding is to bring on a microgeneration sector that can stand on its own two feet without further subsidy when the scheme closes in mid 2008.
Further information is available on their website at: www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk
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