Posted 19.07.13
Social landlords belonging to a sustainability indexing scheme are making significant reductions in their environmental impacts, according to new data.
The properties of 54 housing associations that have signed up to Sustainable Homes' Index For Tomorrow (Shift) were 29% more energy efficient last year than the average home across the nation.
The amount of carbon saved compared to the national average works out as 1.4 tonnes per home, or around 1.14 million tonnes a year across all of Shift's 800,000-home membership.
Shift, which benchmarks landlords' sustainability based on a range of data types, said the average energy efficiency of members' stock has increased by 6% since 2008.
The work has included insulation, efficient boiler installation, increased use of solar power and building new homes to high sustainability standards.
Shift's assessment also showed members were outperforming the national average by 6% in terms of water efficiency. They achieved this by installing water-saving devices such as aerated shower heads, dual-flush toilets, water meters and by building water-efficient new homes. This will reduce water usage by 3.7 million cubic metres each year.
Shift members are independently assessed by consultancy Sustainable Homes.
Posted 15.07.13
DECC has launched the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive to encourage the residential sector to install renewable heat systems. Householders and landlords could get paid hundreds of pounds a year for heat generated by solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker confirmed.
The tariff levels have been set at 7.3p/kWh for air source heat pumps; 12.2p/kWh for biomass boilers; 18.8p/kWh for ground source heat pumps and at least 19.2 p/kWh for solar thermal.
The new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for householders is designed to drive forward uptake of renewable heat technologies in homes across Great Britain to cut carbon, help meet renewables targets and save money on bills. The scheme is a world first, and has been up and running for the non - domestic sector since November 2011.
The scheme will be made available to homeowners, private and social landlords, third party owners of heating systems and people who build their own homes. Anyone who has installed a renewable heat technology since 15 July 2009 and meets the scheme eligibility criteria will be able to join the scheme.
RHI domestic will support air to water heat pumps; biomass only boilers and biomass pellet stoves with back boilers; ground and water source heat pumps; flat plate and evacuated tube solar thermal panels.
Payments will be made on a quarterly basis for seven years. The tariffs have been set at a level that reflects the expected cost of renewable heat generation over 20 years. In most cases, payments will be made based on estimated heat demand of the property. DECC will offer an extra set payment of £230 per year where consumers take out metering and monitoring support packages for heat pumps and £200 for biomass boilers.
Applicants will need to complete a Green Deal Assessment before submitting their application and must ensure they have met minimum loft (250mm) and cavity wall insulation requirements, where appropriate.
