Tag Archives: Green Deal

Green Deal – heading for failure or success?

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There has been a spate of interesting “Green Deal will fail articles” recently, for example

DECC research suggests Green Deal will flop from Business Green

Green deal suffers setback as loft insulations set to plummet from the Guardian

and on George Monbiot’s Blog: The green deal is a useless, middle-class subsidy

It is great that we debate the issues around green deal, in particular mechanics of funding and energy performance of building, and I must agree with Monbiot

“Even if we agree on nothing else, can we agree that a policy is not green if it discriminates against the poor?”

Based on this Greenest Government Ever track record to date who knows?

However, as I mentioned on my last blog  “Where Greendeal will succeed …” debate is good and there are some certainties emerging, like for example the Green Deal Code of Practice, and,  PAS 2030, at the moment a poorly crafted document but one that should put some control on cowboy builders, protect clients and improve the image of installation.

The arguments to date focus on domestic Green Deal, I await with interest for the same debates to kick off within the commercial and private sectors…

 

 

#GreenSkills a serious barrier

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The RAE (Royal Academy of Engineering) have today published their report:

Heat: Degrees of Comfort, Options for heating home in a low carbon economy. 

There is no possibility that the UK can meet its 2050 target for CO2 emissions without a fundamental change to the way our homes are heated, according to a report published today (12 January) by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Even with the most modern gas boilers and state-of-the art insulation, we cannot continue to heat so many homes by natural gas and still achieve an 80% cut in emissions as laid down in the Climate Change Act 2008.

Plumbers unprepared for move to energy-efficient homes, report warns (from the Guardian 12/01/12)

In addition to the technical options and considerations, throughout the report there are a number of important and timely comments around the skills issue for installation, AND, for behavioural operation, as the following extracts show:

… skills shortages will be a serious barrier to decarbonising heating unless addressed effectively

… behavioural aspects are very important. Studies in the UK and overseas tend
to reveal a variation of typically 3:1 between the upper and lower tails of the
energy use (between the 5% and 95% cases in the distribution) in technically
similar dwellings occupied by people from demographically similar
backgrounds. To make radical changes, it will therefore be essential to engage the occupiers.

… the lack of inter-discplinary work:

(A Cautionary Tale Case study): The initial problem they faced was finding a single contractor who would take responsibility for the whole installation including the GSHP, ground coils, underloor heating and the integration of the new system with their existing heating and DHW installations. Eventually, despite having contacted the Low Carbon Partnership and the Energy Savings Trust, they had to place separate contracts with a heat pump installer, a groundwork contractor, a plumber and an electrician for different parts of the work.

The work went ahead and a 16kW heat pump, 150m of slinkies, a thermostore tank, solar collectors, two underfloor heating coils and room thermostats were installed.

When the system was operational the householder was shocked to find the electricity bill increased from £30 per month to £250. After 18 months of high electricity consumption and many visits by the different companies involved, it emerged that the heat pump had been wrongly connected so it was providing heat to the underfloor heating at the temperature required by the storage cylinder for DHW and, although the room thermostats were controlling the pumps on the underfloor heating manifold, they had not been interlocked with the heat pump which, in consequence, was running continuously at its maximum return temperature.

… often there was no single contractor responsible for the installation, which might involve a ground works contractor, a plumber, a heat pump installer and an electrician. As a result of there being no ‘design authority’ for the whole system, there was no single point of responsibility or any liability for the eventual performance of the installation

… there is clearly a need for many more engineers and technicians who understand the systems engineering that has to go into a heat pump installation and who can integrate the various energy systems in a customer’s house. The present provision in higher education and further education is well below what will be required. This could be a significant brake on the deployment of low-energy systems

“Our building performance studies show unmanageable complication is the enemy of good performance. So why are we making things more complicated in the name of sustainability?” – Bill Bordass,  The Usable Buildings Trust

and in conclusion:

17.4  Skills
The levels of applications engineering required to integrate a heat pump in a property along with local energy sources and other intelligent loads, such as chargers for electric cars, is much higher than is generally available in the trades that traditionally provide heating and related services to domestic consumers. A new type of energy use professional will be needed. Recruiting these will compete with the demands of new nuclear power, offshore wind and other energy industries that are already flagging-up staff shortages.

Skills shortage will potentially be a serious barrier to decarbonising heating unless addressed effectively.

Where Greendeal will succeed …

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We are now some 9 months away from Green Deal going live in the UK.  Whether or not the initiative meets its very ambitous, even courageous aims, and manages to unravel its complexities and confusions,  be assured Green Deal could be very successful and instrumental in changing and hopefully improving our industry.

How? My thoughts …

Re-Igniting the sustainability debate in construction, particularly in areas of the industry not as yet engaged with sustainable construction.

Forcing an open and general debate about eco and energy performance of our buildings. (Some of which have been completed recently in the last decade, when we have all been building and upgrading sustainably,  or not?)

Creating the need for a total review of education and training in the industry. Are we really only now debating just what is a green skill and how we train for building green.

Revisiting collaborative working relationships in the built environment. Will we see new look consortia comprising of funders, clients, builders, energy providers, renewable energy companies and more. Who will lead?

Redefining the client – the building owner, the green deal provider, or the funder of the eco improvements.

Cutting through Green Wash in construction.  Could PAS 2030 be seen as a green build standard in the UK providing some form of green accreditation for all eco work, whether Green Deal or not.

So, to those who think that green deal does not apply to them, I would urge you to find out more – its possible the green deal concepts will reach into most areas of the built environment.

To find out more, I invite you to join me in the green deal debates on twitter, subscribe to this blog or just get in touch for more information on preparing for green deal

Local Authorities, Green deal procurement, local supply chains and partnerships

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DECC have issued Green Deal guidance for Local Authorities that suggests LA’s should champion the initiative to help drive economic growth, unlocking billions of pounds worth of investment, support local jobs and local supply chains

Potential benefits to local authorities are likely to be:
• new sources of revenue to deliver energy efficiency retrofits;
• help to reduce fuel bills for local residents and businesses;
• opportunities for local economic and physical regeneration;
• support for wider local strategic priorities (better health outcomes, reduced fuel poverty);
• support for the maintenance and generation of local jobs and skills.

To deliver the Green Deal locally there are broadly three approaches local authorities might choose to adopt:
• Provide – the Green Deal directly to their local residents and businesses, co-ordinating finance and delivery;
• Partner – work in partnership with commercial Green Deal providers and community  partners to deliver and facilitate delivery; or
• Promote – by acting as advocates for the Green Deal locally

The guidance suggests usisg existing partnerships  to deliver the Green Deal – it will be to see how existing frameworks could be adopted.

For those wanting to be involved in Green Deal installation work this is a key document for understanding the potential role of Local Authorities and a spring board for understanding individual client intentions.

Download a copy here 

 

Green Deal Help

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I am often asked what can contracting organisation do to prepare for green deal.  My response is, in line with the green deal awareness programmes we run:

Work: understand green deal. How work will flow?  Who will be the providers, the clients, who will procure?

Delivery: understand what is required (standards and accreditations) in order to deliver green deal related work

Organisation: understand what changes you may need to be a green business

Visibility: understand green deal, be part of green deal discussions and be visible as a green deal player. Social media is invaluable here with twitter and linkedin having huge potential to learn and share.

If you would like more information, guidance, or our fact sheet on greening your business please do get in touch or leave comment below.

Blog Links:

More than just a Green Deal (Slide Share presentation)

Green Deal Consultation Paper

Green Reskilling

PAS 2030 Unnecessary Burden or Necessary Control

Green Deal Update Sources

 

Green Deal and ECO Consultation Paper

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The DECC Green Deal and ECO Consultation paper was issued on the 23rd Nov 2011

Download from here 

Comments and observations to follow once I have digested the 238 pages.

Please add any comments of your own …

 

 

For more information check out my More than just a green deal presentation and other presentations made at the recent Lancashire Construction Best Practice Club preparing for Green Deal event.   Please get in touch if you are interested in Green Deal Clubs.

Green Deal November

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*Updated 11/11/11*

Seems Green Deal is high on my agenda for November! Here is a round up on ‘happenings’ and events:

On the 2nd I attended an interesting Green Skills in construction event hosted by teh Guardian. I blogged here on the Great Green Re-Skilling but the Guardian report will be out on the 16th Nov.

On the same day I attended the GovToday Sustainable Communities event where the reduction on solar FITs seemed to feature in every presentation and discussion, especially in the community solar programmes.

On the 10th I am talking to SELCA with an overview and awareness session on Green Deal. And of course the 9/10 November is Sustainability Now with plenty of Green Deal essentials, and fringe chats.

On the evening of the 10th I will be across in Leeds for the Green Vision event ‘The Landlord/Tennant Divide: Understanding User/Occupier motivations and engaging people’ A great line up of speakers. Details here

The 17th November is our be2camp Retro-fiting and the Green Deal event In London, taking a look at how the role of the web and social media amongst other aspects, all in the familar be2camp styled un-conference, with some great presenters.

I am sure Green Deal will pop up in the TBIMChat tweetchat on the 22nd November, exploring how BIM and Sustainability will work together.

I will be talking at the Lancashire Best Practice Club  Preparing for Green Deal event on the 23rd in Blackburn, Lancs with Brian Berry from the FMB and many others. (only a couple of spaces left for this one!)

The UKGBC have an interesting Green Deal Consultation event on the 30th November

And then finally to round off the month we have the Green Vision half day web enabled conference, Retrofit Reality, in Leeds. This will again be with a twist, keynote speeches from industry leaders and a range of expert led round table discussion groups to really get to grips with the issues.

And in between all this supporting some great contractors such as Emanuel Whittakers and others prepare for Green Deal  an exciting trial of PAS 2030 requirements on a live retro-fit project with Salix Homes.


Green Deal PAS 2030 – Necessary Control or Unnecessary Burden?

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What may well become one of the most significant UK standards in refurbishment, eco-refits and green deal, possibly up there with ISO 9001 and CDM, PAS 2030, has been released in draft for consultation through the BSi. (PAS is a Publicly Available Standard)

PAS 2030 will become the installation standard for Green Deal and other green refurbishment type agreements. Installers would have to be accredited under PAS 2030 in order to operate under Green Deal schemes.

From PAS 2030 introduction: It is intended for use by any entity undertaking the installation of any products and/ or systems designed to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings but particularly where those products and systems are to be installed within the remit of the United Kingdom Green Deal Financing Mechanism.

This PAS includes requirements in respect of installation processes, process management and service provision and includes criteria relating to installation methods, equipment and tools, product and material suitability and the training, skills and competence of the people undertaking such installation.

DECC, sponsors of the standard are silent on the issue and status on their Green Deal website. You have to dig deeper into the minutes of the Green Deal Installer Accreditation & Qualification Forum to understand the importance of PAS 2030

DECC clarified that:

PAS 2030 sets the standard for Green Deal. Certification bodies apply the standard and are accredited by UKAS

Those certification bodies accredited then pass on details of their members to go onto the Installer Register (managed by the Oversight Body).

Only those on the register can operate under the GD

The consultation is open until the 24th october, contractors, subcontractors. installers and others looking to be involved in GreenDeal are urged to read the document and make comment during the consultation period

On reading the draft document, discussing with contractors and clients, my comments are:

  • Size of the standard is intiallay daunting – 175 pages
  • At least in the short term, until further awareness and training is completed, it could well exclude those SME’s not already ISO 9001 accredited or familiar with concepts such as Process Management, Process Control, Non Conformities and the like)
  • There appears to be a requirement for a comprehensive installation plan for each measure / property. (measures range from SV Panels to Loft Installation to Window Replacement)
  • With less than 12 months to launch of Green Deal very little time for SME’s to put a PAS 2030 system in place or included in their other systems and to be accredited. I also assume accreditation would include audit of projects as well as the system, introducing a chicken and egg scenario
  • Additional cost of preparation / accreditation could be a barrier if not viewed as an improvement investment.

There are omissions in the standard which suggests it has been written with old school thinking rather than sustainability advocate thinking. Even the title, 2030, has huge relevance in the world of climate change, a connection not recognised or acknowledged, despite the stated prime political purpose of Green Deal is to contribute to the UK CO2 reduction, with 2030 being a key milestone.

The standard is also silent or light on sustainable construction themes such as sustainable procurement, carbon management, waste or appropraite sourcing. No reference is made to other government sustainable construction standards or strategies

PAS 2030 could or should present an opportunity to further embed sustainability within the industry. An opportunity missed if the draft is not radically amended.

Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills, Mark Farrar said:

“With the Green Deal on the horizon, it is important that firms who want to stay one step ahead of the game take part in this consultation. All installers will have to be certified to PAS 2030 standards and without the required accreditations, they may lose out on business come next October. But, the accreditation has to be realistic and that’s why it’s so important to make sure all firms are consulted properly.

Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the Federation of Master Builders said:

“The PAS 2030, setting the standards for Green Deal installers, is an important consultation for everyone in the building industry. It will impact on the future delivery of retrofit work so it is crucial that businesses take the time to look at it and offer comments before it is set in stone.

We plan to trial the PAS 2030 approach with contractor (Emanuel Whittaker) and client (Salix Homes) working together on a eco refurb project in Manchester – more updates soon.

Green Deal Update Sources

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Slowly green deal details are emerging.  A number of people and organisations have asked me for good reliable Green Deal update sources.  Across the web the situation still seems very patchy and I guess will remain so until we have further news from the government on the Energy Bill and release of PAS 2030 for consultation for example.

UPDATE: PAS 2030 Issued for Consultation

However, here is my list of sources as a starter for 10.  If you have any to add (that are informative rather than outright service/product/training ‘sell’) please add to comments and I will incorporate.

DECC Green Deal 

DECC Green Deal Advisory Forums

Energy Savings Trust Green Deal 

Green Deal Guide Green Deal Guide

Microgeneration MCS Certificate Scheme

Asset Skills – Green Skills

The Guardian Sustainable Business Built Environment Hub

Social Media (Blogs, Forums and Twitter):

Green Deal Linkedin Forum

Fairsnape (this blog)  eg: CSR – the hard, the soft and the CSR

Great Green Deal (PB Energy Solutions Blog)

Green Deal Twitter List (curated by me @fairsnape)

Green Deal News Weekly (Twitter  based Paper.li) (curated by me @fairsnape)

Green Deal Providers (Blog)

Future Fit Blog 

Great Green Deal Re-Skilling?

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Following on from the depressing news that Construction lacks green, key business and foresight skills, in particular 43% of employers dont feel they understand the implications of green issues, or ability to identify the training needs, are we facing a green deal barrier?

Need for New Skills

We read in the Low Carbon Plan from the Government, (“much re-skilling of the construction industry to deliver the planned targets of greenhouse gas reduction by at least 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050″),  from the IGT Report of the need for green skills, we read that PAS 2030 and Green Deal codes of conduct will access sustainability skills, training and development. The FMB Cut the Carbon programme focuses on the need for new skills.

Will it turn out OK?

Rob Hopkins in his Transition Handbook, (see my blog back in 2008 time for built environment transition?) in a futures scenario talked about the Great Construction Reskilling, the NEF paper, How it all turned out ok celebrates how we recovered our lack of traditional skills, succeeded in addressing the localism issue and turned energy ineffective buildings into models of zero carbon. (again my blog: How it all turned out OK in 2050)

Who is defining …

But do we have an understanding of what green skills mean? Is it just an understanding of good sustainability awareness (eliminating waste, reducing carbon, buying local etc), Is it technical, natural materials (see the Transition Culture archive for reskilling) or is it something more deeper, profound.

Green Re-skilling starts at the board level…

Do we imply the reskilling is just for operatives, or wider to include supervisors, managers and (in my view essential) board directors and senior managers? Maybe this isn’t a training issue to be lodged with the HR team but one of crucial CSR strategy for organisation? (see A Low Carbon Diet For Construction Boards)

A question then …

What are construction boards, contractors, installers, training organisations, industry bodies doing, plan to do, or indeed have done to understand and address sustainability skills.