Industry opinion Get set for the Green Deal
With the government’s Green Deal launching in October, CIMCIG’s Kirstie Colledge, director of online agency SMPR, looks at the opportunities the scheme presents for electrical contractors
M
ost people already know about the Green Deal, the government’s fl agship environmental policy, aiming to drive energy efficiency improvements in millions of UK homes and
businesses – but where are the main opportunities for electrical contractors? As an industry, what should we be doing before the scheme goes live? Due to launch in autumn 2012, it is hoped that the scheme will create signifi cant annual investment and many thousands of jobs. In the UK, around 43 per cent of emissions come from buildings, so the Green Deal looks to play a vital role in helping the government achieve its carbon emissions reduction targets. What many are unaware of, though, is that the route
to Green Deal accreditation is PAS 2030, run through BSI. At present, the importance of PAS 2030 is still relatively unknown, not just in the electrical contracting sector, but across the construction industry as a whole. I fi nd this quite surprising considering the number of trades, sectors and industries that will need to grow their businesses around the low-carbon economy and start to place true sustainability in the heart of their business strategies.
Becoming a ‘Green Deal Installer’ PAS 2030 has been designed for any business, large or small, that wishes to undertake the installation of products and systems designed to improve the energy effi ciency of a building. This encompasses more than just the Green Deal; the scope covers any eco-retrofi t of existing buildings. PAS 2030 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. Being a PAS 2030-accredited contractor is a powerful differentiator that gives an advantage over non accredited competitors.
What are the steps required for Green Deal accreditation? 1. ISO 9001 and 14001 (not a requirement, but helpful in preparing for PAS 2030);
2. PAS 2030 (a requirement on any eco, retrofi t or Green Deal funded contracts);
3. MCS Certifi cation (a requirement if you wish to install micro-generation technology);
4. Green Deal Codes of Practice (a requirement of the Green Deal); and
5. Green Deal accreditation (a requirement in order to go on the Green Deal list of installers).
A person or organisation will only be able to be authorised as a Green Deal installer if they: ■ Are certifi ed by an accredited certifi cation body against the relevant Green Deal standard set out in the Code of Practice;
■ Are a member of the certifi cation body which certifi ed them;
■ Agree to comply with the Code of Practice; and ■ Keep clear records of work done and allow monitoring of installation work when requested.
Electrical contractors can get ahead of
the competition by getting accredited to the new PAS 2030 as soon as they can
I think most large contractors with ISO9001 and 14001 should already be off to a good star t. Smaller contractors have an opportunity to prepare themselves between now and October. I know a signifi cant amount of focus
has been given to the Green Deal for houses, but the scheme will also be
available for non-domestic buildings. Electrical contractors need to gain a deep understanding of the implications of the initiative for non-domestic buildings, in order to remain competitive in the marketplace moving forwards. One of the obstacles to greener building generally in the UK is a lack of understanding and education. It is my perception that specialist contractors get bad press
About the author
Kirstie Colledge Kirstie Colledge is a committee member for the Chartered Institute of Management Construction Industry Group (CIMCIG –
www.cimcig.org) and managing director of SMPR (Simply Marcomms PR) online PR agency for the construction industry.
(some of it justifi able) from the architectural community, because contractors generally are not as knowledgeable on green building practices as they should be. The Green Deal brings with it an opportunity for us to change that, to learn, to educate and to share best practice and highlight truly energy effi cient installations. CIMCIG’s report Taking Sustainability to the Consumer
(
www.cimcig.org/library.php?id=219) provides suggestions focused on the opportunities that the Green Deal will provide for companies wishing to develop this market. CIMCIG hopes that the report provides inspiration and encouragement to take advantage of what has the potential to be the biggest opportunity for the construction sector in this decade.
March 2012 ECA Today 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72