[ Focus: Energy effi ciency ]
STATE OF PLAY
W
hile it’s still too early to claim that the downturn is fi nally over, the modest improvements witnessed in construction activity during 2013 are enough to suggest that
we can be cautiously optimistic about 2014. The CBI expects the overall economy to gather pace, forecasting 2.3 per cent GDP growth over the next year, as business and housing investment support domestic demand.
Good news If this proves to be correct it will, of course, be good news for those involved with the specifi cation and installation of energy effi cient technologies – an area that has already weathered the economic storm rather well. The government has stuck rigidly to its stated
carbon reduction objectives and the long-term framework, outlined by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), sets out plans for meeting the fi gures stated in the Climate Change Act 2008. When compared to 1990 levels, this equates to a reduction of 34 per cent by 2020, 50 per cent by 2030 and at least 80 per cent by 2050. On the whole, things are on the right track.
According to the latest Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices released in September by DECC, renewable energy generation grew by 56 per cent in the second quarter of 2013, with its share of electricity generation up to a record 15 per cent from the 10 per cent share in the second quarter of 2012.
Under pressure Much of this activity is driven by ongoing increases in energy prices. In October, SSE and British Gas announced price rises, sparking a bitter backlash
The potential of the domestic RHI is signifi cant, and electrical contractors are in an excellent position to benefi t
Helping hand
Experts from the ECA’s energy and environment team are always on hand to help members explore the opportunities off ered by installing energy- effi cient and renewable technologies in both domestic and non-domestic settings. The ECA Energy Solutions hotline is available, and additional advice and
information on the application of green technology can be accessed via
www.eca.co.uk. Members can also join the ECA e-forum to ask questions and share their experiences with others. Whether it’s information about technology, the latest policy
developments or guidance on form fi lling and checking, the ECA can help its members make the most of energy solutions.
With energy effi ciency still high on the government’s agenda, a range of initiatives have been introduced over recent years to achieve its stated aims and objectives. The ECA’s BILL WRIGHT assesses their impact and examines how electrical contractors are likely to benefi t during 2014
from consumer groups, politicians and regulators. By December, the bulk of large energy providers had, once again, raised gas and electricity prices signifi cantly above infl ation. Since 2007, according to the Offi ce of National
Statistics (ONS), the share of what all households spend on energy has risen 18 per cent – and for the poorest 10 per cent in the UK, energy bills in 2012 represented a substantial 7.85 per cent of spending, up from 6.38 per cent fi ve years earlier. Meanwhile, for businesses, the pressure to reduce carbon emissions shows no sign of abating. In 2013 the government introduced mandatory carbon footprint reporting for the top 1,800 FTSE companies, to be rolled out in 2016. The CRC Energy Effi ciency Scheme continues to have an impact and the Energy Bill is also set to have serious implications.
Work in progress Over the last few years a range of initiatives have been introduced to encourage investment in renewable
December 2013 ECA Today 23
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