and suitable. To establish this, an energy assessment of the building should ideally be carried out by a competent energy assessor or surveyor and an energy performance certificate (EPC) obtained.
This is more or less as outlined in the recently revised and publicly available PAS 2030 (2017) specification for the installation of energy efficiency measures in existing buildings, which sets out requirements for the design, installation and commissioning and handover of energy efficiency measures (EEM).
It also includes recommendations for the installation processes, process management and service provision and criteria relating to the installation methods to be used, as well as equipment, tools and the suitability of products, systems and materials. Previously, PAS 2030 (2014) was an important part of being able to deliver the UK Government’s Green Deal for installation of energy efficiency measures, but this closed in 2015 with
Green Deal finance loans replacing the original scheme. However, PAS 2030 (2017) continues to be an important standard from the perspective of customers being able to access these loans. It is also important in relation to being able to install EEM through the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland Programme.
Preparing for the future The Scottish Government first designated energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority in 2015 and through the new programme there will be a concerted effort to encourage people to improve the efficiency of their property. It is estimated that up to £12 billion could be invested in the programme’s lifetime, which will result in significant demand and provide opportunities for contractors in Scotland who can provide energy efficiency and renewable products and services. The government vision is that all homes and buildings are to be warmer, greener and more efficient by 2040. To outline how this is to be achieved, they have also published a route map. This sets out minimum energy efficiency standard for buildings based on EPCs, which has been in place for social housing for some time, requiring a minimum EPC band D. However, new standards are to be phased in from 2020 covering all buildings starting with the private rented sector. From 1 April 2020, all privately rented properties will need to achieve an EPC band E when there is a change of tenancy, then by March 2022 this will be required regardless of tenant change. There are also plans to phase in the owner-occupied sector so that ultimately all domestic properties have to achieve EPC band C by 2040. However, this may be subject to change at the discretion of the government. PAS 2030 also provides guidance on the training, skills and competence of the people undertaking installation of EEM, and Energy Efficient Scotland is currently looking at using it to develop quality assurance criteria for suppliers who may want to participate in this work. There will also be opportunities for electrical contracting businesses who
see new opportunities to diversify into providing energy efficiency services. With regard to required skills, this will inevitably depend on the type of EEM to be installed. For example, to install replacement electric heating systems a qualified
electrician to SVQ Level 3 would be appropriate. However, it may be that some form of additional training is necessary for other measures identified in PAS 2030, e.g. the installation of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems (MVHR) or other heating systems such as air source heat pumps. SELECT has been proactive in this process and has been participating in discussions about the competence levels and training required for the various EEMs to satisfy Energy Efficient Scotland’s requirements through Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), which is a collaboration of Scotland’s colleges and industry partners. This has been established to increase
Technology makes it easier to control heating and lighting
Scotland’s capability and capacity to deliver the right skills for energy, engineering and the construction sector to meet industry demands, with work now nearing completion. It will therefore be interesting to see what develops in respect of recognition of SELECT Membership as an entry point to participation in the government scheme, including recognition of our SQA/SCQF accredited training programmes and the rollout of the government’s energy efficiency plans for Scotland’s buildings. Rest assured that, as always, SELECT will provide a future update as this important programme develops.
CABLEtalk OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 49
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