Green Deal Home Improvement Fund details announced

Posted on by Posted in Heating, Home improvement, Renewable Energy

More people will get help to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through a new release of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF).

From 9am, December 10, the scheme will open to new applications, with up to £5,600 available to households in England and Wales to help with the cost of installing energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, double glazing, boilers, cavity wall and floor insulation.

Up to £30 million in vouchers will be available and details of further releases will be announced on a quarterly basis with the next release expected in February 2015. This is part of the additional £100 million for household energy efficiency measures announced in October 2014 which is in addition to the £450 million already allocated to household energy efficiency over 2014–17.

The £30 million will be split into two categories:

  • Up to £24 million for solid wall insulation;
  • Up to £6 million for two measures from a list of home improvements available under the scheme.

Once the funding under each category has been committed, no more applications will be taken for that category – though applications will still be taken for the other category if funds are still available.

The GDHIF launched in June and has already provided vouchers for more than 20,000 households.

Through this second release of funding, domestic energy customers can now receive:

  • up to £4,000 for installing solid wall insulation;
  • up to £1,000 for installing two measures from an approved list, including condensing mains gas boilers, fan-assisted storage heaters and replacement warm air units;
  • up to £100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment;
  • up to £500 more if applying within 12 months of buying a new home.

ed-davey-greendeal

 

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey, said:

“This fund is a big success story for the Green Deal – helping thousands of people improve their homes so that they’re warmer, greener and cheaper to run.

“The best way people can cut their energy bills, this winter and every winter, is to improve their homes so that they leak less heat and use less energy. That’s why we’ve increased the funding available for the Green Deal to help even more people start saving money sooner.”

 

To complete the two-stage application process, householders will need:

  • A Green Deal Advice Report (GDAR) or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that is less than two-years-old
  • A quote from a GDHIF registered installer or provider for work specified on the GDAR or EPC and included on the list of GDHIF approved measures
  • Proof of property ownership (for landlords/undertakings only)

Householders are encouraged to get more than one quote, particularly when they are having expensive work done, to make sure they are getting the best deal available.

amanda-rudd-greendeal

 

 

Energy and Climate Change Minister, Amber Rudd, said:

“We’ve already taken £50 off energy bills this year, and have forced energy companies to make things simpler and easier for bill payers, but we know that the best way for households to cut their bills is to use less energy.

“More than three quarters of a million homes have already had energy saving improvements installed as a result of the Energy Company Obligation and Green Deal. It makes sense to go even further to help more families install measures so that they see the benefits of lower bills and a warmer home for years to come.”

 

The £100 million announced in October is in addition to the £450 million allocated to household energy efficiency over three years, which was announced in December 2013.

In providing a fund to householders the GDHIF will create job opportunities for the energy efficiency sector as a whole. More than 1,100 Green Deal authorised businesses are currently registered to provide work under the scheme.

Funds are limited and Department of Energy and Climate Change may vary the terms of the scheme (including the incentive rates) or suspend or close the scheme, with immediate effect, without notice and at any time.

 

Householders will be able to receive GDHIF funding for solid wall insulation and/or any two of the following energy savings improvements:

  • Condensing mains gas boiler
  • Fan-assisted storage heaters
  • Replacement warm air unit
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Secondary glazing
  • Double/triple glazing (replacement single glazing)
  • Flat roof insulation
  • Energy efficient replacement doors
  • Floor insulation
  • Room-in-roof insulation
  • Waste water heat recovery
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Crown Imperial introduces Alumina

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

Crown-Imperial-AluminaCrown Imperial is introducing its new Alumina kitchen collection featuring, as the name suggests, a brushed aluminium finish.

Alumina is an ideal range to pair with vibrant or neutral tones. Here it is presented with a monochrome mix of high gloss Rialto metallic black and white.

The open plan living trend is popular as people continue to face everyday time, space and family pressures.

Recent research conducted by LV.com highlights that there are 14% more multi-generational households today than there were in 2008 and consumers are increasingly demanding a versatile space that can be easily shared by young and old.

The kitchen has always been the hub of the home although with modern lifestyles it seems to have now become the definitive social meeting place for all, says Crown.

www.crown-imperial.co.uk

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Carillion plans to create 5000 new apprenticeships

Posted on by Posted in Construction

carillion-trainingCarillion has set a target of creating 1,000 new apprenticeships a year for the next five years.

Apprentices will be spread across Carillion’s network of training centres and will be working across the various parts of the business, from construction to support services.

Carillion Training Services director and general manager Ray Wilson said:

“We are enormously proud of our track record in providing employment and training for young people and we have set ourselves a target in 2015 of employing in excess of 1,000 new apprentices across our network of training centres.”

He added:

“Former Carillion apprentices are now helping to build Britain’s future roads, rail and social infrastructure and supporting businesses across the globe. We are proud to be putting in place plans that will benefit the UK economy for decades to come and giving today’s young people the opportunity of some exciting careers.”

The apprenticeship plan was announced during a visit to the Carillion Training Services centre in Middlesbrough, by chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne, who claimed credit for abolishing employer national insurance contributions for all apprentices under 25. This reform was announced in his autumn statement last week

Ray Wilson said of the move:

“We welcome the support for apprenticeships announced in the autumn statement which will help to give young people genuine life chances and enable them to realise their full potential.”

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Wilo announces winner of ‘We love water’ photographic competition

Posted on by Posted in Useful Resources

wiloThe winner of pump and pumping system solutions provider, Wilo UK’s, annual nationwide photographic competition – entitled ‘We love water’ has been named.

Reading-based Adela Nistora entered her photograph taken at Jeppe Hein’s interactive fountain in London on a lovely summer day back in 2011. She said:

“It’s my favourite place in the city. There are no rules, walls of water appear and disappear, you get wet or avoid getting wet.”

Entrants included everyone from plumbers and heating engineers to aspiring photographers and their entries have been featured on Twitter, Facebook, on e-shots and in online and local exhibitions. Second place went to Jon Brook for his shot of Ribblehead viaduct framed by a rainbow and third place went to Marlon Cole for his shot of mountains framing and reflected in a silent lake in the Highlands.

Adela wins the first prize of £1,000 worth of photographic vouchers to spend on camera equipment and will see her photograph in the 2015 Wilo loves water calendar – a limited edition calendar produced for Wilo’s major customers and contacts and for senior management across the Wilo group, which is based in Dortmund, in Germany.

Wilo UK marketing manager, Lisa Blakemore, said:

“We had more than 500 excellent entries this year and coming up with just 12 to feature in the calendar was very difficult – but deciding on the outright winner was actually more simple. There were three or four that everyone seemed to pick out as the ‘cream of the cream’ – so it was simply a case of deciding which of those got the top award. As always in competitions like these that rely on the opinion of the judges, those selected for second and third prizes were very unlucky as many of those involved in the selection process had these as the winners, but at the end of the day when the votes were counted the winner was the winner by a clear margin.

“We’ve seen major growth in entries – both in quantity and quality – so we’re very optimistic that next year we will be seeing even more interest in the competition. It’s been quite humbling to see the quality of work submitted by those taking part this year – there are some quite amazing photographers out there willing to compete for this award – long may it continue.”

A selection of the entries – including those selected for the calendar – can be seen on the Wilo UK website.

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Jill Cormack named top North East apprentice

Posted on by Posted in Heating, Plumbing Industry News

Jill-CormackA talented Gateshead College student has been named as the region’s top plumbing apprentice.

Jill Cormack scooped the accolade in the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE) regional awards – the first female plumber to do so in the institute’s 101-year history.

The award marks a milestone for the former call centre worker, who last year enrolled on a four-year advanced plumbing and heating and gas apprenticeship at Gateshead College to pursue her dream career in the industry.

The 27 year old is employed by Gateshead Council and in her day job carries out installations in properties in the council’s housing stock. She also spends one day a week developing her skills at Gateshead College, which was recently named Best Plumbing College in the North East by the CIPHE.

Ms Cormack:

“I’m thrilled to have won the award and been recognised by such a well-respected national organisation,

“I always wanted to train as a plumber and when the opportunity arose at Gateshead College, I jumped at the chance.

“My apprenticeship has enabled me to gain specific industry knowledge of the latest plumbing techniques and technologies, as well as transferable skills such as the ability to work as part of an effective team and deal with difficult customers. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and I’m living proof that it’s never too late to retrain and develop new skills.”

Jill worked in a variety of administration and customer services roles for EDF Energy, Gateshead Housing Company and two other North East property maintenance firms before securing a position with her current employer.

Victoria Beattie, service director of construction for Gateshead Council, said:

“Jill really deserves this award for her commitment, dedication and ability. She hit the ground running as soon as she joined us and has added genuine value to this organisation.

“Apprenticeships are a great way of developing the next generation of industry talent and preventing a skills shortage when older workers retire. Fortunately Gateshead College understands the needs of specific sectors and provides local employers with the skills they require.”

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