The Energy Saving Trust
Make eco building your business - European pilot project tests out ‘trigger points’ retrofit guides
Findings show that 22% of homeowners – nearly 4 million – are planning a major refurbishment project such as fitting a new kitchen or bathroom within the next three years. This presents a big opportunity for your business!
The Energy Saving Trust are testing out their range of ‘trigger points’ retrofit guides on a range of room by room, home improvement projects as part of the European energy efficiency improvement project: REQUEST. The guides cover how energy saving measures can be incorporated in to new kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms. These handy sized leaflets come in pairs – one for your customer and one for you. The pilot project aims to test how effective the guidance is in influencing homeowners to include energy saving measures as part of their home improvement projects. The guides present helpful information for homeowners so they can make informed decisions about which measures to choose for their property, whilst the builders guides cover useful pointers for how to explain the benefits of installing energy efficiency measures to their customers. Helpful practical and technical guidance is also given in the trade guide to ensure installations are carried out to best practice standards including guidance on airtightness and minimising thermal bridging. There is a £50 cash incentive for the builder and the homeowner for taking part in the pilot project.
Builders training events were recently held in partnership with FMB (as part of the FLASH programme), where delegates learnt how to use the guides and sell the benefits of energy efficiency to their customers. There was also the opportunity to find out more about Energy Saving Trust consumer research, the current and future market, plus the technical skills required. Several FMB members are taking part in the pilot project where homes they are refurbishing are undergoing thermal imaging tests and EPC assessments pre and post refurbishment.
See what you think - take a look at the Energy Saving Trust handy-sized distinctive new guides for tradespeople and homeowners covering new kitchens, bathrooms and refurbishing living spaces.
What consumers are saying about energy efficient refurbishment?
Energy Saving Trust research has shown that rather than focusing on incorporating energy efficiency measures for the entire house in one single project, a room-by-room approach, over the course of several years, is far more realistic and affordable for homeowners. For the full report on room by room refurbishment please see the Energy Saving Trust guide ‘Trigger points: a convenient truth’
So far the project has included the development of several helpful tools and recommendations for housing professionals which are available on the REQUEST website including the Efficiency Assistant and a database of technical, marketing and policy approaches from across Europe, see here
Further research and recommendations will become available over the remainder of the project including:
1. Solutions for improving the quality standards in low carbon refurbishment
2. Practical learnings from 11 new pilot projects promoting home refurbishment in the UK and across Europe
If you are undertaking a refurbishment project and would like to be involved on the study please contact helen.stimpson@est.org.uk
The 2012 Joiners & Ceilers’ Award
The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers will be pleased to receive applications from suitable candidates wishing to participate in the Company’s 2012 competition. This prestigious event is open to those who have recently completed, or who are nearing the completion of their training in the craft of joinery or its related activities.
For more information click here and to apply click here.
FMB Training's Celebration Event
On Friday 2nd March, FMB Training held its first Celebration Event, to acknowledge the achievement of FMB members who obtained their NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Management, and completed the Success Through Service course.
Opening addresses were given by FMB National Vice President, Jim Gilmour and ConstructionSkills Deputy Chairman, Judy Lowe. As well as offering the opportunity to congratulate the delegates, the day offered an opportunity to celebrate the "special relationship" that ConstructionSkills and the FMB share.
