Grants expended - Feed In Tariffs imminent

Grants for renewable and sustainable systems have effectively ceased as demand was much heavier than anticipated and available funds have been all but depleted.

From April 2010, the new feed-in tariffs for micro-generation schemes are in place for electricity production.

These vary for different generation methods and are on a sliding scale for the amount generated.

The detailed tariffs are set out on our Grants page.

Warning - End of R22

From 1st January 2010, manufacture of ozone-depletive HCFC Refrigerant R22 ceased as required by the Montreal Protocol, and only recovered and recycled R22 will be available. From 2015, the use of R22 from any source will be illegal.

Air conditioning systems over 5 years old have around a 50% chance of being R22 based, and systems over 10 years old over 85%.

R22 costs will escalate as supply diminishes and as the final cut-off date approaches, demand for replacement systems will inevitably increase with the attendant rise in costs.

A programme of R22-based system replacement should be in position NOW, and Total Environmental will be happy to inspect your installations for R22 based systems and assist in preparing a costed programme for its early replacement.

£100m help to give firms 'green' refit (Aug 09)

Businesses are being urged to replace old, inefficient equipment with new environmentally friendly models in a campaign launched in September 2009.

The Government-backed Carbon Trust hopes to help small- and medium-sized firms drive down costs by up to £40 million a year through its 'Big Business Refit' programme. This will offer interest free loans of between £3,000 and £500,000 to replace equipment such as lighting, heat pumps etc. A total of £100 million will be provided,

Tom Delay, Carbon Trust chief executive, said "With credit all but dried up elsewhere, this scheme helps firms to but equipment that will help them slash costs and transform their businesses."

An Environment Agency report last week found the number of small firms improving their energy efficiency has doubled in two years.

To contact the Carbon Trust for a 0% loan, call 01865 885855.

Energy Certification and AC Inspections

CRC s will require businesses with an annual energy consumption of 6,000MWh or greater to reduce emissions as part of a cap and trade framework that is due for introduction in 2010.

Meanwhile, energy performance certificates are being used to describe buildings energy ratings and set out steps that can be taken to save energy.  At the same time display energy certificates have been introduced for large public buildings (over 1,000 sq m) based on their fuel bills. 

Although these apply only to certain public buildings at present, the Government has committed to consulting on their use in commercial buildings.

As businesses become increasingly aware of their energy consumption, both for issues of cost and sustainability, they will continue to demand premises that offer the highest levels of energy performance.  With heating and cooling among the primary users of energy within most buildings, it is an area that has a significant contribution to make in achieving the energy efficiencies demanded.