Other countries etc

I must admit that although I have learned alot today with regards to what other countries are doing to reduce energy wastage in houses I have also been increasingly frustrated (sorry to repeat myself) with the news that training providers took advantage in Australia and the fact that the Americans have said that they need to work out how to produce a certificate for the energy efficency of buildings (the UK have had then for over 3 years). It has just emphasised to me how great the need is for everyone to work together on this issue!

I have also looked at what other countries are doing - and I was really impressed with what I have found.

Sweden:

Energy advice -

In all municipalities in Sweden you'll find energy and climate advisors. They will answer your questions free of charge on heating systems, district heating, biofuels, energy costs, government grants in the field of energy and a great deal more.
Find the energy and climate advisor in your municipality (in swedish).

Electricity bills and power cuts

Do you have thoughts on electricity bills and network charges? Or on how you can manage during a power cut and how you can prepare yourself for a power cut.

That is fantastic - energy and climate advisors who answer questions free of charge in the areas of grants etc - with one place in which to find them. The website http://www.energimyndigheten.se/en/Energy-efficiency/Household/ has various pages on how you can save money - depending on your lifestyle, travelling, living in an apartment and how to save energy when you are buying a house. All of the language used is easy to understand and is clear.

Germany:

In 2007 Germany set itself a target of being the world leader when it comes to energy efficency.

"The new energy concept was made public in September by the Federal Government, lead by Chancellor Angela Merkel, and offers a compass for cutting emissions by 80% compared to 1990 base level by 2050. An eighty per cent emissions cut looks like a great vision. So, how does Germany plan to achieve the 80% emissions cut? There are eight pillars holding the energy and climate construct:  1) renewables will make up 80% of Germany’s electricity generation by 2050, 2) energy efficiency will be drastically improved, 3)  existing nuclear power stations will stay on the grid for up to 25 more years, 4) smart grids will be introduced to allow for more efficiency between demand and supply, 5) the housing sector will be restructured towards more efficiency, 6) electric vehicles will be substantially subsidised, 7) more funding will be allocated to research and development and 8) Germany will spend effort and money to harmonize the European electricity grid to allow a better transfer between countries."

Very hopeful, I think the above is definately one of those lets wait and see what happens. It would be brilliant if it was achieved.

France:

New homes have to comply with them, and existing owners can get financial support to achieve them, but just what are the energy efficiency standards in France?In trying to come to grips with the regulations you will also have to learn some rather strange hieroglyphics – RT2005, BBC, HQE, THQE – so we thought a quick tour of the different labels and the basic standards set by each of them might be useful to you.The RT2005 is the minimum energy efficiency standard for new dwellings, replacing an earlier standard called the RT2000.
The full description is Réglementation Thermique 2005, and applies to all those new buildings where the planning application was submitted after 1st September 2006.
In order to obtain the HPE standard your energy consumption needs must be at least 10% lower than those set out in the RT2005.
The standard encompasses a consideration of the global performance of the dwelling through the space heating, hot water, air conditioning, ventilation and lighting systems.
Within the HPE standard there is also HPE Energies Renouvelables (HPE EnR) 2005, in which at least 50% of the heating must be from renewable energy.
Existing older homes build between 1st January 1948 and 1st Jan 1975 are also able to obtain the standard Haute Performance Energétique Rénovation ( HPE rénovation 2009).
The global energy standard set for such dwellings is a slightly more generous than for new dwellings, at 150 50 kWh/m2 per year, subject to location and altitude.
Bizarrely, there seems to be no energy standard for dwellings built prior to this date, and why 1948 has been chosen as the cut off point, is probably only known by the technocrat who drafted the legislation.Grants and Tax Breaks for Energy Conservation
There are grants, interest free mortgages and tax breaks available for measures of energy conservation, which you can read about in our guide to Home Energy Conservation in France.
The rules do not always require that a specific level of energy performance is achieved, notably with some of the tax credits that are available, although in all cases there are rules on the standard of performance of the materials and equipment to be used.
In other cases, you will generally be required to have an energy performance audit undertaken, with an assessment of the anticipated benefits of the work.3.1. Tax Credits in France for Home Energy Conservation
A French tax credit is available for heating and energy saving works to your French home.
A 'tax credit' needs to be distinguished from 'tax relief'. While the latter offers only a reduction in the amount of income tax payable, a tax credit entitles you to a payment by the tax authority. Accordingly, if are eligible to receive a greater sum than you actually pay in tax, then the taxman will send you a cheque for the balance!
Even if you pay no income tax due to your income you will still be entitled to a 'tax credit'. The eligible works includes most types of home energy conservation, provided the installation meets agreed performance standards. You need to discuss these standards with your installer to make sure the works comply with the regulations. In most cases, the tax credit is only available for the costs of the materials, and only then provided they are purchased and installed by a registered artisan or company. There is one important exception to this rule, which is applicable for all work carried out since January 2009. This relates to the installation of roof and wall thermal insulation, for which the tax credit can cover 25% of the labour cost, provided the project is undertaken in its entirety by a registered builder. 3.2. Eco Grant
A grant of between 20% and 35% of the cost of works of home energy conservation is available, subject to a test of resources. 3.3. Interest Free French Mortgages for Energy Conservation
There are interest free mortgages available through the high street banks for works of home energy conservation. iii. Loans and Grants
There are also a surprising number of local, departmental, or regional councils who offer grants or loans towards energy saving equipment, notably towards the installation of solar panels

There is an awful lot of information available after just a brief search on energy efficency in properties and the grants available from France. Although not as easy to read as the Swedish website France is very encouraging towards energy efficency and promotes it much more that the UK does.

Once again interesting to find out what other countries are doing to reduce their carbon footprint and encourage and promote energy efficency within dwellings.

Energy efficiency in the USA?

I was browsing through the internet again (not really I have a bee in my bonnet now about finding out what other countries are doing re EPCs) and found this blog: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/11/energy-efficiency-real-estates-next-granite-counter-top

" Often on the vanguard, Boston-based Conservation Services Group is working on an idea to make home efficiency more tangible. It is a surprisingly simple idea. One that is likely to leave a lot of people saying, ‘Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?’
You might say CSG is making energy efficiency the next granite kitchen counter top of the real estate business.

Through a $348,000 grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, CSG is working on a metric to describe a home’s energy efficiency value. When a homeowner lists a house for sale, the metric would be included in the multiple listing service (MLS), right along with the home’s price, number of bedrooms, square-footage and location. Suddenly, efficiency is tangible, something that can be quantified and can add or detract to home value.It’s not yet clear what that metric will look like. It might be a numerical score or a certification like the Energy Star label. Figuring that out is part of CSG’s task, as it puts in place a program for New York over the next two years. “You can imagine the pitfalls in establishing what this score would be,” said David Weitz, director of CSG’s Applied Building Science Division. “How do you present it in a way that is accessible to the greatest number of people.  Unfortunately, there is no right answer.”

Well there is an answer - look at what the UK has had in place since 2007 and what Australia is putting into place in 2011. Talk to Elmhurst (based nr Lutterworth, Leicestershire) who are incredibly forward thinking and have been in the industry since the year dot. Or pick up a phone/write an email and talk to me (power of positive thinking - or wishful thinking).

I blogged today about the problems Australia is currently undergoing and the fact that training providers are still lurking all around the UK, the UK also don't know at the moment what will happen with the home energy advisors (please let it be open for DEAs first and only) and am now hoping that America does learn from what has happened here and in Australia and doesn't let training providers run riot, caps the amount of assessors there can be, promoted the energy assessment thoroughly and sets the fee to stop undercutting etc.

Energy efficency can be tangible, it is a selling point and it should be valued more than it is.

Rewards for buyers and Sellers for energy efficient properties!

The government is looking at how stamp duty could be used to reward buyers and sellers for making a property more energy efficient – particularly if it falls in the lower F or G bands on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). That covers 20% of the British housing stock – just under 5.5 million homes.

The proposal would add 0.5% extra levy on normal stamp duty rates for those homes. So that’s clearly the tax side. But if the property was improved to at least an E rating on an EPC, the homeowner would receive a refund of the 0.5% – plus a rebate of another 0.5%. That money would be paid through savings in your energy bill. So that’s the incentive! Energy efficiency is one of the cheapest and easiest ways of cutting carbon. But the government has to help homeowners see all the benefits. Stamp duty reform is one of the best tools it can use.

The Government has extended the Green Deal to the rental sector - tweaking flagship scheme so landlords cannot refuse "reasonable requests" for energy efficiency improvements, but commercial properties still in limbo at present. The government has confirmed it is to extend the Green Deal to cover rented properties, although it is still unsure if commercial properties will be included in its plan to upgrade the energy efficiency of Britain's buildings.

Under the scheme, home improvements are paid for by energy companies or other commercial firms which then recoup the cost through charges on energy bills. Repayments are set at a level lower than the savings achieved through the energy efficiency improvements, ensuring that households and businesses taking part in the scheme end up better off.

Today, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) said that from 2015, landlords will be unable to refuse any "reasonable requests" by tenants for energy efficiency measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation to be installed.

Under new powers, councils may also be able to insist that landlords improve the worst-performing homes.

 I am hopeful that given the above we might finally be seeing the value of a professional Domestic Energy Assessor who produces accurate and efficent EPCs going up!

Ok the UK have EPCs whats everyone else have?

I have been having a look online today to see what is other countries are doing to reduce the carbon footprint.

I have found that on average, every American is responsible for about 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, according to statistics compiled by the United Nations but there is no EPC or similar type of survey in the US according to my searches.

I looked at several other countries to see what they had that was similar to the EPC and again couldn't find anything. Maybe it is the way I am searching or the words I put in the search engine but surely other countries should have something similar to the EPC to help reduce the carbon footprint of commercial and domestic properties.

I only hope that if they do take up the EPC in USA and other countries that they put a cap on the training providers! And I can always hope that I might get invited over to demonstrate the value of the EPC!