Elmhurst's Energy Matters- Autumn 2017

ENERGY MATTERS AUTUMN 2017

TIME FOR CHANGE: R SAP 9.93

RDSAP 9.93WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

ELMHURST ENTERS THE WORLD OF BIM

‘THE SHIP’ - NON DOMESTIC LEVEL 5 EPC Energy Matters / Autumn 2017

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FOREWORD MARTYN REED

Welcome to the Autumn Edition of Energy Matters.

I am not sure what happened to the long hot summer that I was looking forward to, but here we are in autumn, and the summer months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Here at Elmhurst we have been busy concentrating on: • preparing for the changes to RdSAP when it moves from 9.92 to 9.93 on the 5th November.

• making some great new changes to the Corporate functionality of our Members portal.

• leading the project to rewrite the Scheme Operating Rules (SORs) which, ultimately, define how energy assessors operate.

• representing energy assessors in the implementation of “Each Home Counts” (AKA the Bonfield Review), Government’s redesigned process for providing energy advice and assured installation of measures.

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Corporate functionality Elmhurst software has always been developed “by energy assessors for energy assessors”. Market research undertaken amongst our customer base always plays a big part in the development of any software or process, which is why earlier this year we kicked off a project to improve the process for organisations when allocating and monitoring assessment activities amongst their assessors.

I am delighted with what our development team have delivered which now allows corporate clients to identify members available for work, connect with them, allocate jobs and monitor assessment progress until completion.

The functionality has now been launched and all new clients will see this new feature in action. Although this is easy to set up for new clients, there is a bit more of a challenge involved in the setting up of existing ones. However, we are working hard to bring this functionality to existing clients and have a plan to roll this out over the next six months.

New Scheme Operating Rules It’s been almost a year since a review of the SORs was announced and no one would blame you for thinking that nothing had happened. In reality the schemes have been working together closely, lead by Elmhurst’s Technical Director Stuart Fairlie, to restructure the documentation, assign ownership with clear responsibility and authority, and redraft some of the areas which we all agree are no longer fit for purpose.

The documentation, which is still to be signed off by DCLG lawyers, has two levels. The “what” will be specified

by DCLG and the “how” by industry.

This is an exciting development which we believe will allow the schemes to respond quickly to changing needs of the stakeholders with, in reality, no loss of control for government.

We believe that approval will be given to the Scheme Operating Rules for the new year, before we commence a proposed 12 month transition period.

Each Home Counts It is easy to be cynical about Green Deal and any other attempts to design a “pay as you save” energy efficiency process BUT we have to keep trying and Elmhurst believes it has an important role representing energy assessors in that process.

Each Home Counts was published in December 2016 and under a new chairman, Howard Porter of BEAMA, created 14 work groups, each with its own terms of reference, to consider and make recommendations.

The report is clear that its objective is to “save money, improve our health and make our homes warmer and more comfortable to live in”, everything Elmhurst, and our members, have been striving to deliver for over 20 years.

Elmhurst identified three areas of major importance: 1) Information Hub – this will be the first point of contact for consumers suffering from the cold, unable to heat their homes or simply wanting to save energy. We firmly believe that advice needs to be delivered independently, knowledgeably, and only after an expert assessment of the property has been completed.

We are promoting the concept of domestic energy assessors being Energy Advisors capable of providing this independent expert advice that many home owners require.

2) Data warehouse – the core of the data warehouse must of course be the EPC and no one knows more about EPCs than Elmhurst and its members. We are working with the designers to ensure that they make best use of what is available, and more importantly don’t misunderstand or draw false conclusions.

3) Measurement, Monitoring and Verification – This is an interesting subject. It’s not about whether a measure was installed correctly or not, because that is “compliance”, it is more about whether the process delivered the desired outcome. It is the EPC which is our best tool for predicting energy efficiency improvement and by using smart meter data we believe that we can broadly assess whether that has been achieved.

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RdSAP 9.93 And finally, RdSAP is changing on 5th November 2017. Elmhurst calculators run across a number of IT platforms, such as Windows, Android and iOS, each of which needs to be modified and thoroughly tested before being sent for Government approval. You will find more detail later in this edition of Energy Matters.

Elmhurst will continue to listen to members, and represent their interests to the best of our ability.

As soon as we are able we will communicate the details to ensure that Elmhurst members are first to benefit.

Martyn Reed Managing Director Elmhurst Energy

I hope you enjoy this quarters’ magazine and thank you again for being Members of Elmhurst Energy and supporting us to support you.

Energy Matters / Autumn 2017

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C O N T E NTS MAGAZINE

02 FOREWORD 05 ELMHURST ENTERS THE WORLD OF BIM 06 TIME FOR CHANGE- R SAP 9.93 08 UPDATE FROM ELMHURST TRAINING 09 ELMHURST’S LATEST TECHNICAL BULLETINS 10 TOP 5 ENERGY COMPLIANCE ISSUES FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 12 R SAP 9.93 - WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME? 14 MARKET DATA 16 ELMHURST CONNECTING WITH MEMBERS 18 ‘THE SHIP’ - NON DOMESTIC LEVEL 5 EPC

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FEATURE

ELMHURST ENTERS THE WORLD OF BIM JASON HEWINS

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uilding Information Modelling (BIM) is set to be pivotal to how the construction industry operates from concept and design to construction management through to building operation, facility management and eventually deconstruction.

What is Building Information Modelling?

For those who are unsure of what Building Information Modelling (BIM) is, it is a process of generating a 3D design of a complete building with all its features and characteristics within a computer application; the aim is to help all parties to plan, design, construct, and operate the building to best effect.

Why Building Information Modelling?

BIM uses modern technology to bring together all parties to effectively collaborate throughout all stages in construction.

It allows building stakeholders to visualise design ideas and identify risks before they happen on site. Not only will this reduce delays and cost overruns, but it will also help close the gap between design and as-built performance.

Overall this will result in a more efficient, intelligent and cost effective construction process through the use of computer aided design and industry collaboration.

BIM and Elmhurst Software In September Elmhurst released a tool for Elmhurst accredited On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors (OCDEAs) to convert a file created from BIM software packages into a file that can be used in the Design SAP 2012 application. The file used is known as a gbXML file and it can be produced from a range of BIM related software applications such as Revit, Sketchup and AutoCAD. The tool will convert the BIM model information into SAP data to speed up assessments in Design SAP 2012.

The exchange of data from multiple CAD software/energy modelling tools to Design SAP is an important step into (BIM), where users can take information from 3D Models and build an accurate energy profile through Elmhurst’s Design SAP. The gbXML converter tool can be found on the OCDEA Zone in Access Elmhurst. More information on the gbXML scheme including a list of gbXML enabled software products can be found at: www.gbxml.org

Energy Matters / Autumn 2017

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HEADLINE FEATURE

TIME FOR CHANGER SAP 9.93 DAMIEN ROBERTS

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dSAP 9.92 will be updated shortly to version 9.93. We have been informed that the national registers (Landmark and EST) are currently planning to implement the changes on Sunday the 5th November 2017. The good news is that the vast majority of the changes will be ‘under the bonnet’, meaning domestic energy assessors and customers will see little difference in terms of entering the data and the final Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

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Change to default U-values: The major change to the calculation is in the performance of older wall types. Specifically U-values for Stone, Solid Brick, Cavity as built and filled cavity walls in age bands A-E (in all regions). The changes are based on some recent research showing that certain ‘older’ walls do not lose as much heat as originally assumed.

The most dramatic is older solid walls moving from 2.1W/m²K to 1.7W/m²K. As we know the U-values for RdSAP are based on either building regulations requirements for certain eras, or typical building practices at the time of construction. The data this was originally based on was information used in ‘design heat loss’ calculations for sizing of heating systems. For these calculations it was generally preferable, where there is uncertainty, to assume conservative (higher) U-values to avoid under sizing. Therefore the thermal properties at the end of the range were assumed pertinent.

“Rest assured all Elmhurst members will be armed with the software and information well in time for the ‘go live’.”

We understand that the walls U-values are an important factor in the assessment of any home, and as such this will make an impact. It may mean that some properties that are currently ‘F’ or ‘G’ rated ‘may’ move up a band. (Please see Jamie Giltrap’s impact analysis for further information on page 12) Interestingly the performance of the wall types moves in different directions. Un-insulated walls will be better off with an assumed U-value of 1.5W/m²K and insulted cavity walls will be worse off with an assumed U-value of 0.7W/m²K. However, we believe the changes to wall U-values are a positive step towards determining accuracy of heat loss and the overall performance of an existing dwelling.

One new recommendation: RdSAP 9.93 introduces a new recommendation for ‘party wall insulation’, this will apply where the party wall has been identified in the assessment as ‘Cavity masonry unfilled’. RdSAP assumes that

adjacent dwellings are heated spaces, therefore the assumed heat loss is low. However, it is the air gap that provides the opportunity for heat to escape. Currently the U-value for an un-insulated party wall is 0.5W/m²K. The recommendation will suggest that the party wall can be improved to a U-value of 0.2W/m²K. As per all other measures, party wall insulation should be left applicable, unless there is any definitive professional reason the measure is inappropriate for that individual property.

No Changes to EPC: There are no planned changes to the format of the EPC, other than a new measure which may appear for party wall insulation where appropriate.

What is Elmhurst doing?

Elmhurst has been busy project managing and building our new updated software and it very nearly complete, which is great news well ahead of the Industry ‘go live’ date.

As you may be aware we have Online, Apple (iOS) and Android software to suit all our members’ requirements.

Rest assured these will all be live ready for use by everyone.

We will be communicating and sending all the required information in an easy to digest form to members and the wider industry, watch your inbox and our regular news articles.

There is no mandatory training for this update, but we will be sending a technical bulletin, as well as updating all CPD courses and associated literature where relevant.

Conclusion: Damien Roberts, Existing Dwellings Team Leader concludes: “We are always delighted to update the systems to make an EPC more accurate and relevant. Rest assured all Elmhurst members will be armed with the software and information well in time for the ‘go live’. With each update to the methodology, of which there have been many over the years, we keep improving the tools and thereby the relevance of Energy Performance Certificates.”

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FEATURE

UPDATE FROM ELMHURST TRAINING M I T E S H N AT H WA N I

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s we hurtle towards the end of the year, we begin to look at what has been and also what the future will hold for Training and CPD at Elmhurst Energy. In 2017 we had a steady influx of new and updated courses, launched off the back of recommendations from our members.

Over the past year we have endeavoured to keep up with the demand for new courses as well as making sure our courses are kept fresh and up-to-date. New courses like MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) have really taken off for both the Domestic and Non-Domestic Energy Assessor strands.

We have also had successful collaborations with ‘Design Builder’, ‘NHBC’ and ‘CABE’. The partnership with Design Builder in particular has enabled us to open up a brand new area of work for non-domestic energy assessors who are now able to lodge Level 5 energy assessments with Elmhurst.

Not only have we grown in terms of the courses we run, but also the locations we visit. Some of our learners and trainers on the DEA courses have had the lucky opportunity to stay in the beautiful town of St Andrews and have even had time for a round of golf or two.

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We now deliver training from Exeter to St Andrews and lots of places in between.

Our new courses include: • MEES for DEAs • MEES for NDEAs • 5 Day DEA course for beginners • Introduction to Construction • Non-Domestic Energy Assessor Level 5 (DSM) • Psi-Value Competency Training

Elmhurst Energy has also ventured into online based portfolios for the larger qualification courses. By going paperless this allows the process to become more efficient and streamlined

Planning the new Training Calendar brings about new challenges as well as new opportunities for members.

Elmhurst Energy focuses on offering quality training which is both relevant and interesting for its attendees.

All said and done, we are still looking for new opportunities and would love to hear your views and ideas for new courses, events and even destinations for us to deliver training at.

Thank you all for your continued support and hard work in making our courses a great success. Keep an eye on our website and the Training Calendar for new courses, promotions and chances to win great prizes.

FEATURE

ELMHURST’S LATEST TECHNICAL BULLETINS ONLY AVAILABLE TO ELMHURST MEMBERS

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t Elmhurst Energy we are proud of the quality of technical support we provide to members. One of the most beneficial and proactive ways we support them is through a wide range of Technical Bulletins, all produced by our in house experts in a style that is easy to read and understand. These bulletins can offer anything between 15 and 45 minutes of CPD, with new and updated bulletins released fortnightly.

Elmhurst Members can access any Technical Bulletin appropriate to their accreditation through Access Elmhurst/ My Documents. NHER Members who have not been migrated onto Elmhurst’s systems will also be sent the latest Technical Bulletins through email.

If you are not currently an Elmhurst Member and wish to access our quality support, including this extensive list of Technical Bulletins, why not switch today at www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/switch-to-elmhurst-energy

Existing Dwellings TB03 SAP or RdSAP UPDATED TB06 Secondary Heating UPDATED TB08 Sheltered and Alternative Walls UPDATED TB54 Guide to CPD UPDATED TB79 Holiday Lets and Park Homes TB80 Electric Boilers UPDATED TB85 A Guide to inputting Walls in RdSAP TB97 Making the move from NHER to Elmhurst Energy

Non-Domestic TB89 New Buildings Without EPCs TB91 Activity Selection in SBEM TB94 DEC FAQs TB95 SBEM Online Hints and Tips

On Construction TB90 Top tips from the OCDEA Auditors TB92 OCDEA Thermal Stores in SAP TB93 OCDEA SAP Conventions version 7 TB96 OCDEA Extensions ‘The Whole Dwelling Calculation Method’ TB98 OCDEA Heat Interface Units

TECHNICAL CORNER

TOP 5 ENERGY COMPLIANCE ISSUES FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS JASON HEWINS

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he energy costs of new dwellings are now seen as one of the most important considerations by purchasers. Coupled with ever increasing standards to reduce CO2 emissions on new build, the ability to achieve thermal compliance can be a complicated process. This article looks at some of the most common areas where residential buildings face challenges, when complying with new build energy regulations:-

1. Air Pressure Test (APT) Results One of the most crucial elements to compliance, this test determines how much energy/air is being lost from inside of the building, to determine how better the building can be sealed and air tight. Very rarely can you adopt the no air test route and compensate with a highly efficient heating system and renewable system. The lower the APT the better the overall score for the energy calculation.

2. Mechanical Ventilation Systems A very low air pressure can cause problems for natural ventilation within the building and in most of these cases it would be recommended to install a mechanical ventilation system.

Efficient mechanical ventilation would largely help the building comply with new build energy calculations.

3. Poor Construction U-Values Getting the right U-values for all thermal external envelopes, such as walls, roofs and floors is another important factor for when reaching building regulations compliance. In the past it was possible to have poor U-values compensated with a highly 10 Energy Matters / Autumn 2017

efficient heating system or renewable technologies as a trade-off method. This is a thing of the past and the focus of the current Building Regulations is now on Fabric Energy Efficiency. It’s therefore important to achieve good U-values with the products specified.

4. Heating Systems A natural gas system still appears to be the most preferred choice for many house builders. However Oil and LPG are still adopted by many in combination with renewable technology such as solar panels or photovoltaic panels. How you choose to heat the dwelling has one of, if not the biggest, bearing on whether you will pass or fail.

5. Thermal Bridging Often overlooked, linear thermal bridging can offer significant gains in regards to achieving compliance. In some circumstances the heat loss through junctions between building elements has been shown to account for up to 25% of total heat loss from a dwelling. The amount of heat lost through a junction between elements is known as a Psi-Value. The lower the Psi-Value, the less heat loss through the junction.

Elmhurst’s knowledge of Building Regulation compliance is built on over 20 years of industry experience.

Our expert training in new build energy assessment, as well as our development in market leading U-Value Calculation and SAP software tools has helped our assessors undertake important calculations for building regulation compliance.

If you would like further information about Elmhurst Energy please call 01455 883 250 or email: info@elmhurstenergy.co.uk

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FEATURE

R SAP 9.93WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME? J A M I E G I LT R A P

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n November of this year, RdSAP moves from version 9.92 to 9.93, and although the changes are minimal in comparison to previous updates to the methodology, it could have significant implications for the private rental sector.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have been a mandatory requirement for rental properties since October 2008 (in E&W), and from April 2018, domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) will dictate that properties within the private rental sector must achieve an EPC rating of a band ‘E’ (39 SAP points) or greater. Following further research by the BRE, the default U-values within RdSAP have been improved in version 9.93, meaning an increase in the EPC rating for some older properties, particularly those of solid wall construction.

Where a property is just below this threshold (i.e. Band ‘F’ or lower), the changes to RdSAP’s default U-values may mean the difference between a legally rentable property and one which is not. In addition to this, a property’s value could be affected by its failure to meet this criterion.

Jamie Giltrap – Lead Trainer at Elmhurst analysed some example properties using Elmhurst ‘beta’ 9.93 software and determines the potential impact on an EPC’s rating can be demonstrated using the example property below.

Example Property • Pre-1900s semi-detached property • 80 m² total floor area • Solid wall construction with no insulation • Loft insulated to 75mm at joists • Solid floor without retro-fitted insulation • Single glazed windows • Floor mounted pre-1998 regular boiler with programmer and TRVs • Water heated via a cylinder from the main system • Single rate electricity meter

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Jamie states: “The current SAP rating is 36 points (Band ‘F’) using the current live 9.92 RdSAP software.”

“The default U-value for solid walls without insulation in RdSAP 9.92 is 2.10 W/m²K, however in version 9.93 this has been decreased slightly to 1.7 Wm²K- this increases the SAP rating for the property from 36 points (Band ‘F’) to 39 points (Band ‘E’).”

Stuart Fairlie – Technical Director at Elmhurst Energy comments “As we all know each home is different.

Our advice is simple, if in doubt get a new EPC. If the home is ‘F’ or ‘G’, utilise the expertise of the energy assessor and the recommendations on the EPC in order to plan to make the home warmer and more energy efficient. The analysis Jamie shows is very interesting, and whilst a

“Ultimately this is all about enabling families to live in warmer and cheaper to run homes.”

“If the same property was of cavity construction, the default U-value in RdSAP 9.92 would also be 2.10 W/m²K. In version 9.93 this has been improved to 1.5 W/m²K- this increases the SAP rating by 4 points, however as cavity built properties of this age are rare, this would only apply to a limited number of dwellings.”

“The same, however, cannot be said for properties of cavity wall construction built from the 1900s onwards- the default U-value of properties built prior to 1976 has been decreased slightly in RdSAP 9.93 from 1.6 W/m²K to 1.5 W/m²K, however such a small decrease is rather insignificant and will not tend to affect the EPC rating.”

limited number of homes will fall into borderline cases the vast majority of privately rented homes are either compliant or not (‘F’ or ‘G’), irrelevant of the new methodology change.

over time. This reinforces Elmhurst’s opinion that an EPCs validity period should be reduced from 10 years to 3 years, so that the information is meaningful and up-to-date.

The long term strategy of Government is to tighten the regulations towards higher SAP rated homes over the next decade or two, which will help us meet the UN climate change commitments. It is vital that private landlords engage in this, as the benefits are widespread.

Higher SAP rated properties are typically warmer, higher valued and house healthier tenants who have greater disposable income”.

Jaimie Giltrap concludes: “We at Elmhurst welcome the changes to RdSAP as they make EPCs more accurate and relevant. The research I have undertaken shows that it will impact some poorly insulated colder homes, and we hope it encourages landlords and tenants to utilise the information and recommendations provided from EPCs. Ultimately this is all about enabling families to live in warmer and cheaper to run homes.”

Social Landlords have understood over the years that as the methodology changes, the fuel prices used to generate the SAP score are more up-to-date and new technologies are recognised; therefore EPC ratings will change

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MARKET DATA

Existing Dwellings

MARTYN REED

Volume of EPC lodgements on a 12 month rolling basis Volume of Residential housesales on a 12 month rolling basis

Here at Elmhurst we collect and analyse data from many sources in the belief that it helps us make better business decisions. Turning this data into a digestible form takes time and requires a detailed understanding of context.

In each edition of Energy Matters we will provide you with a snapshot of this data, with a brief commentary, which we hope you find of interest, and will possibly help you prepare for the future.

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Commentary • Volume of EPCs peaked in the 12 months to May 2014, driven in a large part by ECO and to a lesser extent Green Deal. The graph continues to fall as effect of ECO fades.

• EPC volume viewed on a rolling 12 month basis has fallen to 1.39 million but current run rate suggests demand is now less than 1.3 million.

• House sales spiked in March 2016 with changes in Stamp Duty for second homes. Their impact on this graph has now passed and it is clear to see that house sales have reverted back to 2015 levels of 1.2 million.

Outlook The market for RdSAP EPCs is undoubtedly poor, however; • Predicted growth in new build EPCs is likely to have a domino effect on the sale of existing dwellings.

• If Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), that prohibits the private rental of F and G Rated properties, is as robust as the non-domestic variant then the demand for new EPCs will rise.

New Build / On Construction

Volume of residential house starts (E, W, S and NI) Volume of annual completions (E, W, S, and NI)

Non Domestic /Commercial buildings

Volume of Commercial property EPCs in the UK on a rolling 12 month basis Non residential (commercial) property sales in the UK on a 12 month rolling basis

Commentary • Commercial property sales continue to rise.

• Volume of EPCs has risen slightly but still significantly lower than sales volume, which raises issues of non compliance.

• The much anticipated increase in demand for EPCs relating to Minimum Energy Standards (PRS MEES) has not yet made significant impact.

Note: Latest quarter data for Wales and Scotland is estimated

Volume of on-construction (new build residential) EPCs in the UK issued on a rolling 12 month basis

Commentary • Home starts have now levelled off at just over 195,000.

• Completions continue to lag behind starts but the gap has narrowed with houses being prepared for sale in the spring and summer months.

• Growth in the volume of EPCs issued has also slowed at 254,000 but with more completions due it is likely to rise.

Outlook • Elmhurst is taking action to focus on perceived high levels of non-compliance.

• We are still hopeful that the Private Rental Sector / Non domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) is likely to stimulate demand as the first deadline in April 2018 approaches. More promotion is required to drive up compliance.

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HEADLINE FEATURE

ELMHURST CONNECTING WITH MEMBERS FIONA WILSON

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s an approved accreditation scheme we both regulate and provide business

services to our members. This is often seen as an awkward position to be in, as it requires us to juggle between our role as a regulatory body and as business for our members/customers.

Striking this balance is a huge part of my business development role, making sure we are doing all we can to help our members and improve the market for them.

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In order to help us get a feel for how things are and what our members are wanting, we rely on regular feedback from them. The best way for us to get feedback and information on the market and potential upcoming trends is from meeting with and connecting with our customers and members, which is the part of the job I love.

So what events can you come to and meet with the team?

Regional Networking Events Elmhurst’s TechNet event provides Energy Assessors with 2 hours of CPD (we all know how important that is), as well as the opportunity to meet the team from Elmhurst, meet other assessors in the local area and get those all-important industry updates.

TechNet provides a good mix of Technical updates, industry updates and networking. Each of these events gives us a great chance to create a dialogue with our members, and helps us develop our software and training to suit. We have been

running these sessions over the past few years and, given their popularity with customers and staff, we will be running them well into the future.

Keep an eye on our social media pages and training pages for updates on where we are going next.

IDEA Most of you will be familiar with the annual IDEA conference held in Birmingham. Elmhurst are always keen to attend these Energy Assessor focused events, and will be attending this year as we have done every year. This is another of those great opportunities to meet with Energy Assessors, get the lay of the land and show off some of the bits we have been working on.

This year Martyn Reed (MD) will be speaking as part of the main event, and we will have staff available on the day to talk to you about anything Energy Assessor related and even show some of our exciting software. If you are coming along come by and say hi to us, if you aren’t it’s not too late to book your place on the IDEA Conference website.

Other upcoming events Throughout the year we hold our training and CPD courses across the country, and we attend conferences and events, such as the upcoming Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) conference in Warwick. If you can attend any of the events please do, and have a chat with a member of our team about what we can do to help you and give us that all important feedback (positive or negative), help us to help you. If you can’t come along then don’t worry, we still want to hear from you. Feel free to give us a call or drop us an e-mail, we can’t make the right changes to benefit our members unless we know what you want.

Upcoming events Elmhurst will be attending: CABE Conference18 & 19/10/17 Warwick www.cbuilde.com/events/ annual-conference-andexhibition-2017 IDEA Conference23/10/17 Birmingham www.ideaconference.co.uk Elmhurst’s TechNet 25/10/17 Cardiff Elmhurst’s TechNet 30/11/17 Lutterworth www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/ training/networking

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FEATURE

THE SHIP NON DOMESTIC LEVEL 5 EPC CHRIS PROC TOR, EASY EPC

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lmhurst Energy recently launched their Level 5 Accreditation Scheme.

Easy EPC was one of the first customers to join and support Elmhurst’s Level 5 Scheme and they have already lodged several level 5 buildings.

This article looks at one of the recent projects Easy EPC have assessed and lodged with Elmhurst Energy.

Chris Proctor (Managing Director) of Easy EPC explains; “An opportunity was presented to us by Elmhurst earlier this year with the launch of their Non-Domestic Level 5 scheme. One of our assessors received training from Elmhurst and now has the skills and knowledge to provide Level 5 assessments using Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM).

This has allowed us to differentiate ourselves within the market and create more business opportunities”.

Here is what our assessor has said about the Level 5 experience: “I was one of the first to qualify and operate as a level 5 assessor with Elmhurst Energy. I had looked at the level 5 market before but rejected it due to low volumes. However, following conversations with Design Builder and Elmhurst, it became clear that we could operate a quick and competitive service without some of the challenges experienced in the past.”

Easy EPCs’ experience with Level 5?

Once we at Easy EPC looked to offer level 5 EPC’s, suddenly there was work. So what did we find? Just this, a simple modelling process which can switch between SBEM and DSM, no additional insurance required as it is covered by pay per click,

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fantastic support from both Elmhurst and Design Builder and affordable lodgement costs. The surprise has been just how easy the process can be.

The Ship “Spirit of Enterprise” Relaunch The Ship is just one of the iconic buildings we have delivered surveys on in the past few months. Have you ever heard of The Ship? No, not the pub round the corner, but the building designed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and nicknamed The Ship because of its distinctive shape. So, just look at the images in this article and ask, is this more interesting than a typical level 4 office block? The building owned by Burrington Estates have remodelled this building with the support of Expedite, and have clearly differentiated themselves in the marketplace with this project.

The fact that there is an atria delivering light into the internal spaces would make it level 5 on its own, however, that is not the only reason you would offer to load as level 5. In this case, we also looked at the building to see what process of assessment would deliver the best value to the client. As we move to April 2018, we should be constantly aware of the MEES legislation. We

have a professional duty to future proof our work and to help our clients meet their legal obligations.

not know how until you investigate.

Once again just ask us if you need any help or guidance.

We have all been looking out for new opportunities, with one eye over our shoulder to the conventions and QA challenges. We should really ask if we have looked at the value we can provide to our customers.

DSM vs SBEM Allthough DSM is used to produce Level 5 EPCs it can also be applied to simpler commercial buildings. DSM offers greater accuracy in comparison to SBEM software, as it takes into account external/environmental forces which can influence occupancy, behavioural and energy use profiles.

A building does not have to be level 5 in order to be modelled as such. In fact any building can be modelled in approved Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM) software, which Design Builder is. The process and modelling gives you tools and opportunities that just aren’t available in SBEM. The benefits of doing so are many and varied. You will

The scheme offers competitive DSM lodgement Fees, includes insurance with each lodgement, and offers free annual renewals for active members.

For more information about Elmhurst’s Non-Domestic Level 5 Training and Scheme, please call us on 01455 883 250 or visit www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Elmhurst’s Level 5 Scheme, the benefits Elmhurst’s Non-Domestic Level 5 accreditation allows qualified assessors to complete and lodge energy assessments using Dynamic Simulation Modelling (DSM).

About Easy EPC Easy EPC regularly help assessors differentiate themselves. Working together we can help assessors cover more areas, carry out more assessments, and deliver for their clients. Even when they request services outside the scope of the assessors qualifications.

We always encourage upskilling as soon as possible. We say don’t worry about if there is a market for the skill yet, instead we think you should treat it as part of your CPD budget. As assessors we believe you should be busy assessing buildings, and not tied up with administration in the office.

We ask how are you going to differentiate yourself and your business? Just give us a call if you want to know more about how we can help. www.easyepc.org

Energy Matters / Autumn 2017

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Now Recruiting It is the passion and energy of our people that maintains our leadership in the field. If you are looking to be the best you can be ,and like to work in an engaged team environment, then please take a look at our current opportunities.

Apply at: www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk/careers

Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA) Technical Consultant

Business Development Manager (Scotland)

As a NDEA Technical Consultant your role will be vital to help support members of the UK’s largest EPC accreditation scheme.

As Business Development Manager for Scotland, your role will involve developing good business opportunities and relationships.

This role is ideal for an experienced NDEA who can draw upon their energy assessment knowledge to deliver high quality technical support and guidance, to our members.

You will deal with mainly new clients to help expand Elmhurst’s market share across the range of services that we offer, and maximise revenue and profitability for Elmhurst in Scotland.