Energy Matters - Issue 10

ISSUE 10 | 2022 www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

ENERGY MATTERS Elmhurst launches mentoring scheme for women

Providing members with tools for success

An update on ECO4

The new regulations are here!

Energy Matters | Issue 10 | 2022

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Foreword

Stuart Fairlie Managing Director Elmhurst Energy

Welcome to the latest version of Energy Matters.

As everyone is aware, fuel prices are very much in the news and the cost of living crisis is creating more and more headlines.

As we have said before, energy assessments and on site testing allow building owners to make good decisions and understand the energy efficiency of their homes or businesses.

Never has it been more important to help people understand their energy use to help them use less, have lower fuel bills, emit less carbon and have warmer buildings.

Since the last magazine we have delivered the long overdue updates for the new regulations in England, giving up to date fuel prices and carbon emissions as well as new technologies.

Unfortunately the roll out was certainly not ideal as the SBEM engine arrived later than we hoped and the release of the SAP specification and test cases, which applies to dwellings, was released in four batches which caused significant challenges for our software developers, members and customers.

Whilst we are proud that our BRE approved software was first to market it was a challenging experience and will remain our top priority in the weeks ahead.

We have very much let it be known to Government that lessons need to be learnt for the next updates for Scotland and Wales. The good news regarding SAP is that, being online, we can update the software extremely quickly (which we have) and will keep going beyond BRE approvals.

We all have to be mindful that we are at the beginning of a journey towards net zero, and these Building Regulations for all regions (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) are seen as a stepping stone towards the next Future Homes/Building Standards.

We spend time each year reflecting on what has occurred and what we want for our members in the future. We have been delighted to see our Almanac gain great traction in the press.

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We all have to be mindful that we are at the beginning of a journey towards net zero and these Building Regulations for all regions (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) are seen as a stepping stone towards the next Future Homes/Building Standards.

We really do believe that we need to continually improve as an industry and make a difference to people’s lives.

On a personal note, I was especially delighted to see overheating become a new Building Regulation; this issue has been long overlooked and it certainly affects people’s lives in a very negative way when we get to those warm summer days.

A joined up approach to ventilation, energy use and overheating is a very welcome move across all building types delivering regulations in tranches because buildings are actually a complex system that requires joined up thinking.

With new regulations focusing on the performance gap, there is a call for more on site testing and this new regulation means every home will now be airtightness tested. This change also gave us the welcome opportunity to

change the name of iATS to the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme.

We will continue to push the vital role of air testing in the built environment, whether in new buildings or to understand existing buildings too.

The government’s flagship fuel poverty policy ECO4 may be clearer by the time you read this.

As with all transitions across the years in this sector it is certainly always done at the last minute and with a bumpy ride. We must always look back at the Each Home Counts review and look at the 27 recommendations – to understand whether the new incumbent policy will hit the mark. To our mind the concentration on multiple measures and a whole home fabric first approach is the correct call. We do however continue to be worried that the chase is on for carbon savings for funding before the occupants are considered. This seems to be the wrong way around, and there should be enough funding to provide the owners/tenants with the right measures in the right order for their goals. Again we will see this new policy roll out and keep working with Ofgem, BEIS and others to ensure a quality outcome.

I do believe that all Elmhurst members provide an invaluable service to help solve our nation’s issues from energy efficiency, to fuel poverty and climate change.

The mortgage lenders and banks are turning to this new agenda and more and more Green Mortgages are hitting the market. This will only grow.

The methodologies and infrastructure are out there, we just need to move forward together to solve these issues for homes, families and businesses.

On that note I hope that you and

your families have a great summer and the weather is kind on us all.

Stuart Fairlie Managing Director Elmhurst Energy

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Energy Matters | Issue 10 | 2022

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Contents F E AT U R E

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05 Background Ventilation Testing

14 Energy Consultancy for DEAs

06 Providing members with tools forsuccess

15 Save £100 on Inventory Training!

08 Elmhurst launches mentoring scheme for women

16 Members of the public querying EPCs

10 Introducing the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme (EAS) 11 An update on ECO4 12 The new regulations are here!

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17 From investment management to Retrofit Assessor 18 Measured Energy Performance 20 Training update 22 Market data

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Providing members with tools for success

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Background Ventilation Testing How do I become a Background Ventilation Tester?

To become a Background Ventilation Tester you will need to successfully complete our two day Background Ventilation Assessment of Existing Dwellings training course, and then submit the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme (EAS) application form.

Jennifer Hartley, EAS Coordinator

Earlier this year Elmhurst launched its background ventilation training and scheme. This new area of testing is especially suited to existing airtightness testers, and Retrofit Coordinators and Assessors. But what exactly is background ventilation testing? We explain a bit more below…

What is background ventilation testing?

Background ventilation testing is a type of test carried out to assess the background ventilation of existing dwellings.

The Insulation Assurance Authority Commercial Services (IAA CS) has developed a TrustMark approved process for this assessment, which is an

approach to address background ventilation requirements under pathway A and B of PAS 2035. It also provides an alternative for pathway C, whilst not replacing the airtightness testing requirements. If you are not familiar with PAS 2035, it is an energy efficiency retrofit standard for Government funded measures, providing best practice guidance for domestic retrofit projects.

Carrying out testing pre and post energy efficiency measures will provide evidence as to whether additional background ventilation is required. This may negate the need to install additional ventilation such as trickle vents or door undercuts.

This process has been written to allow both Pulse and blower door fan users to carry out background ventilation testing.

The IAA CS is also one of our approved training providers, so if you have already passed their ventilation & airtightness training course you can apply to become a Background Ventilation Tester registered with EAS by completing the application form.

Please note that should you wish to carry out background ventilation testing for PAS2035 purposes, along with being a member of a Competent Person Scheme for airtightness testing, you will also need to be a member of The IAA scheme at an additional cost of £250 per annum. You can find out more information about the IAA on their website: https://www.theiaa.co.uk/faqmyth-buster/ Should you wish to carry out background ventilation testing on existing dwellings for purposes other than PAS 2035, then IAA membership is not required.

For more information please visit the EAS website www.elmhurstairtightnessscheme.co.uk

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MEMBERS’ CORNER www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Looking to grow your business but don’t know where to start? Head to Elmhurst’s Marketing Toolbox where you can find a wide variety of business guides, leaflets and brochures.

Elmhurst has widespread name recognition within the industry which Elmhurst members can benefit from with our approved member logos.

Providing members with tools for success We place a lot of emphasis on helping members secure work and access opportunities to help further their careers. That’s why we created a dedicated space on our website where members can access handy guides to help them market themselves to potential customers. Take a look here: https://www.elmhurstenergy.co.u k/guides-and-fact-sheets All of our materials are customisable so you can include your business name, logo and contact details. You can find guides on EPCs, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, Legionella and recommendations - to name a few!

videos, and business guides to help you create a successful business.

We received great feedback from members regarding ‘Business in a Box’, with many commenting that it helped them demystify the retrofit process and how to search for work. The online version doesn’t contain any sweets, but we think it works just as well!

The box is a quick start guide for those looking to get started in the retrofit industry, featuring everything from business cards,

These can be used on your website, company stationery and vehicles, and are a useful way to build trust with clients.

Download yours from Access Elmhurst!

Exhibitions Elmhurst retains a strong presence at many events around the UK, where we enthusiastically promote the work of our members.

Business in a Box Those of you who came to see us at FutureBuild might also remember our Business in a Box.

scheme for energy professionals, Elmhurst has widespread name recognition within the industry, which Elmhurst members can benefit from with our approved member logos.

You can access our Business in a Box at: https://elmhurstbusinessinabox.co.uk/

Member Logos As the UK’s largest accreditation

We also hold our own annual conferences in England and Scotland which are attended by hundreds of members around the country.

Wherever possible Elmhurst uses its platform to advocate on behalf of members. Over the past year

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our public profile has grown even more thanks to the hard work of our PR agency and the emphasis being placed on sustainability.

The first Elmhurst Almanac Elmhurst has always taken a proactive approach to identifying issues within the industry and identifying potential solutions.

Earlier this year Elmhurst released its Almanac which outlines some of our call to actions, which are echoed by others within the industry.

Our 10 big asks in 2022 include: 1. Redesign energy certificates 2. Use the Golden triangle to inform decision-making 3. Ensure all energy certificates reflect the current state of the property 4. Improve Display Energy

Certificates (DECs) and implement them in the private sector 5. Don’t ignore energy used to cool buildings 6. Change the funding mechanism in ECO so that it supports the whole house retrofit approach 7. Use energy assessors to support the introduction of renewable technology 8. Rebalance the tax applied to low emission fuels and fossil fuels to make heat pumps the right option for both the environment and financially 9. Measure energy performance to validate retrofit strategies 10. Implement a single national framework for lifecycle analysis and Net Zero You can view the Almanac here: https://issuu.com/elmhurstenergy /docs/elmhurst_almanac_2022

Opportunities And finally we have our opportunities page where organisations can advertise vacancies.

We regularly email these to members, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!

Alternatively if you would like to advertise a position yourself you can get in contact with the team, who will feature your advert for free!

Contact: info@elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Other ideas Have you got an idea for other materials?

We’re always updating our marketing materials to ensure they remain relevant for members. Let us know your ideas here: https://form.jotform.com/ 220815038364958

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F E AT U R E www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Elmhurst launches mentoring scheme for women Fiona Wilson, Business Development Manager

roles. Therefore we were very excited to open applications for the scheme on 12th July, starting with a small pilot group in the first instance with the view to opening it out to a larger group if successful.

How we got here

Elmhurst is delighted to announce the launch of its first mentoring scheme for women.

The pilot scheme is open to 5 mentors and 5 mentees from any strand, where participants will have the opportunity to grow their skills and confidence.

We decided to launch the scheme after seeing the success of the ‘Elmhurst Energy - Women working in energy efficiency’ Facebook Group, which provides female Energy Assessors with a platform to connect, post questions, and talk about their experiences. The group has nearly 200 members, where there are regular posts and lots of engagement. It’s open to all women working in the industry, so if you haven’t joined yet, find us on Facebook!

It soon became clear from the discussions taking place in the group that there was a demand for a mentoring scheme, where participants could get support and grow in confidence in their

To give a bit of context, in 2021 we undertook a review of our membership stats and discovered that only 13.28% of our members were women.

We also sent out a survey to find out what these members felt the benefits and potential drawbacks were to being a women in energy efficiency.

Over the next year we set about holding online sessions with some of our female members to talk about some of the points raised in the survey, and the steps that Elmhurst could take to help.

From the conversations and feedback there were two key areas that were raised; safety and confidence.

Issues raised Safety, particularly for those in the existing build domestic sector, was raised frequently.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provides safety information when lone-working and in personal

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“The group has nearly 200 members, where there are regular posts and lots of engagement.” safety so we have linked to their advice and website, where there is a wealth of information and details about apps that can be installed to help with loneworking. More information can be found on our website.

Confidence is a different thing entirely. Confidence comes from experience and being able to ask questions. We provide industry leading support for our members to call or email with any queries, but we understood that the women we were speaking to were looking for something that would connect them with one another and get advice about not just the technical aspect but the day to day of the role too.

Looking to the future I am really excited to see how this develops, and we will publish more information as we learn and decide on the next steps for the future - not just for women in energy efficiency, but for the industry as a whole.

It’s also inspiring to see great strides being made in other industries - more specifically the magnificent success of England football’s women’s side, where there has been record breaking attendance and overall ticket sales of over 500,000!

It’s always encouraging to see and talk about women working and operating in male dominated

industries like our own, where stereotypes are being continually challenged. I also vowed I would get to mention the football - so that’s that box ticked!

Join the Facebook group You can also join the women’s Facebook group (also open to nonmembers): Elmhurst Energy - Women working in energy efficiency.

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Member's view

Find out more: www.elmhurstairtightness-scheme.co.uk

of only two competent person schemes for airtightness testers in the UK

Introducing the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme (EAS)

From pensioners’ cottages to Aldi Warehouses, no day is the same for qualified Airtightness Tester Ewan MacFarlane! And that’s why he loves it. We caught up with Ewan to find out more about this exciting career!

What’s your favourite part of being an Airtightness Tester?

I enjoy the short duration of tasks, and that you get to meet different people and do different jobs. Every day is different, and you get to go around nice parts of the country. I am privileged to be involved in some of the best projects around.

Jennifer Hartley, Scheme Coordinator

In June Elmhurst took the exciting step of rebranding its Competent Person Scheme for airtightness testing as the Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme (EAS)!

The management of the scheme (formerly known as the Independent AirTightness Testing Scheme, iATS) was transferred to Elmhurst Energy Systems Limited in June 2017 and, with the changes to Building Regulations this year, we decided it was the right time to bring the scheme in line with our Elmhurst branding.

The scheme offers some fantastic benefits for members such as: PI and PL insurance included with membership,

a secure lodgement portal, and dedicated technical support.

Members will also benefit from greater name recognition as members of the UK’s largest scheme for energy assessors.

Many EAS members already enjoy close links with Elmhurst SAP Assessors, who can easily search EAS members’ services in Design SAP’s integrated ‘search for airtightness tester’ function.

To celebrate the rebrand, those who apply to join EAS as Level 1 or Level 2 airtightness testers before 31st August 2022, will not have to pay the the £95 application fee!

To apply please complete the application form and submit, along with the required supporting documentation, to airtest-support@ elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Would you recommend this line of work?

It’s given me a good base with clients, and I’ve done everything from big industrial units to garden rooms and Aldi Warehouses so it’s very vast.

What’s it like being a member of iATS/ The Elmhurst Airtightness Scheme?

I like the scheme because everyone you come across is good at their job and the technical support is really good - you never feel stupid calling up. I like Elmhurst’s approach to audits which is wanting to make everything the best it can be.

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Simon Flint, Retrofit Support Team Leader

An update on ECO4 The ECO4 scheme has promised £1 billion a year until 2026 to spend on improving homes around the UK.

It is estimated that this funding will improve around 450,000 houses and will be targeted at the most fuel poor homes. The biggest difference between ECO3 and ECO4 is the number of measures carried out as well as the scoring system. Whilst ECO3 focused on one to two improvement measures per house, ECO4 will use the whole house retrofit approach and improve properties by at least two SAP bandings: n n

Bands G and F will be improved to a D. Bands E and D will be improved to a C.

It will require the completion of a

post-installation RdSAP assessment to confirm that the goals have been achieved.

New Processes Whilst there aren’t dramatic changes to the work of either Retrofit Assessors or Coordinators, there is a new requirement for the retrofit assessments to be submitted to Trustmark’s Data Warehouse before a retrofit project can be started. Trustmark released updates to their software on 1st July 2022 allowing for the new processes, however some of the administrative processes of ECO4 are still in consultation with the Government and so it appears that the funding has not been released yet.

Elmhurst’s software While it was possible to lodge ECO3 funded retrofit projects directly through Elmhurst’s own software, this had to be paused while new software is being developed for ECO4. With the number of changes within the

processes and the background data, the requirements for the software are a lot more than a facelift. We are hoping our members will appreciate our hard work on this and we will do our best to introduce the new software as soon as possible.

In the meantime all ECO4 projects together with the Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADS) & the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) funded projects must be lodged direct into the Data Warehouse.

Looking to the future Elmhurst is very positive about ECO4 and the whole house retrofit approach as we believe that any improvements to the property should be done properly focusing on fabric first, which will then change the requirement for building services and potentially ventilation. By working hard to assist our members to use these new processes we hope to play our part in reaching our net zero carbon target for 2050.

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To help the industry meet this challenge Elmhurst has launched an Overheating Competency Scheme.

The new regulations are here!

On 15th June 2022 the long awaited new versions of Part F and L and brand new Parts O and S came into force in Building Regulations for England. The four new Approved Documents introduce many key changes in the way new build homes are constructed, and, in regards to Part L, is an interim step towards the Future Homes Standard in 2025.

Jason Hewins New Build Dwellings Manager

Part L 2021 is the first revision to Part L in almost ten years. The new version introduces new compliance metrics, tougher fabric standards, reduced carbon emissions and changes to the compliance processes. There have also been changes aimed at reducing the performance gap which has seen the introduction

of the requirement for photographic evidence of the construction.

This is a significant addition and will require various photographs to be taken throughout construction and supplied to the energy assessor and Building Control Body. There has been much industry discussion and debate on how this will work in practice, and to support our members Elmhurst released its ‘Guide to photographic evidence in new homes’.

Since Part L and SAP 10.2 were published last December, Elmhurst has been working hard to ensure Design SAP 10 achieved approval by the BRE as soon as possible. Unfortunately since December there have been a number of revisions to the SAP 10.2 methodology and ‘test cases’ used for the BRE approval process, which has resulted in difficulties for all SAP software providers to achieve approval. In

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order to ensure SAP 10 software could be ready for the 15th June a new approval process was devised by BRE and BEIS which comprises a phased process.

The first to achieve phase 1 approval Elmhurst was delighted to be the first SAP software provider to achieve phase 1 approval status on the 10th June. This enabled us to release our first version of Design SAP 10 to members on the 13th June; the first SAP software provider to do so. Since then we have also achieved full approval ensuring our members could model the impact of all heating systems in their SAP assessments.

Whilst many of the changes to Part L are fairly familiar for builders, the introduction of Part O aimed at reducing the risk of overheating in new homes has presented a new challenge. Part O offers two routes to compliance; the simplified method and the detailed method.

Useful tools for members To assist our members Elmhurst has released a simplified method calculation tool. The tool allows entry of data needed for the simplified method, assesses if compliance has been achieved and provides an output report that can be sent to clients and Building Control Bodies.

The tool is available to all members free of charge.

The detailed method requires dynamic thermal analysis using the established CIBSE TM59 methodology. Interestingly as the compliance standards required by Part O begin to be understood, many builders are now starting to favour the detailed method to ensure their designs achieve compliance with an element of design flexibility.

Demonstrating competence Due to the complex nature of dynamic thermal analysis individuals responsible for demonstrating compliance are required to be suitably trained and competent. To help the industry meet this challenge Elmhurst has launched an Overheating Competency Scheme. Individuals who join the scheme are deemed to have a high level of competence to complete overheating risk assessments in accordance with the requirements of Part O. The scheme has seen great interest is growing quickly as the implications of Part O are realized.

Other regions around the UK In regards to the rest of the UK each devolved administration sets its own energy efficiency standards in Building Regulations.

Wales has now published their next revision to Part L and also their own version of Part O, both of which come into force on the 23rd November 2022. Likewise

Scotland has announced its next revision to Section 6 of the Building Standards and a new standard for assessing overheating risk both which will commence on 1st December 2022. Both regions will adopt the SAP 10 methodology and Elmhurst awaits details of the BRE approval processes for each region which will allow us to start work on implementing the new compliance standards into Design SAP 10. Northern Ireland has introduced a new version of Technical Booklet F1 on 30th June, however they remain on the SAP 2009 methodology for now.

The introduction of new Building Regulations is always a challenge for industry as it gets to grips with new standards and processes.

This year is an unprecedented event for the industry; never before have all four regions of the UK changed Building Regulations in the same year. Elmhurst continues to work hard to support its members through these changes and our support team is here to answer any queries you may have.

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Energy Matters | Issue 10 | 2022

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Energy Consultancy for DEAs

Jo Bailey, Existing Dwellings Technical Consultant

With the rise in energy prices and potential changes to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) banding requirements for rental (and more focus on sales), the consumer has begun to pay more and more attention to the EPC and its outcomes, which is extremely positive news for us as an industry. So naturally, here at Elmhurst we have received more and more requests for ‘tailored’ advice on how to improve a property, or reach a desired EPC banding.

Assessors will commonly ask “am I allowed to give advice beyond the EPC? And if so am I covered to give advice?” As a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) your insurance as part of an EPC lodgement does not allow you to

give any additional advice beyond the recommendations on an EPC, however, with our pay per click system and/or additional risk insurance this allows us more flexibility in the advice we can offer.

So, Elmhurst is very excited to announce the upcoming launch of our new ‘Energy Consultancy for DEAs’ course. Our new course will look at ways that you can offer good advice to the consumer, whilst also ensuring you are covered. This largely includes advanced training on the RdSAP data collection and its ‘sensitivities’, plus ways to advise customers on the most effective ways to reach a higher or desired EPC banding. Alongside the training we will look at the different tools available to assist you providing good advice. The course will also offer information about the most up to date funding options that can be passed on to the consumer.

With being able to offer an additional consultancy service to your customers on top of your EPC surveys, we believe this course is a fantastic opportunity for you to create more business and potentially more opportunities. With the course teaching you a more advanced knowledge of RdSAP, it will enable you to prepare, anticipate and give advice on areas of improvement relating to your surveys. Plus Elmhurst can offer 5 hours of CPD for attendance.

If consultancy work is an area that interests you, please register your interest here: https://form.jotform.com/ 222083766261961

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Save

£100 on Inventory Training!

Available to buy on Elmhurst Marketplace Richard Thurlow, Inventory Competency Scheme Coordinator

Elmhurst is delighted to announce the launch of our new Inventory Competency Scheme and online training. The training (now only £195 + VAT) is available to download from our website to be completed in your own time. It also can be used as four hours CPD. The training covers everything an Inventory Clerk needs to know, including best practice, equipment required for a good Inventory, what to watch out for while carrying out the report, recommended Inspection techniques and how to create your own reports from scratch to name a few! Once the training is complete you will be asked to complete a multiple choice knowledge test

that is marked instantly online.

If you are already an experienced Inventory Clerk you have the option of completing the test without the online training at a fantastic price of £45 (was £95)!

Once you have passed the test you will be permitted to join our fantastic Inventory Competency Scheme. You will be able to upload your own pdf reports from one of our recommended inventory software providers such as Inventory Hive or surveys created from your own software.

Regular quality assurance checks will be carried out from our resident Inventory experts and feedback given to help with future reports. Other benefits include Elmhurst Energy backed insurance, access to Elmhurst’s Technical Support and of course Elmhurst Energy’s Inventory seal of approval.

Producing inventory reports can create you an additional revenue scheme that can easily be carried out alongside EPCs and Legionella reports whilst at the property. A good detailed Inventory helps protect both the landlords investment and the tenants deposit and reduces the likelihood of a dispute at the end of the tenancy. However should a dispute arise a good inventory will help ensure the right result is reached.

Inventory Scheme Member Adeel Razak, owner of DEA Inventory & EPC services, comments: “We joined this scheme as it’s a recognized accreditation body.

The look of the certificate makes it look extremely professional and really stands out to the client. The scheme has allowed us to expand our business and open up new opportunities.”

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Josh Wakeling, Head of Operations

Members of the public querying EPCs As energy certificates come under more scrutiny, and their importance grows within the move towards net zero and mass retrofitting of homes, we have received an increase in questions from members of the public about their format and the methodology unpinning them.

To add fuel to the fire, the recent fuel price increases and fuel poverty amongst low income households has triggered a need to understand what their buildings’ energy performance rating is and how they can improve it with the aim to reduce energy, carbon emissions and running costs.

As an industry, we must act now to ensure we are at the forefront of providing the best expertise, knowledge and guidance to all

stakeholders. Whatever the reason, Elmhurst believes that raising the awareness of energy efficiency is a positive move and complaints are a vital part of the feedback loop in ensuring energy certificates are consistent, understood and improved.

Blessing in disguise It is not a secret that the top organisations actively ask for feedback from customers and clients to not only identify when things go well, but also areas for improvement. Even though it may not seem it at first glance, customer complaints can be a blessing in disguise. With the right professional approach, you can use them to your advantage and consequently this will help you and your business to grow and develop.

Complaints can often take some time to conclude, which is unfortunately preventing our industry leading technical support teams from delivering

the technical guidance to our own customers, you, our members. By providing you with the necessary tools to answer and resolve the queries or complaints, it will ensure that our support teams can focus on delivering technical support. It is therefore vital that you, as the first point of call, have a complaints policy available for your clients and that you understand your responsibilities and duties when it comes to answering and dealing with queries and complaints.

Elmhurst is working on resources to assist you in delivering the best service possible; please keep an eye out for our technical bulletins and communications on this subject. We look forward to working with all our members to raise the profile of energy efficiency and trust that you will join us on this journey together.

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From investment management to Retrofit Assessor Meet the newest member of the Retrofit Support Team, Nicos Arnaouti! He recently joined the team on a part time basis and we’re thrilled to have him join us at this exciting time in the retrofit world. But it’s not been your typical journey to working in energy efficiency…

You haven’t always worked in energy efficiency. What did you do before?

I started my career in investment management with Barclays.

I would spend the day chasing brokers and placing trades, that sort of thing.

What made you consider a career in energy efficiency?

I was at my last company for 13 years but then it closed down and I was made redundant.

I was considering my options during lockdown and I’ve always had an interest in property; I’ve also been a landlord for over 25 years and I’m very hands on. I take an interest so I know how things are built and I do a lot of DIY. The only thing was, I thought

none of my skills were transferrable to the property sector.

So what did you do?

My dad is a structural engineer and architect by trade. As a child I used to go out with him onsite and saw him working. He was the one who suggested SAP calcs.

After I qualified I did a few jobs my dad had been involved in.

Later on though I did the DEA course because the social side appealed to me (which I found much easier) - probably because I’d done the OCDEA course. And after that I did the Retrofit Assessor course.

Why did you move into Retrofit work?

I think Retrofit is very topical at the moment and it’s an area that’s growing a lot.

When I saw the position advertised with Elmhurst I thought it was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and learn from more senior people in the team.

Working part-time also means I can still work for myself and complete assessments, and bring that experience to the team. So far it’s been great and everyone’s been really friendly! I definitely don’t regret working in investment management for over 25 years, but lockdown was definitely the catalyst for reevaluating what I wanted out of life and I’m glad I made the move.

Interested in becoming a Retrofit Assessor?

If you’re interested in becoming a Retrofit Assessor, take a look at Elmhurst’s online Retrofit Assessor course, available online and face-to-face.

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TECHNICAL CORNER www.elmhurstenergyconsultancy.co.uk

Measured Energy Performance Chris Ricketts, Elmhurst Energy Consultancy Business Manager

We have some exciting news!

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently released its guidance for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF): Wave 2.1. And… within their guidance they have indicated that they will provide up to £600K (or up to 2% of capital spend per bid) to assist in the digitalisation of retrofit!

The SHDF fund aims to improve the energy performance of social homes in England and is open for applications from Local Authorities, Combined Authorities and Registered Providers of social housing.

Now, what does digitalisation mean?

The definition of the digitalisation of retrofit considered for SHDF Wave 2.1 funding encompasses: 1. The usage of smart technology, sensors and monitoring platforms to collect relevant real-world data (from the properties being retrofitted) for the assessment of properties to enable retrofit, or after retrofit for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

2. The usage of building information modelling technology to design retrofit solutions using real world data from the properties being retrofitted.

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Elmhurst Energy Consultancy’s work with Digitalisation Many of you will be aware of Elmhurst Energy Consultancy’s new service: Measured Energy Performance, which uses Build Test Solutions’ pioneering SmartHTC methodology to accurately measure the performance of properties.

This is particularly useful when addressing the performance gap between design intent and actual performance, as well as measuring the improvement of a property’s energy performance pre and post retrofit improvement works.

How does it work?

Measured Energy Performance works much like the way an RdSAP assessment works; a noninvasive assessment is carried out on the property, recording many of the same inputs. However the assessor also records temperature, energy and climate data which they use to accurately calculate the Heat Transfer Co-efficient (HTC) number, which is used in a bespoke version of Design SAP that can override predicted values.

From this, assessors can get an accurate energy rating for the property. After all, properties ‘live in the wild’ where multiple factors affect their performance.

MEP can therefore be seen as an extra layer to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) where assessors can offer value to clients by offering an enhanced service that provides a point of comparison, and takes into account real world performance.

How do I apply for digitalisation funding?

The application for digitalisation

funding will be treated as separate from the organisation’s SHDF funding. Therefore it will not affect an organisation’s chances of securing SHDF funding if a bid for digitalisation funding is unsuccessful.

local authorities and aid them in their bids. In the past few years there has been a definite focus on actual performance and assessors with an entrepreneurial streak will be quick to capitalise on this moment.

In the competition guidance it is stated that it’s expected that applicants applying for digitalisation support will have an existing digitalisation strategy.

The self-service model

How Elmhurst has been working with assessors

With the Elmhurst Energy Consultancy’s self-service MEP model, assessors can purchase value ‘bundles’ of HTC calculations and get started conducting assessments!

Elmhurst Energy Consultancy has been working in conjunction with Elmhurst Energy Systems to offer training to those interested in providing the Measured Energy Performance service.

DEAs simply collect the data from the properties and Consultancy will calculate the HTC score for input into SAP software (overriding predicted values) and produce the report.

So far over 47 Energy Assessors from across the country have attended an Elmhurst Measured Energy Performance course, and we’ve had great feedback from attendees.

How to get started with MEP

The SHDF presents a brilliant opportunity to offer this service to

If you would like to find out more about MEP or digitalisation, get in touch with the Elmhurst Energy Consultancy team: consultancy@elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Energy Matters | Issue 10 | 2022

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TRAINING www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk

Training update Mitesh Nathwani, Training Manager

So here we are, halfway through 2022 and what a year it has been so far! We have run more courses than any other year by this point, due to the high demand in the industry for assessors.

We have been able to meet this demand by ensuring we have an adaptive and fluid way of working, which is constantly being refined. As you may already know, we are now offering many CPD and training courses online in an effort to make training accessible to everyone.

It also means less paper, printing and travelling - ensuring we’re all doing our little bit to help the planet!

Unprecedented demand for training!

We have already had a busy start of the year. To top it off we have had a number of external companies, colleges and universities approach us for our in-house and bespoke courses.

We have recently carried out training for Cardiff and Vale Colleges, Neath Port Talbot Colleges, Dorset Council as well as many other colleges, councils and private companies around the country.

Another way we are trying to meet demand is that since the Governments advice to go back to normal and there being no need to have social distance rulings, we have increased the number of learners we are allowing back to

our classroom courses. Initially limited to eight per classroom we are now able to allow more learners whilst still sticking to the necessary guidelines. Learners can be confident to attend our classroom courses as we adhere to the necessary guidelines.

We have also taken on a number of trainers to meet demand and can say we now work with more trainers than ever before.

This demand has also made us realise we need to do something we did really well before the pandemic hit - and that was to get back out there and start our roadshows again!

The plan is to be in Scotland towards the end of September and then the south of England in October or November, obviously we will also be coming to Wales

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and Northern Ireland too in early 2023. We are now able to meet the growing demand for CPD as we put in place new courses and webinars.

We are currently finalising the courses, trainers and venues so please keep an eye out for our emails and communications for more information closer to the time. Obviously, if you would like us to deliver a particular course in your area do let us know and we can see what we can do.

of getting information and buying courses or products so much easier.

Overall, I plan to make the learning journey, whether that’s qualifications, competency courses or CPD a better all-round experience for everyone associated with Elmhurst Energy.

Exciting developments

Finally, I just wanted to thank you all for your continued support and I hope that the rest of 2022 and 2023 are as productive and busy as the beginning of this year has been.

Another exciting development coming your way in the next few months is our new website, which will be a more up-to-date, dynamic and user-friendly site.

I cannot go into too much detail about it, but it will be a nicer experience and make the process

The next time I write to you I hope to be talking about the new systems we’ve introduced, the success of the roadshows and how the remaining part of 2022 has been even better than the first half of the year. That said, thank you again and please take care.

With the government recently lifting COVID-19 restrictions, there has been a want to move back to normality, to meet up and network with likeminded people and thus the demand for classroom-based training has increased.

Energy Matters | Issue 10 | 2022

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Market data

Existing Dwellings Volume of EPC lodgements and residential house sales on a rolling 12 month basis (by quarter).

Amo Sihra, Head of Commercial

n

Volume of EPC lodgements on a 12 month rolling basis

n

Volume of Residential housesales on a 12 month rolling basis

Commentary

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 provide you with a snapshot of this data, with a brief commentary, which we hope you find of interest, and can help you prepare for the future.

COVID-19 has obviously had a major impact on the construction, housing and energy assessment markets which is reflected in each of the charts. Some of the data related to new build homes within the devolved authorities has not been updated since December 2020 and estimates have been used.

For the last five years, house sales have been relatively consistent at around 1.19 million per year. Due to Covid the market fell away in March 2020, but had recovered by July and has continued to grow dramatically ever since, with volumes starting to fall from Dec 2021. Volumes in the 12 months to September 2021 peaked hitting 1.55M (17% higher than the previous peak in March 2016, and 30% up on normal). For the last 12 months to March 2022, volumes being at 1.37M and still very much up from the 1.19M figure.

The volume of EPCs peaked in the 12 months to May 2014, driven in a large part by ECO. This fell back sharply to a low of 1.2 Million in March 2018. Two years of recovery peaked again in February 2020 with year on year growth of 11%, largely due to minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rental sector. Since March 2020 (1.63m) the volumes have dropped significantly but now back on a level above pre-covid times of 1.67m.

Outlook The blue line on the graph shows that EPCs are on the increase, which may indicate that house sales will also increase. There are of course many other reasons for an EPC to be completed, such as those for social housing as well as ECO4, which may cloud the facts. The Local Authority Delivery Scheme and work funded by the decarbonisation fund, are likely to boost demand. Government initiatives, such as MEES should also continue to drive up the demand for EPCs.

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New Build / On Construction

Non-Domestic/Commercial buildings

Volume of residential house starts and completions on a rolling 12 month basis (by quarter).

Non residential (commercial) property sales in the UK on a 12 month rolling basis.

Volume of commercial property EPCs in the UK on a rolling 12 month basis.

n

Volume of residential house starts on a rolling 12 month basis

n

Volume of residential house completion on a rolling 12 month basis n

Data for Scotland and Wales is estimated since December 2020. n

Volume of On Construction (new build residential) EPCs in the UK issued on a rolling 12 month basis.

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 More recently, we can see there has been a slight drop in sales, however commercial sales have recovered well and are now 26% above the lows of January 2021 and 4% down from the peak of October 2017. Whilst EPCs are issued for reasons other than property sales, they have continued to grow and now 33% above the low of January 2021.

Outlook

n

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

Commentary Since COVID-19, house starts have recovered quickly and hit a new peak in June 2021 of 217,000 and since have fallen by 8%, however numbers just bettering than the previous peak in December 2018. The volume of EPCs in the last twelve months has recovered to 285,000 from its low of 246,000 (up 16%). Volumes peaked in Feb 2020 of 302,000 and March 2022 only 6% down from the peak figure.

The market has recovered well and continues to be the trend in the recent months. We can see non domestic EPCs continue to increase, with no signs of slowing down.

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