Skip to main content
All Posts By

In News

NIA celebrate the work of the insulation sector at its Parliamentary Day 2022

Energy efficiency industry gathers for the National Insulation Association’s first Parliamentary Event at the prestigious Pavilion Terrace, House of Commons.   

It was fantastic to see over 130 attendees join the National Insulation Association’s (NIA) first ever Parliamentary event on 6th June 2022. The event aimed to bring people together across the insulation sector, celebrating the hard work that industry has done so far, and to look ahead at the priorities and opportunities. Government and Industry speakers covered an array of important topics, such as the role of insultation in reaching net zero and helping to alleviate fuel poverty, and the subsequent challenges faced. A clear message was communicated throughout the day, highlighting the importance for collaboration amongst industry to uncover solutions to challenges, and it is an exciting time of unprecedented opportunity for the sector. 

The NIA would like to thank the sponsors for supporting the event; PermaRock Products Ltd, Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd and Sto Ltd. 

The day started at Broadway House in Westminster, where Derek Horrocks, Chairman of the NIA opened the event by welcoming everyone, advising that the day should be seen as an opportunity to celebrate the hard work of industry. Fiona Chestnutt, Policy Lead for the NIA Secretariat next spoke about the intention of the Secretariat to produce a policy paper to put to government in Autumn, to understand the role of insulation in the road to net zero and in lowering fuel bills to help mitigate the fuel poverty crisis.  

Ffiona Hesketh from the Department for Business and Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) spoke about current energy efficiency and decarbonisation funding available, its lessons learned from previous schemes and a look ahead to the next three years, noting the importance for a reliable supply chain. We also heard from Simon Ayers at Trustmark, who conveyed a positive message about the progress made by industry so far in delivering quality products and services. He also presented the scale of opportunity ahead to focus on whole house retrofit to provide healthier, better efficient, and lower cost to heat homes. The first part of the day was rounded off by David Pierpoint from the Retrofit Academy who presented a roadmap of how we can reach the goals and targets needed to deliver their mission of 27 million professionally installed domestic retrofits by 2050, highlighting the importance that skills, training and qualifications will play 

Attendees then made their way to the prestigious Houses of Parliament to the Pavilion Terrace where we soaked in the atmosphere and views. MP Bim Afolami was first to speak and presented a powerful and clear message that government is committed to a net zero carbon future and emphasised the importance for industry to engage and provide clear, realistic solutions to help government pave the way to meet its ambitious targets. 

Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (BEIS) then spoke about the important role that insulation has to play in the transition to net zero, and in helping to lower energy bills highlighting the need for a fabric first approach.  

‘We all know that we have a lot more still to do, but we are putting in the foundations and we have made some measurable progress so far with a clear path of where we need to get to. We know that with the support of organisations which are committed to excellence, we will be able to pass the finish line and reach net zero in 2050.’ 

The NIA are in talks to hold a further event this year in Scotland. Until then, this event was one to remember for the NIA being its first.    

NIA members have the opportunity to influence policy and have their voice heard to drive higher levels of quality and professionalism. For more information about the NIA and how to become a member, please click here, or contact the NIA at info@nia-uk.org.  

In Installer

Mass Foam Systems (Essex Office)

Cavity Wall Insulation, Cavity Wall Insulation (Extraction), Flat Roof Insulation, Loft Insulation (between and over joists), Loft Insulation (between/under/over rafters), Other: Spray Foam Insulation

Read More
In News

Industry Calls on Government to Do More to Prevent Homes From Falling into Fuel Poverty

Industry Calls on Government to Do More to Prevent Homes From Falling into Fuel Poverty

Following the lack of focus on Energy Efficiency in the Government’s Energy Security Strategy yesterday, the National Insulation Association has signed a cross-industry letter sent to HM Treasury today. Issued by the Sustainable Energy Association, the letter calls on the Government to expand the eligibility of the Energy Company Obligation scheme to prevent homes from falling into Fuel Poverty.

View letter: https://www.sustainableenergyassociation.com/resources/eco-letter-from-the-sea/

The Government has provided support for energy efficiency measures since 2013 under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which has since seen over 3 million energy efficiency measures installed in more than 2 million homes. However, while the tried and tested scheme targets vulnerable households, support for homes that fall outside this definition are not eligible.

Two million more UK households could in fact be plunged into fuel poverty due to the price cap increase this April according to National Energy Action (NEA), with the cost of living crisis expected to worsen in Autumn.

Backed by leaders across the energy efficiency industry, including the NIA, the letter calls on the Government to strengthen its Energy Security Strategy by expanding the eligibility criteria for ECO.

The proposed solution is an ECO + Scheme, which would run adjacent but separate to ECO to ensure the key support the scheme brings to vulnerable households is not impacted, whilst helping those who will soon be at risk.

It is proposed that the ‘ECO+ Scheme’ would build upon the success of the current ECO scheme, bringing its benefits to the ‘able-to-pay’. It would run adjacent, but separate to, the current iteration of ECO to ensure the key support ECO brings to vulnerable households is not impacted.

A key difference is that whilst energy bill payers fund the current ECO scheme to support action to benefit vulnerable householders, ECO+ would have to be funded utilising taxpayer funding as additional costs could not be placed on energy bill payers at the current time.

In News

British Energy Security Strategy

British Energy Security Strategy

British Energy Security Strategy

The Government has published its Energy Security Strategy today as part of its plans to boost Britain’s energy security following rising global energy prices and volatility in international markets.

Whilst key announcements focus more on additional supply, there are also key aspects that cover energy efficiency and demand reduction. However, the vast majority of the announcement, summarised below, is old news.

Energy Efficiency in Products and Buildings

  • Better labelling and product standards to be introduced so consumers can purchase more energy efficient products within heating, lighting, washing, and cooking.
  • The installation of household’s energy saving measures to be VAT free for the next 5 years. This is estimated to reduce the cost to consumers of insulation, double glazing, installing solar panels and heat pumps saving families £200 off the cost of installation.
  • A dedicated energy advice offering for smaller businesses to be established. This service is to deliver trusted advice on improving energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
  • Clearer energy performance standards across all buildings to be introduced phased in over the long term. This is likely to be linked to the EPC Action Plan.
  • Smart meters in new buildings to be deployed at a more accelerated rate.
  • Doubling of funding available to develop and pilot new green finance products for consumers from £10 million to £20 million.
  • Introduction of scheme under which lenders will work to improve the energy performance of properties.

Heat in Buildings

  • Heat pump manufacturing to be expanded supported by a Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition in 2022. This is estimated to be worth up to £30 million to make British heat pumps, which reduce demand for gas.
  • The UK hydrogen ambition to double up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. While this is to be used for cleaner power and transport, there is potential for fuelling heat.
  • The UK’s current 14GW solar capacity to grow up to five times by 2035. There will be consultation on the rule of solar projects on domestic and commercial rooftops.
  • Low-cost finance from retail lenders to be facilitated to drive rooftop deployment and energy efficiency measures.
  • Performance standards to be designed to make installation of renewables, including solar PV, the presumption in new homes and buildings.
  • From the industry, Neptune energy will invest to support the priorities through increasing production from Duva field in Norway to heat an additional 350,000 homes in the country.
  • £450 million Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
  • Commitment to ‘rebalancing’ the costs placed on energy bills away from electricity to incentivise electrification across the economy and accelerate consumers. This will also ensure heat pumps are comparatively cheap to run over time. BEIS will publish proposals on how to do so in 2022, considering overall system impacts and limiting the impact on bills, particularly for low-income consumers