neWs Policy All the latest news from around the building industry europe warns UK over energy certificates non-compliance Penalties and controls insufficient says EC The European Commission (EC) has warned the UK government that its system of energy performance certificates (EPCs) is in breach of a key energy directive. It has asked the UK to ensure EPCs are displayed in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The EC said it had received a complaint about a potential lack of compliance by the UK over the issuing and display of certificates in public buildings. It said the UKs system of penalties and controls for the display of EPCs appears insufficient to ensure compliance with the obligations of the directive. The UK has previously received a letter of formal notice regarding the possible infringement, and it now has two months to notify the EC of measures taken to remedy this situation otherwise it may be referred to the EU Court of Justice. The infringement could apply to EPCs, which show predicted energy use, or display energy certificates (DECs), which record operational energy use. The display of certificates is required in buildings of more than 500m2 that are occupied by a public authority or frequently used by the public. CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies said: Not having DECs, and not enforcing them, is like the Treasury turning a blind eye to energy managers wasting money. Richard Griffiths, senior policy adviser at the UK Green Building Council, said: The poor enforcement of EPC and DEC regulations is a significant concern, and its no surprise the commission has made a complaint to the government on this issue. scotland puts energy efficiency infrastructure at top of agenda Scottish Climate Change Minister Aileen McLeod has announced that Scotlands energy efficiency programme will be made an infrastructure priority in an effort to improve the ratings of homes and nondomestic buildings over the next 20 years. The country will also examine how supplier obligations on energy efficiency and fuel poverty can be designed for Scottish circumstances, and to leverage private sector investment using new devolvedpowers in the Scotland Bill, McLeod said. Investment in domestic energy efficiency will rise to 119m in 2015, from 99m last year, the minister added. Lord Deben urges MPs to focus on energy efficiency Support from 35 politicians for Cost Effective Energy Measures Bill Energy efficiency should be at the heart of this governments policies, Lord Deben told MPs at a reception to promote a new Energy Measures Bill. More than 50 MPs gathered at Westminsters Portcullis House last month for an event hosted by CIBSE and the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) to discussdeveloping a vision for energy in buildings. Lord Deben spoke in support offocusing on energy in buildings as an effective way of dealing withthe energy trilemma security, affordability for businessand domestic users, and carbon reduction. The chair of the UKs independent committee on climate change, said: On a planetof nine billion people we willneed to use what we have more efficiently. How stupid would it be, when Lord Deben Caroline Lucas we already have a stock of inefficient buildings, to create a whole new generation of them? In all, five cross-party speakers including Green Party MP Caroline Lucas addressed the attendees, who were told that a lack of a clear strategy for energy in buildings is costing the UK economy more than 12bn a year. The majority backed the proposed Cost Effective Energy Measures Bill, which calls for a national strategy to promote the use of cost-effective measures to ensure new buildings are constructed to high energy efficiency standards. The bills authors claim it would boost GDP by 13.9bn per year. Austerity is not an obstacle it is a very good reason for this bill, said Lucas. However, she was sceptical about the Conservative governments ability to deliver on the green promises made in its election manifesto. stronger rhi could get UK back on track Industry groups are calling for an expansion of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to get the UK back on track for meeting legally binding energy targets. New analysis by energy watchdog Keep on Track revealed that the country was falling behind on two out of three of its 2020 renewable targets. Under EU law, the UK is obliged to be sourcing 15% of its energy from renewables by the end of the decade. This overall target is made up of three sub-targets, namely 30% of electricity generation, 12% of heat and 10% of transport fuel. According to Keep on Track, the UK is on target for electricity generation, but off course for the other two. The percentage of electricity produced by renewables in 2013 was 13.9%, with transport at 4.4% and renewable heat at 2.6%. The Renewable Energy Association (REA) says extending subsidies for renewable heating schemes available under the RHI and providing greater legislative certainty could get the UK back on track. The REA also urged the government to announce budgets for the RHI for 2016-2020, to provide sufficient tariff certainty for projects with long lead times. The UK, along with France, the Netherlands, Malta and Luxembourg, has also been urged by the European Commission to review its renewables policies more generally. A progress report for all 28 EU member states said these five countries should assess whether their policies and tools are sufficient and effective to meet the target. Most member countries were revealed to be on track to meet their renewable energy obligations by 2020, with Sweden, Denmark and Estonia well ahead of schedule, according to the report. Energy efficiency VAT must increase after EU decision The European Court of Justice has ruled that the UKs 5% rate of VAT on energy efficiency goods and the installation of energy saving measures is illegal. As a result, VAT on insulation, solar panels, heating controls and other energy saving equipment will have to rise by 15% to the standard 20%, despite the new Conservative governments pledge to legislate against rises in taxation. The court ruled that the UK was failing to fulfil its obligations under the European VAT directive. Heating and hot-water controls, insulation, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, micro combined heat and power units, and wood-fuelled boilers currently qualify for the 5% rate, but the UK faces legal penalties if it does not bring them into line with other building products. The European Court first ordered the UK to raise the rate in 2013, but the government appealed the decision. That appeal has now been thrown out, although the reduced rate can still be applied to work on social housing projects. Warm reception for eU heating and cooling plan The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) has welcomed the European Commissions Heating and Cooling Strategy, which is due to be unveiled later this year. The strategy will be important because it focuses on the largest energy consuming sector in Europe, namely the heating and cooling of buildings, said EPEE director general Andrea Voigt. She added that the EPEE wouldredouble its efforts to cut the use of HFC refrigerant gases in a way that is economically viable, compatible with high safety standards, and that continues to observe energy efficiency as a fundamental objective at EU level. CIBSE President Nick Mead (left) Representatives from organisations including CIBSE, SEA, Community Energy England, Cooperatives UK, the Passivhaus Trust and the Renewable Energy Association were also at the event. MPs showed a good level of engagement with the subject, with 35 expressing their support for energy policy by backing the bill. However, the bill was not selected tobe put before parliament this time. ileVe launches competence standards The Institute of Local Exhaust Ventilation Engineers (ILEVE) has launched a competence matrix to help raise standards across the sector. More than 13,000 deaths each year in the UK are due to occupational ill health, mainly lung disease and cancers, related to exposure to dusts, fumes and gases at work. Good hazard management, including local exhaust ventilation, is essential to the provision of safe and healthy workplaces, and prevention of asthma, cancers and respiratory diseases, the Institute said. The Matrix identifies the skills, knowledge and expertise needed by all those involved in exhaust ventilation at work, fromowners to salespeople, and sets out what is needed to be considered competent. You can download the Matrix here decc edr pilot update The second phase of the governments electricity demand reduction (EDR) pilot is open for registrations. Anyone interested in submitting a potential pilot can now bid for funding for projects down to 50kW capacity half the previous minimum size. Other changes include: More time to install measures Greater scope for successful projects to develop over time Early payment after installation esos deadline set The deadline for compliance with the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) is 5 December 2015, the Department of Energy & Climate Change has confirmed. Officials said the deadline would not be moved back because it is laid down in the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies said: We believe there are enough assessors, but an ESOS audit is not a two-day exercise, and if companies leave it late they are risking falling foul of the Environment Agency. The time to act is now, not in September.