On Thursday 27th October 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, The Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH) held their annual conference.

As with all such meetings of this nature recently and not dissimilar to the INCA conference earlier in the month, with the theme very much around ECO and Green Deal.

The event received a large turnout of almost 300 people, as there was great anticipation for the Ministerial address from Rt. Hon. Chris Huhne. EEPH chairman David Strong opened the event and invited David Purdy of DECC to discuss the green deal. The session followed by an interactive forum highlighted the many positives and concerns attached to this proposal.

The event was also supported by an exclusive exhibition hall with only 9 exhibitors, to which Lawtech was one. The opportunity to discuss featured conference topics in ECO and the Green Deal and also current markets within CESP and CERT.

After Lunch MP Andrew Stunell OBE addressed the hall and the need for quality within the Green Deal. His interesting approach outlined the proposal under a sticks and carrots philosophy. The Sticks being the regulations and direction that keeps the proposal in line. For example the regulation to which Landlords will no longer be able to rent a property with Energy Performance less than F rating and the widening need to display energy performance certificates for all properties residential and commercial. The Carrot parts of the proposal are those there to incentivise. For example proposed vat equalisation, council tax reduction for better energy efficient homes and boiler scrappage schemes extensions.

Rt. Hon. Chris Huhne’s ministerial address and question and answer session created the greatest interaction. It was made clear that the Green Deal would be made open to everyone with no restrictions, however the measures available would be restricted compared to CESP and CERT. The focus on insulation and fuel efficiency. It was equally made clear the supporting delivery vehicle ECO would be specifically available to hard to treat properties and individuals deemed to be within fuel poverty. It was clear however and following many unanswered questions that the truth about ECO and the Green Deal would be discovered on release of the consultation document.

Lawtech is one of the largest installers of external wall insulation systems across the UK with offices in Rochester and Glasgow. Lawtech is UKAS accredited to ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 and is an active member of both the NIA & INCA.

Lawtech is able to act as a Principal Contractor on multi million pound “green” retrofit schemes installing and managing multiple energy saving measures, and in addition as a specialist façade contractor working with other contractor partners. We are able to offer advice and assistance in respect to grants and funds schemes available under CERT, CESP and from 2013 Green Deal.