On Thursday 1st December 2011 Insulation specialists from far and wide embarked upon the Yorkshire town of Harrogate, for the NIA’s annual conference.

The conference, as expected revolved around the Green Deal and ECO (Energy Company Obligation). Points where raised and discussed over the mixed fortunes it will bring throughout the members industries. Over 300 members attended and 40 guest attendees, highlighting the interest in the topical points of discussion.

Tony Hardiman and Neil Marshall opened the event reviewing where the industry has been the last year and where we are now. It was outlined where the NIA envisaged us all going under Green Deal and ECO too. The forecast, a gloomy 10 fold decrease for the Cavity Wall market and an opportunistic 10 fold increase in the Solid Wall market.

DECC’s (Department of Energy and Climate Change’s) vision was outlined for Green Deal & ECO. The vision looks from a consumer, government and installers points of view. The Consumer will benefit from a competitive market place, home improvements and the removal of upfront costs. The Government will benefit by means that the beneficiary will meet the cost of works and other works to be unwritten by the ECO, freeing up Government money. The Installers are provided with new opportunities and the provision is to suit a sustainable delivery.

Furthermore the Green Deal and its 25 year programme to be delivered under the ‘Golden Rule’, where the beneficiary pays back the cost of works over a period offset against the savings made. The Green Deal is seen as a 5 stage process. Interest raised by the homeowner/occupier, an assessment by an independent body and proposal package of works formulated, the finance proposal of the deal, the installation and the repayment. Each stage has been earmarked with boundaries, practices and potential legislation. The ECO has been outlined as a £1.3 billion obligation on the energy companies, approximately 75% on hard to treat properties such as Solid Wall construction and 25% towards ‘Affordable Warmth’, assisting those essentially in fuel poverty or classed as the SuperPriorityGroup with CERT.

The afternoon saw four senior representatives from DECC attend the conference. They approached the collective audience with an aim to gather useful industry insight and answer questions around the proposals made under Green Deal & ECO. Key focus lay on how the Government would help motivate people in to this new concept and how a smooth as possible transition can be made between current funding and the new proposals. A targeted positioning of information at decision making points supported by an early adopters incentive fund of £200 Million is a summary of their response.

A panel session was held with consumer, retail, energy company, finance and local authority representation. The collective posed different importance, but an interactive debate highlighted the need for consumer awareness, the need to produce these projects at an accelerated run rate and to make the financing and administration as such as simple and transparent as possible.

The day closed out with focus on installer accreditation the code of practice and standards that will be expected of those under the Green Deal. Reassurance was given that these processes will be in place to ensure standards will remain within the Solid Wall Industry, as expectation on the growth of the market will undoubtedly see a host of companies try and latch onto the opportunity available. Emphasis was also placed upon on the assessment of properties and the regulation around who can provide the stages involved to ensure impartiality and the best results for the consumer.

After the conference the NIA hosted a GALA dinner at the nearby Barceló Majestic Hotel. Guest were wined, dined and entertained. The meal was followed by the awards ceremony where accreditation was offered across the insulation industry for areas of expertise. The evening then opened up where guests where surprisingly yet gratefully provided with an entertainment hall which consisted of Scalextrix racing, bowling alley, dance arcade, f1 racing simulators, table football, snowboard simulation and ski jump simulation. The whole event capped off a well organised day and credit to the NIA team for their efforts putting the event together.

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.