What's New

Hard to Treat or Hard to Fund

HEAT (Home Energy Action Team) at Calderdale Council have just released a report on the pilot work they have been carrying out on possible measures for so called Hard to Treat properties - common across the borough.

These houses have solid walls and/or attics that are used for living space making then unsuitable for the cheaper, common loft insulation.

Unfortunately, much of the housing in Hebden Bridge is still unsuitable to be addressed by the measures suggested as they are too old (pre 1900).

Read this excellent report here

Community energy

The ATC are working with Calderdale Council in running some workshops on Community Energy, as part of Calderdale Future Energy, across the borough. If you are interssted in hosting a workshop, or would like more information on Community Energy, please contact the us.

This is a rough guide to the various stages involved in setting up a Community Energy project.

Community Energy

Sociable sorts...

BLOGS

The ATC's official blog is now online! This is now where you can find all the latest information about new exhibitions, events at the centre, developments in the renewables industry and how you can lead a more sustainable life!

Click here to have a look and please keep checking back!

Also, Patrick has set up a blog to document the life of an energy worker here at the ATC and the projects they are involved in.

Have a read here and don't be afraid to get in touch with him, Adam or Jacob if you have any questions!

Renewable energy fact sheets

Solar Photovoltaics

Solar Water Heating

Biomass

Wind

Hydro-electric

Heat Pumps

Financial Incentives

NEWS FLASH: RHI SCHEME RELEASED

“This incentive is the first of its kind in the world. It’ll help the UK shift away from fossil fuel, reducing carbon emissions and encouraging innovation, jobs and growth in new advanced technologies.”

(Secretary of State, Chris Huhne)

The government have at last released information about the RHI, which is going to cost £860 million and is expected to boost capital investment in green industries by £4.5 billion leading up to 2020, thereby stimulating a new market in renewable heat.

The scheme will not be implemented until October 2012 however, which is likely to compound the aforementioned concerns of the renewable heat industry and means quite a long wait before any payments to any households will be distributed.

On the plus side, the scheme aims to create 150,000 jobs in the manufacturing, supply chain and installing of renewable heat sources, as well as more than a quarter of the first year's budget to go towards an "RHI Premium Payment" which is guaranteed for up to 25,000 household, to encourage take up, as well as payments back-dated to renewable heat installations from July 2009.

For the full press release and information on the tariffs visit the DECC website.

The official website of the scheme can be found here, The Renewable Heat Incentive.

RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a new government scheme, which is to run in a similar capacity to the Feed-in Tariffs introduced in April 2010. The aim of the project is to get more people to install renewable heat systems in their homes such as solar thermal panels, heat pumps or a biomass wood boiler.

The benefits that are outlined for an average household using 15,000 kWh a year are 13,700 kWh of heat generated which pays the homeowner £1,400 a year. Biomass fuel could cost up to £575 a year so the total annual benefit works out at £825 a year.

The scheme survived the spending cuts and it was announced on the 20th October 2010 that it was to go ahead.

However, despite being urged by the green heat industry, the government have repeatedly delayed and is now expected to begin in June rather than April of this year, although climate change minister Greg Barker has refused to confirm this.

This has caused substantial concern among renewable utility companies as without quick implementation of the scheme, non-renewable electrical options will be pursued instead. The delays also hinder the governments aim to have 20 percent of heat being generated by renewable systems, a figure which currently stands at 1 percent.

To find out more about the RHI and how you can start producing renewable heat for your home, visit The Renewable Heat Incentive website.

DEEP - Domestic Energy Efficency PROJECT

An innovative energy efficiency project has started in Hebden Bridge.

Local residents in two small areas in and around Hebden Bridge are being encouraged to take part in the project. Participants will receive a comprehensive energy survey and advice on how to save energy costs and cut down on carbon emissions.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has provided £110,000 to fund the trial. The Council will work with the Alternative Technology Centre, Pennine Housing, energy companies and contractors to test the principles of a wider project taking place within Yorkshire and Humber.

Participants will receive an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), valid for ten years, setting out their home's energy efficiency rating and giving suggestions for how this could be improved based on the household and individual property.

Further information will be provided on choosing energy suppliers, tariffs and payment options so that residents can confidently use price comparison services. Details on renewable energy services will be also be offered to participants so they can explore the opportunities available.

Councillor Janet Battye, Leader of the Council said:

"Hebden Bridge is the ideal place to launch this project. With just over 3000 people living in these areas we hope they will all join in this exciting scheme to help us make some real changes for our environment. The experience will also give Calderdale a head start in readiness for the Government's anticipated 'Green Deal' when it is launched in 2013."

Lessons learned in Hebden Bridge will affect how a larger scheme could be carried out. The pilot has started this week and will run for three months.

Local residents in the two target areas will receive a letter with details on how to take part in the coming weeks.

CYCLE RECYLCE

A new project at the ATC.

Cycle recycle aims to reuse unwanted bikes – stopping them from being put into landfill (or the canal) – and helping people to be able to buy bikes at a reasonable price.

It also hopefully encourages more people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes, get fit and have some fun at the same time.

We take old bikes, as long as they are not too far gone, parts and accessories (except for helmets).

You can drop off anything at the Alternative Technology Centre but please give us a ring first on 01422 842121

See www.cyclerecycle.org.uk for more details

Energy EFFICIENCY IN THE HOME

What is energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency should always be the first point of call for anybody looking to address their energy use and wanting to green up their lifestyle - it is cheaper to save energy than it is to produce it.

 There are many options available for new build properties, but retrofitting measures on existing ‘hard to treat’ housing stock  can be complex, sometimes disruptive and  more costly. 

An average house in Calderdale uses 4300 kW hrs a year. Of this approx 61% will be for heating, 23% for hot water, 3% for cooking and 13% for lighting and appliances. Heat loss through the external walls is on average 35%.

 Hard to treat housing

It is estimated that 50% of the privately owned houses in Calderdale are classed as ‘hard to treat’ because of their age and or construction type. Much of the housing stock in the Upper Calder Valley is defined as hard to treat. These houses have random stone cavities or solid walls and or attic bedrooms.  This means that they can’t be  easily or cheaply insulated with conventional fibre insulation for cavity walls and lofts. They are usually houses that were built before 1930.  

What can we do?

There are three main ways of insulating a hard to treat house – alternative cavity fill, external cladding or interior dry lining.  All of these methods are relatively new technologies which have higher manufacturing and installation costs compared to conventional loft and cavity wall fibre insulation.  They do not yet attract the same level of carbon subsidy from the energy companies through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme as fibre insulation does.  However, this insulation reduces heat loss, makes homes cheaper to heat, protects the owners against the high likelihood of rising energy prices and may add value to house prices as house buyers begin to place more importance on fuel costs.

Alternative cavity fill

If houses do have a random cavity, it may be possible to treat this with an alternative form of insulation such as poly bead or liquid phenolic foam, subject to a survey.  These materials can be easy to install from the outside of the house and there is minimal disruption for the householder.  

Costs can vary depending on the size of the property and width of the cavity, which makes it difficult to give any estimation on price.  Additional work may also be needed to provide ventilation and ensure the condition of the external wall is suitable for this work to proceed.  These two products tend to be cheaper than the following alternative options.

External cladding Solid wall external cladding is generally a composite system made up of three basic layers –

• an insulant, providing the thermal insulation
• a fixing or framework, fixing the system to the substrate
• a protective, decorative finish. This can be either wet render or dry cladding which is rigid boards, panels or tiling in a variety of different materials.

It will require planning permission as it changes the appearance of a house. This is particularly relevant in conservation areas. The benefits of exterior cladding are mostly in older houses in a poor state of repair where it will also improve the look of a building.

The costs are around £45 - £65 sq/metre depending on the product and the condition of the exterior surface.

Internal wall insulation or dry lining

This does not usually require planning permission except in a listed building.

There are various types of dry lining insulation available on the market. Thin types can be pasted onto walls in the same way as wallpaper and cause very little disruption, whereas the thicker types mean that all skirting boards, windows and doors etc have to be altered to accommodate them. They will also obviously reduce the size of rooms – often a problem in the small rooms in the typical terraced house.

A project being conducted in partnership with Calderdale Council and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on the energy efficiency of a back to back property pre and post hard to treat insulation works will inform a detailed specification of products and prices.

Another option?

Insulation can be very complex – there are many factors such as condensation and air circulation to be taken into consideration. Thick stone walls themselves act as heat stores and insulating them from the warmth of a room (internally) can remove this. Another option that can be considered is the installation of renewable energy technologies – solar water, solar photo voltaic (PV) electricity generation, wind or heat pumps. Please see our information sheets for more information. The introduction of the new Feed in Tariff (or Green Energy Cash Back) scheme means that this will cut the property's fuel bills dramatically.

Proper management of energy and altering behaviours to reduce consumption within a house could also go a long way to reducing bills and carbon emissions.

Planning

Much of the housing stock in the area is included in conservation areas and/or is listed. There are obviously complex issues to do with planning and heritage to consider – balancing the needs of people to be able to keep warm affordably and the general look and preservation of the heritage of an area. Please contact you local planning office for advice.

For a Cost Carbon analysis of different measures used to treat Hard to Treat houses click here.  

There is a display with full information on the different options for Hard to Treat houses at the ATC.

Power from the Landscape

The use of water power in the South Pennines can be traced back from the very early corn and fulling mills through to powering the Industrial Revolution of the 19thC. 

Power from the Landscape aims to make water power a common feature of the landscape once again and provide clean community owned energy for the people of the area. 

The landscape of the South Pennines is of steep sided valleys with small fast flowing rivers. The energy from this can be harnessed using modern micro hydro turbines to generate electricity to be fed into the grid.

If you have a site that you think would be suitable or would like any more information, please contact Pete Hill on pete@powerfromthelandscape.co.uk and see the website at www.powerfromthelandscape.co.uk

Power in the Landscape

The Power in the Landscape project, carried out by the ATC with support from the Local Heritage Initiative, Hebden Royd and Calderdale Council and the local community, explores the water powered mills of the Upper Calder Valley, in particular the Colden Valley.

The Calder Valley was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution and the project has also looked at the potential for putting hydro power back in.