BT2 8PB
Present:
Stewart Cuddy NIHE
Noel Rice NIHE
Barry Steele NIHE
Maureen Kerr NIHE
Joanne Gamble GCC
Andy Frew Thermacad Consultant
Bernadette Duffy EAGA Partnership
David Blevings NI Oil Federation
Pat Austin NEA NI
Katie Pilkington Energy Advice Centre
Alastair Pollock Phoenix Natural Gas
Donall Henderson NIFHA
Shirley McCrea Energy Saving Trust
Colin Nugent Environment and Heritage
Terry Waugh Action Renewables
Thomas O’Reilly DFP
Jack Cassidy NIHE
Gwyneth Scott NIE
In attendance
David Stanley DETI
Apologies
Jenny Boyd NIE
Nigel Brady Energy Advice Centre
Mark Prentice BGE NI
Frank McCloskey RSUA
Noel Williams Energy Saving Trust
Dermott McCann OFREG
Andy McCrea Action Renewables
Ken Thompson Coal Advisory Service
John McMullan Bryson House
Patrick Waterfield Energy In Buildings
Mike Christie BCC
Item Minutes Action
1.0 The previous minutes were agreed.
2.0 Matters Arising
2.1 HEED Database Working Group
Noel Williams intends setting up working group in January.
3.0 Schemes Update
3.1 Micro CHP
18 systems are now in place. 10 in Housing Executive, 7 in Housing Association and 1 in owner occupied. Some operational problems have arisen – mainly software and some technical. Manufacturers are currently working on a report into why the problems are occurring. Given that the scheme is a trial to see how the systems operate, it is good that the problems are being identified at this stage.
David Stanley asked why the difficulties in such schemes tended mainly to arise in the private sector and not in the Housing Executive installations. Stewart Cuddy suggested that the higher specification used in Housing Executive houses may mean fewer problems arise. Also, Egan Contractors know that they have to maintain the work long term and so may make more effort to get it right at the outset. David Blevings added that the Housing Executive use OFTEC registered contractors which would ensure a higher standard of work and suggested that this should be compulsory.
3.2 Clever Homes
120 Ventilation Systems are to be installed across all tenures. There are two types of system, Ecosmart and Nuaire Sunwarm. Both are solar systems; Nuaire also has an added water heating aspect. 60 of each system to be installed. 17 systems have been installed so far with one more next week. In New Year systems to go in at a rate of 4 per week.
The scheme has a fuel poor aspect and an able to pay. The able to pay contribution is £400 per household.
3.3 Breathe Easy
Project commenced October 2003. Referrals initially from Cupar Street Asthma Clinic, although now taking referrals from other sources. All participants to be monitored by Cupar Street. 17 Houses have been completed with heating and heat recovery ventilation systems. 3 Properties have work ongoing.
3.4 Hard to Heat Homes
All of the technologies are in place and monitoring is ongoing. The replacement site for the 2.5kw wind turbine has been identified and awaiting Planning Permission.
The Windsave wind turbine has just received Clear Skies accreditation and is awaited for the Ballycastle property.
The Hard to Heat Homes project has been filmed for Home Sweet Home and should be screened early in the New Year.
4.0 Energy and Environment Fund
The Secretary of State announced the provision of £50m to promote the use of renewables over the next two years. The Housing Executive has made a bid to the fund to provide solar panels alongside the heating replacement programme. Awaiting confirmation on whether the bid has been successful or not. Ongoing work to put adequate systems in place (specifications, eligibility criteria etc) to deliver the scheme should the bid be successful.
David Stanley confirmed that there should be 6000 new renewable installations by the end of the two years delivered by the successful bids to the fund.
4.1 The Chancellor has also announced a fund of £300m for energy efficient measures for homes – mainly for the elderly in receipt of pension credit. The Department are investigating if they can bid for funding which would augment Housing Executive budget for energy measures.
5.0 UK HECA Conference
Noel Rice informed the panel that the 409 HECA Authorities hold an annual conference. This conference moves location each year and there is a possibility that the conference could be held in Northern Ireland in 2007. This would involve over 200 delegates and would give Northern Ireland the opportunity to show case the work that is going on here. Whilst most of the costs are met by delegate fees, the conference does require some local sponsorship. Approaches have been made to PNG, NIE, EAGA and BGE who had agreed in principle to some sponsorship. A meeting will take place in the New Year with these organisations to discuss the subject further. On behalf of the UK HECA Association Noel invited any of the other organisations on the Panel to contact him if they were interested in being part of the Conference.
6.0 Warm Homes Update
STATISTICS AS AT 30 /11 / 2005
REFERRALS RECEIVED - 8 159
AREA 1 1553
AREA 2 1264
AREA 3 1703
AREA 4 1428
AREA 5 2211
SURVEYS ALLOCATED - 6 959
COMPLETED - 6 535
INSULATION WORKS COMPLETED - 4 771
HEATING JOBS COMPLETED - 1 772
Total committed to date: £11 771 009.24
7.0 HECA Report
7.1 The completed report was sent to the Minister on 30.11.05. The report contains the 2004 Interim House Condition Survey tables. Noel Rice pointed out that the first 17% improvement was good but the remaining 17% improvement in energy efficiency required to meet the 34% HECA target would be much more difficult to achieve. He thanked the Panel as the measures taken to achieve this figure had been carried out by everyone working in different energy sectors.
7.2 Stewart Cuddy commented that the Review of Public Administration may result in more pressure to achieve HECA targets.
8.0 David Stanley DETI – Presentation
David Stanley gave a presentation on the Renewables Obligation (attached). There was a lengthy discussion about energy issues in the Province. It was agreed that in the future the profile of energy generation would have to change, demand would need to be reduced and behavioural patterns in the use of energy would have to be addressed.
9.0 Any Other Business
9.1 Alastair Pollock commented on the issue of gas prices. He pointed out that various factors including
· World price increases
· Expectations of cold winter and therefore increased demand
· Market in Europe not opening up as expected
were impacting on current prices which were under constant review. Whist some of these issues may be sorted in the longer term, in the short term it was very likely that they would result in another price rise in the New Year.
9.2 Bernadette Duffy circulated copies of the Warm Homes Scheme annual report.
9.3 David Stanley asked if the Panel thought that NI was sufficiently covered by the levy fund for energy efficiency projects. He asked if anyone had any suggestions as to how we could do more – comments should be sent to David Stanley at DETI.
10.0 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Friday 24th March 2006 at 10.00am.