'Selling' Energy Solutions

There are many financial benefits in providing energy efficient solutions for your clients. The first and largest incentive is that saving energy saves money as well as carbon emissions. Current financial stringency for clients means that providing a cost effective solution can win contracts. An added bonus is that saving energy reduces carbon emissions and helps the environment, a so-called win-win situation.

The price of energy is expected to keep rising over the medium to long term.  The government has made the reduction in emissions one of its cornerstone policies and this includes the use of renewable energy as well as energy efficiency targets. It has ‘encouraged’ energy efficiency by increasing incentives such as the climate change levy and the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRCEES) and ESOS audits.

‘Green’ taxes are set to continue as the government strives to meet its emission targets. The increasing cost of energy can provide excellent business opportunities for registered members who can provide energy solutions to clients and specifies.

There are also a number of grants and tax offset schemes to encourage efficient installations which your client may be interested in.  As a contractor you may be able to tap into these financial benefits on behalf of your clients, to provide added incentive to install energy efficient products and installations.

Enhanced Capital Allowances, which are capital allowances made fully available in the first year, may be available for eligible equipment

There are many financial benefits in providing energy efficient solutions for your clients. The first and largest incentive is that saving energy saves money as well carbon emissions. Current financial stringency for clients means that providing a cost effective solution can win contracts. An added bonus is that saving energy reduces carbon emissions and helps the environment, a win-win situation.

Energy costs are rising and there are many grants and opportunities for clients and specifiers to invest in energy efficient installations and equipment. Schemes such as the Feed in Tariffs (FITs) encourage the installation of renewable technologies and further incentives will be implemented including the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and the Green Deal.   The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme further raises the incentives to invest in energy efficiency, particularly for medium to large organisations such as banks, hotels, supermarkets, schools, retail chains, and manufacturers. This is being phased out in 2018 and will be replaced by another form of levy.

The government has set carbon emission reduction targets and will continue to set increasingly stringent ones for buildings efficiency via the Building Regulations, culminating in the target for all NEW domestic households to be ‘carbon free’ by 2016 and all NEW commercial buildings to follow in 2019. This is going to present a huge challenge to the industry and contractors must be in a good position to attract this work.

The ECA has produced a downloadable guide entitled ‘Making the Case for Energy Saving Measures’.

This guide is for ECA Registered Members working with domestic and small commercial clients
(e.g. in small office or retail environments). It describes how to carry out, and put forward, basic
financial calculations to help illustrate the financial benefits of installing energy saving measures.

Downloads

• Commercial opportunity in smart, distributed UK energy infrastructure
• Making the Case for Energy Saving Measures
  This guide is for ECA Registered Members working with domestic and small commercial clients (e.g. in small office or retail environments). It describes how to carry out, and put forward, basic financial calculations to help illustrate the financial benefits of installing energy saving measures.

The energy agenda in the UK has seldom been more important. Energy costs are continually rising and there are many financial incentives and opportunities for consumers to invest in energy efficient installations and equipment. Schemes such as the Feed in Tariffs (FITs) encourage the installation of renewable technology and further incentives include the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Downloads

• Making the Case for Energy Saving Measures
  • This guide is for ECA Registered Members working with domestic and small commercial clients (e.g. in small office or retail environments). It describes how to carry out, and put forward, basic financial calculations to help illustrate the financial benefits of installing energy saving measures.