getting ready for the Energy Busters challenge

REAP Scotland advisers have been helping pupils to become ‘Energy Busters’ in a pilot project.  They presented their Energy Buster challenge to Rothes, New Elgin, Lhanbryde and Craigellachie primary schools over five weeks in the winter.  The pupils loved being put in charge and welcomed the chance to become secret energy detectives.  They have been finding out how much energy is being used in school and thinking of ways to reduce it.

REAP's Lynne Laing shows pupils how the thermal imaging camera can detect heat loss

Lynne Laing of REAP said “The teachers have been very supportive and have encouraged the pupils to share their findings with the rest of the school.  They have readily introduced changes where possible and have agreed to continue monitoring and reducing use.  We have watched the children become promoters of change and hope this work can continue in the future”.

The Energy Busters programme is an introduction to the energy element of carbon footprinting and aims to help empower pupils to take action to improve their school environment.  By taking responsibility for saving energy within their school, pupils learn how their behaviour affects the world around them.

Looking for draughts round an outside door with a special draught spiral

Bill Anderson, Moray Council Energy Officer, was delighted to encourage the pupils involved via email correspondence.  “This type of practical activity can really help children to think about energy use in school and at home.  Most children know about fossil fuels and how they contribute to global warming but few are given the responsibility of reducing their use.  ‘Energy Busters’ has been an opportunity for pupils to take the lead in rising to the challenge we all face.  In a short time, they have managed to show that reductions can be achieved and their enthusiasm is to be commended.”

In recognition of the successes the pupils have achieved, REAP have organised a fantastic day trip for the pupils involved.  Local environmental education charity Wild things! will take the children to visit an ancient woodland where they will learn about the importance of trees in the carbon cycle.

There are three possible outcomes:

1) you install a Solar PV system before the 3rd of March and the government lose the right to appeal you will definitely receive 21p per kWh and you may well secure 43.3p per kWh.

 2) you install a solar PV system before the 3rd March and the government win you will definitely receive 21p per kwh and

3) you install a solar PV system after the 3rd March but before the 1st April, you will definitely receive the 21p per kwh but avoid the potentially costly alterations to improve energy efficiency in your property, presently being considered by DECC.

Greg Barker – UKEnergy Minister – has laid before parliament the draft licence modifications to the feed-in-tariff: “We must reduce the level of FITs for solar panels as quickly as possible, to protect consumer bills and to avoid bust in the whole Feed-in-Tariff budget. We’re appealing against the court ruling that’s challenged our proposal for a December reference date. This remains our aim, and we are waiting for the judgment of the Court of Appeal. But this is too important for us to sit and do nothing while we wait. Today we’re putting in place a contingency that will bring a 21p rate into effect from April for installations from 3 March.”

Moray environmental charity REAP have teamed up with local solar panel manufacturers AES in Forres to offer best value to householders in Moray, Nairn & Huntly for solar panels. In order to help householders reduce their energy bills they have negotiated further reductions in prices for Solar PV panels. This makes PV more affordable than ever and a very good investment – for example a 3 Kilowatt array now costs £8,430 fully installed.

Eddie Brown REAP’s Community Renewables Coordinator said: “There is a window of opportunity here for Moray householders. They will definitely get the 21p per unit which will give them a return on investment of around 7%APR but they might just get the old, higher level of 43p per unit giving a whopping 12% APR depending on the outcome of the court case. It’s a win-win for Moray householders.”

For more information contact REAP on 01542 880200 or e-mail eddie@reapscotland.org

REAP staff were delighted to have the opportunity to encourage these young people to explore their creative talents in such a constructive way.  Lynne Laing of REAP said “We should all be more aware of the need to cut down our energy use and take action to reduce the negative effect it has on our environment.  These young people have shown that environmental issues are important to them and that they are keen to promote change.  They’ve created a cool song with a serious message and have had lots of fun along the way”. 

Moray Firth Radio, Cash for Kids, kindly donated £250 towards the cost of buying some hoodies and caps for the group.  They have performed their RAP for REAP staff and a video was taken which will be added to the REAP website soon.  When asked how he felt about the project Tigah said “What the kids are trying to say in their own way is that we’ve got a generation of young people who are aware of what some adults are doing – they have no regard for the planet – the seas, the trees, the sky, animal life…even each other.  What we’re trying to do is change that”.

 These young people obviously understand the impacts our modern lifestyles have on the environment and Gemma summed this up perfectly when she said “we need to respect each other and improve our behaviour on this planet”.  

 The Eco-Rap can be found on You Tube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiVJZiA6V_c&feature=youtube_gdata

 REAP is hoping to extend its partnership with Elgin Youth Café into the future and is currently seeking support for work in Moray schools. For more information contact info@reapscotland.org.uk or Tel: 01542 888070/ 880200

A typical uninsulated cavity wall has a U-value of 1.5W/m²K. That is to say, for every 1° difference in temperature (in Kelvin) between inside and outside, every square metre of wall will lose 1.5 Watts of energy(Energy Saving Trust 2011). Insulation which fills the cavity will reduce the heat loss to a value of around 0.5W/m²K. In other words, the insulated wall loses 66% less heat than the uninsulated one.

When choosing insulating material neither the thickness nor the weight matter (as far as thermal resistance is concerned). Two materials with the same U-value should insulate equally well regardless of any difference in thickness or type of material. For example: 100mm of mineral wool could have the same U-value as 12mm of calcium silicate sheet.

Remember: The lower the U-value the better.

R-values are a measure of the thermal resistance of a material, or how well they insulate and are likely to be displayed on the packaging of insulating material. Materials with a high R-value are poor conductors of heat and so make for good insulators. The higher the R-value the better.

°Kelvin Vs. °Centigrade

1°Kelvin is the same as 1°Centigrade but the difference is that Kelvin starts at absolute zero (0°K or -273°C) and is recorded in positive numbers only e.g. 20°K or 200°K; whereas Centigrade takes the freezing point of water as its start point so it can have negative (-20°C) or positive numbers (20°C).

To convert Kelvin to Centigrade subtract 273: for example, 273°K – 273=0°C. Another example: 373°K – 273 = 100°C. And to convert Centigrade to Kelvin just add 273.

Able to Pay

If the applicant is not on benefits and/or under 70 they are classed as Able to Pay. This means that the client, if a homeowner, pays an amount towards the cost of the insulation (see Table 1) with the remainder being subsidised by the energy companies.

Priority

Under the CERT scheme, people over 70 or on various benefits and allowances qualify to have cavity wall and/or loft insulation for free unless the property is larger than average for its type (see Table 2 for sizes). The following benefits and allowances qualify for Priority funding:

Council Tax benefit (not 25% single occupancy discount)

Housing benefit

Income support

Income-based job seekers allowance

Attendance allowance

Disability living allowance

War disablement pension (must include a mobility supplement or a constant attendance allowance)

Disablement pension (must include constant attendance allowance)

State pension credit

Child tax credit and the household income is £15, 592 or less

Working tax credit and the household income is £15, 592 or less

or

Aged at least 70

Insulation

The tables below detail the pricing policy of our preferred third party insulation installer for Able to Pay and Priority clients. The prices are for cavity wall and loft insulation (including lagging of water pipes and cold water tank if situated in the loft) and lofts will be insulated to the recommended minimum depth of 270mm.

Table 1: CERT Able to Pay pricelist

For details of excess please see bottom of Table 2.

Table 2: CERT Priority pricelist

There is an excess of £4.21 (inc. VAT) per additional square metre for cavity wall insulation and £5.26 (inc. VAT) per additional square metre for loft insulation. This means there is an additional £5.26 for every square metre over the free square metre allowance. Some examples will help explain what this means:

• Example 1 (using Table 1).

A homeowner – classified as Able to Pay – could have 95m² of cavity wall insulation or 50m² of loft insulation installed for £129 if the depth of the loft insulation they have currently is less than 60mm (2.63”).

• Example 2

If their loft had an area of 50m² but an existing depth greater than 60mm it would cost £199.

N.B. Because the loft had more than 60mm of insulation, increasing its depth to 270mm is classed as a top-up. The reason why a top-up is more expensive than getting the full 270mm is that although both procedures are subsidised by the ‘big six’ energy companies, top-up saves less carbon and so it is subsidised less. This means the installer get less money from the energy companies when doing a top-up and has to pass the cost onto the customer.

• Example 3

A loft with an area of 60m² and a current depth greater than 60mm would cost (60-50) x £5.26 + £199 =£251.60.

• Example 4 (using Table 2).

If the homeowner is given Priority status and lives in a semi-detached, three bedroomed house and has a loft with an area of 50m² with less than 60mm/2.63” of insulation, they would get the loft insulation for free.

• Example 5

If all the parameters remain the same except we increase the area to 75m² they would get the first 50m² for free as before, but they would have to pay the loft insulation excess of £5.26 for each m² over the 50m² limit. Meaning they would pay (75-50) x £5.26 which is £131.50.

Draught-proofing

Our preferred insulation installer will also draught-proof one external door for free for Priority customers if insulation is installed on the same day. To draught-proof a second external door (Priority) costs £20. Able to Pay customers pay £20 per door.

To find out if you qualify for CERT or if you want more information you can call REAP free on 0800 085 4008 or pop into our office at 177 Mid Street, Keith, and we can go through the check list with you. And if you would like a no obligation survey, we can arrange that too.

Most frequently you will see these panels on roofs, but, if this is difficult, they can also be ground mounted, as seen above. The benefits of this are that they can be easily orientated in perfect direction, South, and set at the optimum angle, not always achievable on a building.

solar power in the hills - ground mounted solar array in Glenlivet

REAP and AES have been working hard to get as many PV installations as possible completed before the 12^th December deadline when the FIT (Feed In Tariff) for domestic Photovoltaics is due to reduce from 43.3p per kWh down to 21p per kWh. A PV panel installation may still be an realistic investment after this date if you have a near south facing roof with up to 24m² of suitable unshaded surface.

For more information get in touch with REAP’s solar team on 01542 880200 or 888070 or info@reapscotland.org.uk

A fuller explanation of REAP’s proposal can be found at Energise!

Any letters of support can be e-mailed to energise@reapscotland.org.uk or contact REAP for more information on info@reapscotland.org.uk.

See below to find what people are saying about REAP’s work in schools.

“We are also, as a school at the early stages at looking where REAP can work with S1 pupils as well as engaging with older pupils, with the possibility of looking at our actual school building.

The help and advice has been excellent so far and I hope that it may continue and develop into something that is really worthwhile for all concerned as well as our environment.”

 Ian Barker, Speyside High School

“This type of practical activity can really help children to think about energy use in school and home. Most children learn about fossil fuels and how they contribute to global warming, but few are given the responsibility of reducing their energy use. (REAP’s) Energy Busters has been an opportunity for pupils to take the lead in rising to the challenge we all face. In a short time they have managed to show that reductions can be achieved and their enthusiasm is to be commended.”

Moray Council’s Energy Officer, William Anderson

“Thank you again for your own enthusiasm and supportive approach with the pupils and for your well organised and resourced input. I hope you will be able to deliver this programme to many more schools and allow pupils to feel empowered as my pupils have done and experience the value and worth of their actions. They are our future after all!”

 Fiona Milne, Lhanbryde Primary School

For more information about solar panles for producing electricity or hot water contact REAP’s solar team on 01542 880200 or 888070

The first activity morning was held in Tomintoul this week, an area of Moray where winter weather often hits hard.  The lady above is being shown how to check that she is on the right fuel tariff, helped by Susan Butts from the Moray Council Library Service, who are able to offer people access to a computer to check the u-switch website for the best deal.

The Eco Committee from Tomintoul Primary School enjoyed making draught proofing snakes while some ladies enjoyed taking part in our Energy Bingo.  Advisers were on hand with plenty of practical advice on home insulation and solar panels.

 

Energy Bingo

 

Community Food Moray, the Waste Aware Team and Moray Council libraries all attended the event and the ladies of the SWRI kindly provided very welcome refreshments.

 

Thermal Image of Eco Committee

“We need the cold weather to get a clear image from the thermal camera”, explained Barrie. “A temperature difference of at least 10^oC between the outside temperature and that inside the client’s home gives a nice clear image of where heat is being lost, as well as detecting draughts and dampness. It really helps clients identify how they can save energy. As fuel prices rise and many people are spending more than 10% of their income on fuel, all the help they can get to save energy is welcome.”

Barriehas been surveying some of GHA’s properties to help the Housing Association’s tenants keep warm this winter. “Appointments are made on my behalf by Grampian Housing Association to survey the client’s home with the REAP infrared camera and provide them with energy advice at the same time. The information is then passed to GHA who can help carry out remedial measures. We have already identified issues with all the surveyed properties, primarily as these are all older, hard to treat homes” explained Barrie. 

Barrie also works as part of REAP’s insulation team who can give free impartial advice on insulation, grants and energy saving measures. If you’d like help, call free on 0800 085 4008.