Update 30/6/2013

The project has now ended.

Update 31/3/2013

Project is extended to the 30th June !

We are looking for expressions of interest from home owners in the Crediton and District area who might be considering installing solar hot water, a heat pump or a biomass boiler in their property over the next 3 months. As we are successful in our Renewable Heat Premium Payment Community Scheme application there will be a greater government grant available than there currently is for every installation plus a discount on the installation itself through Sustainable Crediton's agreement with the installer.

 There is absolutely no commitment required at this stage, just an expression of interest. Please contact Charles Mossman through this website or complete the Application Form and email it to info@sustainablecrediton.org.uk

Update 27/3/2013

The first deadline for our project is coming up, 31^st March. If you are installing some renewable energy equipment, then if possible please do your best to be completed with all your paperwork submitted to the EST Scotland by the 28^th March. The paperwork that EST Scotland require is the voucher claim form completed, receipted invoice from your installer and the MCS certificate for your equipment. When EST Scotland have this paperwork they will then process it and if all is in order pay you your grant.

From the outset of the project the EST have said that 35% of the funding granted us (almost £40,000 ) can be carried forward to 30^th June to enable installations to be completed that were for instance delayed because of planning requirements. Accordingly we told the EST that two of our installations would be late for that very reason. Now, however the EST have said that we can now carry forward 50% of our funding to the 30^th June. We will though lose any of the other 50% not spent by 31^st March. That's why it is important that as many of us complete by 31^st March, so that we can carry forward as much as possible into the next quarter.

It works a bit like this:-

In round figures we were granted approx. £40,000. We can carry forward £20,000 to end June. We have commitments in the pipeline (those of you who have gone ahead) at approx. £8000 some of which approx. £3000 is already deferred to end June.  So householders should claim say £5000 before end March. We then lose (£20,000 - £5000) £15000 but carry over £20,000 to end June out of which £3000 will be claimed and we have £17000 for new applicants or for the several clients who have still to make up their minds.

The good news is that for those of you who have not yet made up your minds for whatever reason, there may still be time to get your installation done by the end of June.

We will be re-advertising that the project has been extended and will be seeking new expressions of interest in an effort to spend the remaining money.

Update 28/1/2013

We are about halfway through the time frame of the project and Linda and I have been trying to get an understanding of where we are in terms of people getting surveys, quotes, making decisions, making commitments etc. We are doing this (a) because we are required to by the Energy Savings Trust as a condition of the grant award  (b) because if people drop out then there is an opportunity even now for new people to replace them and (c) because it has become apparent that our selected installers have not always been very prompt in providing quotes and have thus needed expediting.

Although Linda has contacted most of you by email or by phone and we have some information from the installers it would be very helpful if you could provide or confirm the following information by the 31^st January both to me and Linda please.

(a)    Have you decided to drop out of the scheme?

(b)   Have you already placed an order with an installer and if so who with and what for?

(c)    If you have placed an order, have you applied for your grant voucher from the Energy Savings Trust?

(d)   Are you about to place an order with an installer and if so who with and what for?

(e)   Have you got all the information you require from installers and are still thinking about what to do ?

(f)     Are you lacking some information, if so what information and what installer(s) ?

(g)    Is there anything you need from Linda or me?

Based on one of the householders in this scheme experiences, please ensure you do get two quotes for your requirements and if the two recommendations / prices are significantly different as to specification/size/location of equipment or omits something from the quote that the other company has included, then question both companies very carefully to ensure one has not made a mistake. It is not recommended to just rely on one installer. If you have any doubts about what to do, even if you have two quotes then do feel free to even get a third quote from an installer of your choice. This can be a big decision and you need to be confident that you are making the right one.

Remember there is no obligation for you to commit to anything.

Our installers are:

Optimum Heating (specialise in biomass, also do solar thermal)

Contacts: Nick Goff  07852657621 Main office: Simon Boorer 01271 372888

Solarsense (specialise in solar thermal, also do heat pumps and biomass)

Contacts: Jackson Moulding Main Office: 01275 461800 Mobile: 07875 135847 Stephen Barrett Main Office: 01275 461800

South West Heat Pumps in partnership with Solar Heat Tech (specialise in heat pumps, solar thermal and biomass)

Contacts: Richard Hopkins 07756 798020  Lesley Pook Main Office 01805 938003 (SW Heat Pumps)

Max May 07967 313 777 Leila Dinari 07813 127 120 (Solar Heat Tech)

Update 12/1/2013

INSULATION

We have selected an insulation contractor to work with us. The company is Energycare Insulations Limited.  They have been providing a wide range of energy saving products to the general public, local council authorities, housing associations, government organisations and the commercial construction industry, successfully and reliably for over 25 years. They are Exeter based and come highly recommended by another community group in the same scheme as us.

Their contact details are : website  www.energycare.co.uk

Russell Edge

Commercial Sales Manager

Tel : 01392 363402

Mob : 07590 225279

As you know it is a condition of our Warm Homes Project that in order to obtain an enhanced renewable heat premium payment that a home must have a minimum of 250mm loft insulation (where a home has a loft) and cavity wall insulation installed where appropriate to do so.

Even if you decide not to go ahead with a renewable heating installation through this scheme, if your home does not have these levels of insulation, it is really worthwhile considering having insulation fitted as it will help to keep your home warmer and save you on fuel/utility bills. Once you have had your EPC performed by either DARE (Kirsty Tooke)  or Creedy Homes Surveys (Eric Fee), you should know how you stand insulation wise.

Unfortunately there are no grants available anymore for insulation projects. I am also reliably advised that it will not be cost effective to have these sort of relatively low cost insulation materials fitted under the future Government "Green Deal " scheme as there will be assessment costs, admin costs and interest charges included in any green deal finance offerings. So now may well be a good time for you to install insulation if your home needs it.

Energycare Insulations will perform a no obligation survey and quote, and you can take their offer or leave it.

EPCs

I apologise for the fact that there has been a delay in getting the EPCs performed. But we have now engaged Eric Fee of Creedy Homes Surveys to supplement the work of DARE and you should all be surveyed shortly.

RENEWABLE HEATING QUOTES

You should all have been contacted by our installers for surveys and quotes. Please let us know if you have not had the surveys , quotes and advice that you require. We will work with the installers to expedite anything you need to help in your decision making. Any installations must be completed by 28^th March (although there may be some leeway in this) in order to qualify for the enhanced grant.

Finally, it may be worth considering a biomass boiler as an alternative to a heat pump. Biomass boilers frequently can work with existing radiator systems and may be an easier install than a heat pump.

PROCESSING YOUR APPLICATION

If you decide to go ahead with an installation, complete the relevant application form sent with Update 3 and send it to the Energy Savings Trust in Scotland.

OTHER

If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact either Linda Lever or myself.

Update 16/12/2012

We have received our Project Participation Agreement from the Energy Savings Trust (EST) setting out the conditions that Sustainable Crediton, the Installers and Householders must adhere to in order to receive the enhanced levels of Renewal Heat Premium Payments (RHPP). We have agreed to the conditions and returned the Agreement. The EST have confirmed that we can go ahead.

Most of the Householders have seen and agreed to the conditions already, but some have not and we must point out here that until we have received confirmation that you agree to the terms then you will not be eligible to receive the enhanced RHPP. We will email the outstanding householders later today. All of our Installers have completed their Partnership Agreement with Sustainable Crediton.

The enhanced RHPPs are as follows:

The enhanced grants will be payable upon satisfactory completion of individual householders installations before the 28th March 2013. The EST will be contacting householders individually with details of these grants and the process householders must follow to claim the grants from the EST.

Please note that you are under NO obligation to install any equipment if you do not wish to. We recommend that you get at least two quotes from your choice of the four installers.

The benefits of this scheme.

If you go ahead with an installation you will receive:

1. An enhanced RHPP as shown in the table above

2. You will receive discounted prices from the Installer of your choice.

3. The technology you chose ought to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and save you ongoing utility costs

4. You will get a free Energy Performance Certificate and renewal energy survey from DARE.

5. You will, if not already fully insulated, have 250mm loft insulation and cavity wall insulation fitted where applicable (at extra cost) which will also serve to reduce fuel bills.

Please note that we are investigating an insulation contractor who will partner with us on this project, more details to be forthcoming.

Other financial considerations to note.

The Government have just consulted on the Renewal Heat Incentive (RHI) for domestic installations. The results will be known in the New Year sometime.  The proposals in the consultation document set out ranges of incentive payments for each technology. The payments would be based on a deemed heat usage over a twenty year period, but payable for a period of only 7 years. We have attached an excel spreadsheet with some quite approximate calculations based on estimated heat outputs, estimated costs of equipment and conservative values for the incentive payments. In every case the capital cost of the equipment is repaid inside 7 years, taking account of the fact that the Government have indicated that any upfront grant will be taken into account in calculating the RHI payments for households.

Update 3/12/2012

We have been successful in our application for grants. See press release immediately below. We are still accepting expressions of interest in our project. Please click here for further details.

STOP PRESS

£675,000 BOOST FOR SIX SOUTH WEST RENEWABLE HEAT SCHEMES

Households in six communities in the South West have been awarded a share of £675,000 from the Government's renewable heat communities scheme, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker announced today.

The Renewable Heat Premium Payment communities scheme, launched in July this year, aims to kick-start new projects and build on renewable heating schemes already up and running across the South West and Great Britain, helping save people money on bills and providing low carbon heating alternatives to cut emissions.

Energy and Climate Minister Greg Barker said: "We need to transform the way we heat our homes to help keep bills down and cut carbon too. Community groups, with their enthusiasm, local knowledge and drive, need to be at the very heart of this revolution so it's great to see  six community groups across the South West getting on board.The money from this scheme will help around 290 householders across this region take advantage of the great benefits of renewable heat."

Energy Saving Trust's Director for Local Delivery Andy Deacon said:

"Today's announcement will see 38 communities across Great Britain helping local households install renewable heat technologies (such as solar water heating, heat pumps and biomass boilers). Local communities are at the forefront of the scheme and will play a vital role in learning how community buying networks could help make renewable heating more affordable for millions of British households. Energy Saving Trust is pleased to be working with DECC and our community partners to see how we can make this ambition a reality."

Chair of the Transition Network Peter Lipman said:

"I'm delighted that DECC, working with community representatives, have developed a scheme which has moved away from communities competing against each other towards encouraging and supporting collaboration between the communities taking part in this scheme, with many different models and huge amounts of innovation.  The challenges we face are going to require many more collaborative efforts between governments, councils, communities and householders."

Successful projects in the South West announced today are among 38 successful bids across Great Britain.

Communities in the South West awarded funding include:

Organisation                                                                   Funding

Exmoor Woodheat                                                            £189,000
Let's Go Solar, St Werburghs                                              £80,000
Pureshine (Stimulating Householders to Invest in New Energy) £126,000
Totnes Transition Streets Renewable Heat                            £69,000
Warm Homes Project (Sustainable Crediton)                          £39,000
WREN Domestic Heat Project                                              £172,000

Community-based organisations including community co-operatives, voluntary groups, social enterprises and development trusts were eligible to apply and can use this funding to install low carbon heating kit like solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps into homes in their local area.

The scheme is administered by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and successful projects were assessed on a number of criteria including the project's vision, potential benefits for the local area, potential partners and any relevant experience of delivering similar projects.

The majority of the project work needs to be completed by end of March 2013 with the remaining amount by the end of June 2013. 

Notes for Editors

1. A list of the successful communities

2. Offers of funding for the 38 community groups (highlighted in this table) under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment communities scheme are subject to agreement and compliance, by all relevant parties, with  grant  agreements setting out the terms and conditions on which that funding will be provided and to compliance with any necessary pre-conditions, requirements or consents.  DECC reserves the right to amend the funding levels if necessary

3. The RHPP communities schemes was launched in July this year.

4.  Eligible technologies for funding under this scheme include biomass boilers, solar thermal panels, ground source heat pumps, air to water source heat pumps and water to water source heat pumps.

5. 'Community' is defined as a project led by a not for profit organisation for community benefit.
See scheme guidance for more information on eligibility criteria.

6. This competition was open in England, Scotland, and Wales.

7. For further information on successful projects and contact details please contact the EST on 02920 467 015 or communities@est.org.uk .

8. The RHPP scheme for householders is open until the end of March next year.  Further details can be found here

Department of Energy and Climate Change
3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2AW
Press enquiries +44 (0)300 068 6491 Public enquiries +44 (0)300 060 4000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740 (for those with hearing impairment)

Update September 2012

Sustainable Crediton's Warm Homes Project has reached Phase 2 of the RHPP Community Scheme. We are one of only 45 community groups remaining in this scheme which aims to share £8 Million to successful applications. We now move to the development phase of our project.

If we are successful in our application there may be a greater government grant available than there currently is for every installation under our Warm Homes Project plus a discount on the installation itself through Sustainable Crediton's agreement with the installer.

The Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) Community Scheme is a new and innovative funding mechanism to assist communities in England, Wales and Scotland to support domestic renewable heat installations in privately owned homes.

The Scheme is targeted at making renewable heating affordable for middle to low income households  and aims to maximise carbon reduction by reaching homes with high carbon, expensive to run heating systems (especially those off the gas network) and ensuring that heating systems are installed after or alongside energy efficiency measures.

Technologies that are supported under the scheme include:

• solar thermal panels 
• heat pumps (air to water, ground source or water source but excluding air to air and exhaust air heat pumps) 
• biomass Boilers

This scheme was launched on 24 July 2012. Full details of the scheme are available on the Energy Savings Trust website