Wednesday 5 April 2017

New scheme ensures retrofits are done right

A new scheme aims to make sure domestic energy efficiency retrofits are properly carried out.

The initiative, which has been launched by construction industry approvals body the British Board of Agrément (BBA), will focus on reducing the risk of cavity wall insulation being improperly installed in homes.

The Cavity Assessment Surveillance Scheme (CASS) checks the suitability of properties for upgrades, ensures assessments are structured and independent and confirms they are sent to the BBA.

The BBA then checks the assessments to verify the correct procedures have been followed.

Around 90% will be randomly selected for an in-depth desktop audit and one in 10 will receive an onsite inspection by a qualified BBA inspector.

The scheme comes as concern rises that some energy efficiency retrofits have failed and households may be at risk from damp and unhealthy homes which, far from saving money on fuel bills and reducing fuel poverty, actually cost more to keep warm and dry.

Claire Curtis-Thomas, Chief Executive of the BBA, said: "There has been a problem with some cavity wall insulation assessments, mostly because the methodology for assessment hasn’t really changed since the 1990s... but CASS fixes this, brings it up-to-date and brings another level of quality to a vital energy efficiency retrofit measure."

A housing association has been granted EU funding to retrofit homes in the UK.

The Scottish Government has also announced £30 million of funding to help make homes more energy efficient.