Sustainable Energy Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Action Energy – See Energy Efficiency Best Practise Programme

Affordable Warmth – The ability to heat your home without incurring excessive fuel bills or developing a debt as a result.

Affordable Warmth Strategy / Action for Affordable Warmth – Agencies in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire have produced a joint strategy that aims to ensure all homes have access to affordable warmth by 2016. Implementation of the strategy is overseen by a steering group with representation from local authorities and the health and voluntary sectors.

(The) Association for Conservation of Energy (ACE) – A group campaigning for improved energy efficiency in the UK housing stock. Members of ACE are generally businesses working in the energy efficiency field, such as insulation installers.

Beacon Councils - Councils who are identified as having good practise in certain fields. Councils apply to be designated Beacon Councils in an annual competition and, if successful, are given funding to promote their good practice to other Councils. Fuel poverty was a Beacon Council theme in 2002, seventeen Councils applied, of which eight were short listed, and five were selected. A sustainable energy beacon theme is likely to feature in the next few years.

(The) Big Green Boiler Scheme – A scheme supplying discounted condensing boilers. The BGBS started off as a HECAction scheme set up by a consortium of Oxfordshire/ Gloucestershire Councils, but now covers a great number of local authority areas throughout the UK. It is managed by the Thames Valley Energy Centre. The scheme helpline is 0800 028 28 55.

Carbon Index – A relatively new method of rating a property’s energy efficiency that attempts to measure the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a property’s heating systems. A carbon index of 8.0 is roughly equivalent to a SAP of 100.

Carbon Trust - A governmental organisation that promotes and funds development of low carbon technology. Funded through an energy use tax use on UK businesses.

Cavity Wall Insulation - The process of injecting insulation into the gap between a property’s inner and outer walls. It greatly reduces heat loss through the walls. As a loose rule pre-1930s homes have solid walls with no cavity.

CEN (Creative Environmental Networks) – An organisation based in Croyden that runs an Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, and provides a HEC scanning service for several EEACs including Gloucestershire. CEN offer additional HEC services, including the HECA monitoring system used by most Gloucestershire local authorities.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) - These can replace standard bayonet and screw fit bulbs, and use only 20% of the electricity of standard bulbs.

CHP (Combined Heat and Power) - Technology that generates both space heating and electricity on site, ranging in scale from units that supply whole towns (district heating) to individual households (micro CHP). This technology is normally more efficient than producing electricity and space heating separately.

Combination (Combi) Boiler - Gas or oil boilers that heat hot water as it is needed, and therefore need no separate hot water storage cylinder.

Community Renewables Initiative (CRI) - A Countryside Agency funded programme that aims to encourage renewable energy developments in community facilities, e.g. village halls, offices, etc. In Gloucestershire the CRI is managed by the Severn Wye Energy Agency and started in mid-2002.

Condensing Boiler - A type of boiler that uses an extra large heat exchanger to achieve very high efficiencies (90%+). The condensing name comes from the fact heat is recovered successfully from the flue gases such that they are cooled to a temperature where the water vapour starts to condense out. Boilers with an ‘A’ energy efficiency rating will be condensing models

CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers) – The national watchdog for gas safety in the United Kingdom. They maintain an up-to-date register of competent and qualified gas installation businesses.

DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs) - The central government department with responsibility for HECA.

DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) - The DTI is involved with many of the commercial aspects of sustainable energy, and funds grant schemes such as the solar PV programme

EAGA Partnership Ltd – An employee-owned organisation based in Newcastle providing management and support for energy efficiency programmes. They are managers of the Warm Front scheme in three of the four English regions.

ECF (Energy Cost Factor) - The annual cost of heating a property per square meter of floor area.

EEAC (Energy Efficiency Advice Centre) –The network of 52 EEACs provide energy advice to the public and promote energy efficiency all around the UK. The Gloucestershire EEAC is managed by the Severn Wye Energy Agency and receives funding from EST and several a mix of funding and in-kind support from the Gloucestershire local authorities through an annually reviewed Service Level Agreement.

EEC (Energy Efficiency Commitment) - An obligation placed on gas and electricity supply companies by OFGEM as a condition of their licence. EEC places targets for energy savings to be achieved (by energy supply companies) in domestic residences. The target is based on the number of customers the company has. In practice this means companies deliver schemes to encourage take up of insulation and efficient electrical items. Schemes are delivered by the company itself or in partnership with other organisations or local authorities. EEC superseded the earlier Standards of Performance programme in 2002, and will run until 2005. 60% of the energy savings achieved under EEC must be in “vulnerable” households.

Energy 21 – An educational charity based in Stroud that works locally and nationally on sustainable energy projects. One project involves encouraging DIY fit solar thermal panels.

Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme (EEBPP) - A DEFRA funded programme encouraging energy efficiency in medium to large sized organisations. Recently re-branded as Action Energy.

Energy Efficiency Recommended – a labelling scheme for energy efficient products sold in the UK. Administered by the Energy Saving Trust.

Energy Star - A labelling scheme for energy efficient products set up by the US Department of Environment. Although a US programme Energy Star labelled products are often seen in the UK, particularly with PCs and their accessories.

Energy Watch – The trading name of the Gas and Electricity Consumers Council, who act as a consumer champion in the energy supply industry. Energy Watch deal with complaints against suppliers, and also promote competition in the energy supply industry.

Energy White Paper – Launched in 2003 ‘Our Energy Future’ sets out the Government’s long term plans for energy in the UK. In aims to implement the Royal Commission’s carbon reduction target of a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels by 2050.

ESCO (Energy Services Company) - A company that sells heat, power and other energy related services rather than simply fuel. An ESCO would look at the whole approach to providing a household with heat, light and power, for example they may install insulation in the property to reduce the amount of fuel needed to heat it.

EST (Energy Saving Trust) - A Government body set up after the 1992 Rio ‘Earth Summit’ that attempts to reduce energy use in the UK. The EST is involved in several schemes to aid Local Authorities in their HECA work, and also fund the EEAC network.

Fuel Poverty - A household is said to be fuel poor if it spends more than 10% of its income on fuel.

Fuel Poverty Strategy – A UK strategy produced under the requirements of the Warm Homes Act (2001). The strategy aims to eliminate fuel poverty amongst vulnerable groups by 2010.

GJ (Gigajoule) - A unit of energy, 100, 000, 000 joules.

Gloucestershire HECA Group – Quarterly meeting of officers with responsibility for energy efficiency from the seven Councils in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. Is a technical sub-committee of the Chief Environmental Health Officers Group.

Green Key - A HECAction scheme promoting energy efficiency to people moving home. Involved Cotswold, Stroud and Forest of Dean District Councils, and South Gloucestershire Council. The scheme finished in September 2002.

Heat Pump – A heat pump is a device that transfers heat energy from one area to another. A fridge is a good example, here heat is transferred from the interior of the fridge to the condenser coils at the back. Heat pumps can be used to heat buildings. A long loop of tubing is either laid underground (ground source) or in a body of water (water source). The heat pump removes heat from liquid pumped around the tubing and uses it to heat either radiators or under floor heating. Heat pumps can be particularly effective in rural properties where cheap mains gas is not available.

HECA (Home Energy Conservation Act) - A 1995 private members bill that was made law. It forms the basis of local authority energy efficiency activities and requires them to report annually on activities and progress around improving energy efficiency. A target of 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2010 was set in 1996 in support of the Act. No specific resources were provided to Local Authorities to assist in the tasks of improving or monitoring improvement.

HECA Fora - Local authority networks that aim to spread good practice and information, and support individual local authority officers in their HECA roles. They operate at County, Regional and UK levels, with the latter two levels receiving EST funding.

HECAction - An EST funding programme for local authority energy efficiency schemes that finished in 2001. Councils were encouraged to bid for funds in an annual competition. The Warm & Well project received funding in 2001 under the last round.

HEES (Home Energy Efficiency Scheme) - The former name of the Warm Front scheme.

Home Energy Check (HEC) Form – HECs ask simple question about a person’s home. When people fill these in and return them to the EEAC they are sent a report detailing energy saving improvements they could make to their home. They are a simple advice tool and through partnerships with the EEAC can also help Council’s collect data on the energy efficiency of local homes.

HRA (Home Repair Assistance) - A form of grant offered by local authorities. Many Councils use HRA budgets to provide vulnerable households with energy efficiency measures.

Hard to Treat Homes – Homes which cannot easily be improved using standard low cost energy efficiency measures. Common features are: Older properties, solid wall construction, non-standard roof spaces, lack of connection to and /or distance from mains gas network, under-occupied homes.

Innovation Programme - An EST programme providing funding for innovative schemes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Organisations including local authorities are encouraged to submit bids in a regular competition. Commenced 2001.

kW (Kilowatt) - A unit of power, one kilowatt refers to a thousand joules being either consumed or produced every second.

kWh (Kilowatt Hour) - A unit of energy commonly used on fuel bills. One kWh would power a device that consumes a kilowatt of power for an hour, or a 100 watt lightbulb for 10 hours, etc.

kWp (Kilowatt Peak) - The peak kilowatt input or output of a device, for example the highest possible output from a PV solar panel.

LASP (Local Authority Support Programme) - An EST funded programme that provides dedicated staff time to support local authorities in their energy efficiency work. Based in the local EEAC. Gloucestershire gained a LASP in September 2002 and the first phase is funded until 2004.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) - A semi-conductor light source. LEDs can produce a very bright light for a small amount of power. LEDs are used in many applications e.g. car break lights, traffic lights, but white coloured LEDs are a relatively new technology.

Low Emissivity (Low E) Glass - Glass that reflects heat, therefore reducing heat loss through windows.

Market Transformation Programme - A DTI funded programme that aims to speed the introduction of best practice technology into the market. This includes energy efficient goods.

NEA (National Energy Action) - A national charity campaigning for energy efficiency as a solution for fuel poverty. They have played a key role in the development of many local authority energy projects and have also been responsible for fostering the wider development of Affordable Warmth strategies at local authority level.

NHBC (National House-Building Council) - An independent regulator for the new homes industry.

OFGEM (Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets) - The regulator of the UK gas and electricity markets.

Photo Voltaic Cells (PV) - PV technology produces electricity from sunlight, commonly seen in the form of solar panels on roofs.

Practical Help – Part of the package of local authority assistance funded by the EST. Practical Help provides a website www.practicalhelp.org.uk (including a section for elected members), newsletter and an enquiry service for energy efficiency issues.

REAS (Renewable Energy Advice Service) – A specialised version of the EEACs currently being trialled. Based at Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol.

Renewable Energy – Energy produced from sources that can not be depleted, e.g. wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, tidal.

SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) - An energy efficiency rating system for homes. SAP scores energy efficiency from 0 (very poor) to 100 (very good).

SEDBUK (Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK) – This rates the average percentage efficiency of a boiler over the course of a simulated year, rather than simply when the boiler is operating at its peak efficiency. SEDBUK ratings are used to place boilers into the A to D energy efficiency bands.

Solar Power – Energy from the sun can be used to produce hot water by PV (photo voltaic) panels, or used to heat hot water for buildings. Solar hot water heaters are currently more cost effective than PV, and can provide most of a home’s hot water demand during the summer months.

SoP (Standards of Performance) - The predecessor to the Energy Efficiency Commitment.

Sustainable Energy Centres – The Energy Saving Trust is proposing to change the existing network of Energy Advice Centres to a network of Sustainable Energy Centres by 2007. The new centres would expand their role to encompass renewable energy and transport activities, which would help implement the aims of the Energy White Paper.

SWEA (Severn Wye Energy Agency) - An independent charity based in Mitcheldean that manages a portfolio of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. SWEA work very closely with the Gloucestershire authorities, and manages the EEAC, the LASP, and the Warm and Well scheme.

TXU – An energy supply company that also have a scheme management division. TXU manage the Warm Front grants in the North Eastern region.

Warm Homes Act – A private members bill passed in 2001 that obligates the Government to eliminate fuel poverty in the UK by 2010

Warm Front - A government funded grant scheme managed by EAGA Partnership Ltd in the South West region. The scheme pays for (pre-determined) insulation and heating packages to households in receipt of qualifying benefits and in certain “vulnerable” categories.

Warm and Well – A Gloucestershire scheme that is attempting to improve energy efficiency in the homes of people with poor health. The scheme is making links with the health and social care sectors to enhance awareness of the cold homes – poor health link, and to build-up a referral network. The scheme involves the 6 Gloucestershire local authorities and South Gloucestershire Council, and is managed by the Severn Wye Energy Agency. The scheme hotline is 0800 512 012. The scheme provides advice first followed by referral for relevant grants and discounts.

Warm Zone - A trial whereby areas with high concentrations of fuel poverty have been declared ‘Warm Zones’ and concentrated efforts made to eradicate the problem. Most Warm Zones have been in the Midlands and have received funding from the energy supply company npower.