Severn Wye Energy Agency

Severn Wye Energy Agency is a local sustainable energy charity that works in the field of affordable warmth and the reduction of fuel poverty. Severn Wye Energy Agency manages the Warm and Well scheme, the local authority approved grants programme, as well as many other energy saving projects.

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But what is an Advice Organisation and what does it mean to you?

For anyone looking to access Green Deal finance and make energy efficiency retrofit to their homes, they need a Green Deal Advice Report and this must be carried out by an accredited Green Deal Advisor. And all Green Deal advisors must work through a Green Deal Advice Organisation.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) established Advice Organisations to allow Green Deal Providers and the general public to access the Assessments.

Green Deal Advice Organisations are the first point to contact for any householder or business who wishes to have a survey undertaken. They manage the booking process and provide crucial information to householders about the survey and Green Deal process.

A Green Deal Advice Organisation also acts in a quality control capacity to monitor and ensure the quality of advice provided to clients and the accuracy of the resulting Green Deal Advice Reports. As part of our role, Severn Wye will audit 5% of each Assessors Green Deal Advice Reports.

Severn Wye Energy Agency currently employs five Green Deal Advisors who as well as carrying out Green Deal Surveys also work on our wider retro-fit and advice projects as well as with a number of trusted Associates.

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In this edition you can find out about upcoming events for primary and secondary schools, including our next Your Green Future event in Worcester (6–7 June), and it also has information about a free sustainability day for staff and students at Westonbirt Arboretum (27 June). You can also find out about the support we are now able to offer primary schools.

If you would like an event featured in our next newsletter (Autumn 2013), please get in touch, email: [email protected].

Severn Wye are facilitating the event, which will bring together a range of organisations and council respresentatives from across the region, who are concerned with issues around affordable warmth and fuel poverty.

To be held on Wednesday 5 June at Forest Green Rovers football stadium, the day will include presentations, an exhibiton and workshops.

The first such annual summit last year was a huge success, and saw partners feeding into the development of the Gloucestershire Affordable Warmth Strategy. This Strategy has now been finalised and partners can now discuss the best way to take the it forward.

Kaye Welfare, Severn Wye's Assistant Chief Executive, said: "The Partnership’s work is most successful when members from the public, private and voluntary sectors work together to bring about change. We're looking forward to bringing together this diverse group of individuals to help us tackle the growing problem of fuel poverty."

The full summit involves:

• Presentations on the Affordable Warmth Strategy for Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding and cross tenure working
• An exhibition highlighting the partners involved in the recent Warm Homes Healthy People fund
• Facilitated workshops discussing how we can work together to deliver under ECO and achieve the aims set out in the Affordable Warmth Strategy
• Buffet lunch and refreshments

The event will be held in the conference suite at the football club, between 12pm and 4pm. To find out more about the summit and if you would like to take part, call Severn Wye Energy Agency on 01452 835 090.

From the start of May, the new Warm and Well adverts will be hitting the streets of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire on the backs of buses, reminding people who to call if they want free, impartial and local help bringing down their energy bills.

And although the summer weather may have arrived, now is actually the perfect time to start planning ahead and bringing down those fuel bills.

As Severn Wye's Jon Clarke explained: “Over the last few years we’ve grown used to the energy companies sharply increasing our fuel bills before the winter months. So with bills much lower during the summer months and people having that extra few pounds in their pockets, now is the perfect time to invest before those fuel bills rocket again in the autumn."

He added: “Our new bus adverts will be appearing across the region, and they're a perfect reminder that there is help available out there to everybody.

"Whether it’s a new boiler you need, or you're considering installing renewable energy. Maybe you need a central heating system, or you want to invest in loft, floor or wall insulation. It could even be new lighting, double glazing or simply draught-proofing. Whatever it is, our team of trained energy advisors can help you take that first step to improving your home – and to bringing your fuel bills down,” Jon explained.

And for those that don’t have that extra bit of cash during the summer months, help is likely to still be available in the form of grants – thousands of householders in the area are entitled to help improving their home thanks to the new ‘energy company obligation’, or ECO.

If someone is in receipt of certain benefits, has a property with solid walls or which is difficult to insulate, or lives in a specific area recognised as being in need of support, then they might be entitled to up to 100% of the funding required to carry out certain measures.

If you’re thinking of having any energy work carried out on your home, contact the Warm and Well advice line to see how we could help you take that first step.

The Warm and Well advice line provides free, impartial and local energy advice – call free now on: 0800 500 3076. Alternatively, text WARM to 83010 or email: [email protected].

And if you're out and about in Gloucestershire or Wiltshire this summer, and you find yourself stuck in traffic, keep an eye out for that cat keeping himself warm and well on the back of the bus in front of you.

And to remind people that help is available to make improvements to bring fuel bills down, the Warm and Well message will be hitting the streets this month – in the shape of bus adverts across the region.

Jon Clarke is a senior project manager at Severn Wye Energy Agency, which manages the Warm and Well initiative. He said: “Over the last few years we’ve grown used to the energy companies sharply increasing our fuel bills before the winter months. So with bills much lower during the summer months and people having that extra few pounds in their pockets, it’s a perfect opportunity to invest before those fuel bills rocket again in the autumn.

“Our bus adverts are a reminder that there is help available to everybody.”

“Whether it’s a new boiler, renewable energy, central heating system, loft, floor or wall insulation, lighting, double glazing, or draught-proofing, our team of trained advisors can help you take that first step to improving your home – and to bringing your bills down,” he added.

If you’re thinking of having any energy work carried out on your home, contact the Warm and Well advice line to see how we could help you take that first step.

The Warm and Well advice line provides free, impartial and local energy advice – call free now on: 0800 500 3076. Alternatively, text WARM to 83010 or email: [email protected].

And if people are out and about in Gloucestershire or Wiltshire this summer, and find themselves stuck in traffic, they should keep an eye out for the Warm and Well message on the back of the bus in front.

Held at the Chelsea bar and brasserie in the town, more than 80 people attended the launch of the 16th annual awards, which will take place later this year.

There are 13 awards this year and Severn Wye will be sponsoring an award for the first time - the Environmental Business Award. It's aimed at any business in Gloucestershire which has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability in all aspects of its business.

Severn Wye Assistant Chief Executive, Kaye Welfare attended the launch event. She said: "We're really pleased to be involved in the awards this year and to see how vibrant the local business community is. The Environmental Business Award is a really important award, and we are delighted to be presenting it.

"This award isn't just for businesses who's work is primarily about the environment and the 'green' economy. It's open to anyone who has made a difference, either through their work or their working practice, to minimise their impact on the environment.

"There are many businesses who are taking all sorts of action, becoming more energy efficient, installing renewable technology or retrofitting their premises, and we can't wait to see what sort of responses we get."

If you'd like to nominate your business for this, or any other of the awards check out the business section of The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo, or get in touch with Severn Wye to find out more.

Above: The picture shows Severn Wye's Kaye alongside main sponsor from Randall and Payne, and Chris Isaac from the Isaac Partnership.

Aimed at helping businesses across Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, the events provide opportunities to meet like-minded businesses as well as training opportunities.

They also improve understanding about Severn Wye's new Link to energy website - a network of local installers and tradespeople for local residents to search through.

Severn Wye's Neil Towler is helping to organise the events and manages the Link to energy website. He said: “The Green Deal aims to make energy improvements like insulation and efficient heating and lighting systems easier and more affordable for households - Link to energy provides an opportunity for households to make these improvements by finding local businesses to install them.”

Severn Wye has already run its first three events, and is hosting a further half a dozen in March - with more to come later in the year.

The next event for installers is a breakfast meeting which takes place on Tuesday 19 March in Wiltshire. This is followed by similar ones on 21 March in Cheltenham, and 27 March in South Gloucestershire.

For further information about these and other events and to book a seat, please email: [email protected], call: 01452 835086 or follow us on Twitter @LinktoEnergy.

Severn Wye's Your Green Future event will be offering students the chance to find out more about what it means to work in the growing 'green' economy.

Pupils between the ages of 13 and 19 will come together for two days (Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 March) of innovative workshops and an exhibition, as well as interactive educational events developed and delivered by Severn Wye Energy Agency in partnership with a wide range of specialist organisations.

They'll also be given the chance to find out more about a wide range of local, national and international businesses who are adapting to the green future. These include: Caterpillar, Rotary International, BioPack, Foodcycle, Fairtrade, Airbus, Better Food Company, Siemens Marine Current Turbines and Living Earth. Businesses will be holding exhibitions and sponsoring workshops, and will share their expertise on what skills are needed for the industry.

They will also be joined by education providers, such as UWE, Open University and National Apprenticeship Service, meaning pupils will also learn not just about the jobs and skills necessary, but also what qualifications it takes to help get them there.

To find out more about the Your Green Future project, visit the project profile page or you can visit the project's own website.