Energys becomes a member of the Lighting Industry Association

Energys Group has joined the Lighting Industry Association (LIA), Europe’s largest trade association for the UK Lighting Industry and its supply chain.

The LIA seeks to represent members that demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism, expertise and ethical standards in every aspect of their operations, including the safety, reliability, quality and support of their products.

LIA_Member Logo_#1Located at the forefront of the industry and dedicated to promoting best practice throughout the sector, the LIA shares its knowledge and provides a wide range of services for members and the wider lighting industry.

As LIA members, Energys Group’s lighting products will be audited by the LIA and are LIA Code of Practice accredited. As part of the LIA’s new market surveillance initiative, Energys will also be subject to random product inspections, performed at the LIA’s UKAS accredited laboratory in Telford. This provides customers with further reassurance that the company’s lighting products meet the high standards specified by the Association.

Kevin Cox, Managing Director of Energys Group says, “By becoming LIA members we hope to give our customers confidence not only in the quality, safety and reliability of our products, but also to show that we are at the forefront of technological advancements and best practice in what is a rapidly changing industry.”

For more information about our LIA membership or for advice on what we do, get in touch.

New MEES guidance promises vast improvements for energy efficiency in commercial buildings

In recent weeks, industry magazine The Energyst has reported:

‘The government has published guidance for landlords on the new regulations that could prevent them from renting buildings to tenants if they fail to meet minimum energy efficiency standards.’

It’s a crucial development. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) come into force in April 2018. But preparatory action now is needed, both to understand MEES implications and get ready for potential remedial works.

The minimum level of energy efficiency provisions will mean that, subject to certain requirements and exemptions:

a) from 1 April 2018, landlords of non-domestic private rented properties (including public sector landlords) may not grant a tenancy to new or existing tenants if their property has an EPC rating of band F or G (shown on a valid Energy Performance Certificate for the property).

b) from 1 April 2023, landlords must not continue letting a non-domestic property which is already let if that property has an EPC rating of band F or G.

This means some 1 in 5 UK commercial buildings would fail the MEES test, and the maximum fine for failure to comply with MEES stands at £160,000 per property.

Therefore, it’s critical that landlords across the UK take notice, right now, of the implications. When implemented well, MEES stand to make UK property substantially more sustainable, and improve the quality of rented space for tenants.

Reputational benefit, longer term tenants and a more profitable portfolio are among the wins for landlords. But to reap such rewards, the sector as a whole must react promptly to what MEES will mean.

What does the guidance say?

The guidance sets out, via a number of flowcharts, the decision process whereby landlords can judge whether a property can legally be let under MEES regs. It also details the MEES laws in depth.

This alone is useful. UK environmental legislation is complex. Pathways to help landlords examine their responsibilities, and set about meeting them are most welcome.

“We recommend that every UK commercial landlord consults the MEES guidance immediately,” explains Kevin Cox, Managing Director, Energys Group.

“It’s vital to do this for a number of reasons. Firstly, you need to comply. You need to plan out any costs, and the timeline of getting energy efficiency in your buildings up to standard.

“All of these elements will affect your business, your profit, your planning and your tenants. Often, the response to rules like MEES is to hide one’s head in the sand.

“That simply won’t wash in this case. MEES are here, and it’s essential to comply. There are huge benefits for landlords who do. You can win new business, based on your reputation as a sustainable letting agent.

“You will hold tenants for longer, who prefer the more comfortable heating and cooling systems in your sustainable, intelligently managed buildings. You will be ahead of the game; an example of futureproof, modern business.

“And of course, you will save money on potential fines, while your energy efficient buildings will command higher rents than the competition.”

The Government guidance is available here.

Energys Group offers free site surveys to guide you on the most cost-effective energy efficient solutions for your building. Get in touch for advice.

Spring Budget 2017: Energys highlights the key business moves

What does the Spring Budget 2017 mean for business? Here’s our roundup of the main measures announced for UK firms.

Growth & balance of trade

Real GDP grew by 0.7% in the final quarter of 2016. GDP grew by 1.8% over the year as a whole, and employment rose.

Against this backdrop, and Brexit, news is good for UK business. How long before challenging Brexit impacts kick in, and inflation, higher raw material costs or a weak pound bite? Hard to say.

Overall, Tory ‘discipline’ on spending stays, seeking to rebalance the UK deficit.

Tax

Reductions in the rate of corporation tax to 17% by 2020 will continue. The government will make administrative changes to the Research and Development Expenditure Credit to increase the certainty and simplicity around claims, and will take action to improve awareness of R&D tax credits among SMEs.

Training

There is focus on a highly-skilled workforce. This is the next step in the government’s strategy to improve productivity, building on the recently published Industrial Strategy green paper.

NPIF will invest £250 million over the next four years in research talent. £90 million will provide an additional 1,000 PhD places in areas aligned with the Industrial Strategy. Around 85% will be in STEM disciplines, and 40% will directly help strengthen collaboration between business and academia through industrial partnerships.

A further £160 million will support new fellowships for early and mid-career researchers in areas aligned to the Industrial Strategy.

In addition, New ‘T-Levels’ will be introduced to give parity of esteem for technical education, potentially aiding technical business sectors with staffing and skills.

Transport

£690 million is allocated to local authorities to get local transport networks moving.

Digital

The NPIF will invest £740 million in digital infrastructure by 2020-21, to support the next generation of fast and reliable mobile and broadband communications for consumers and businesses. New National 5G Innovation Network to trial and demonstrate 5G applications.

Innovation

£270 million in 2017-18 will kickstart the development of disruptive technologies that have the potential to transform the UK economy. There will be focus on developing artificial intelligence and robotics, and batteries for the next generation of electric vehicles.

Business mindset

Business investment fell 1.0% in Q4 2016, following a modest increase of 0.7% in Q3 2016. This resulted in a 1.5% decline in business investment in 2016. Private business surveys cited uncertainty about future demand and the outcome of the EU negotiations as weighing on activity and investment.

Labour

The employment rate reached a new record high of 74.6% in the three months to December 2016, while the unemployment rate was 4.8%, the lowest in 11 years.

Global impacts

The International Monetary Fund forecasts global growth will increase slightly to 3.4% in 2017. It judges that the outlook has improved in advanced economies, where growth in the second half of 2016 exceeded its earlier forecasts, while growth prospects have marginally worsened in emerging economies.

Of course, this ignores Brexit impacts on trade deals and the disintegration of policies enabling tariff free cross EU trade, and resetting of global trade deals.

On Brexit

The Budget merely said: ‘In the longer term, the economy will adjust to new relationships with the EU and the rest of the world.

‘In producing the forecast, the OBR has not attempted to predict the precise outcome of negotiations, nor the breadth and depth of new relationships that may be negotiated bilaterally with the EU or other trading partners.’

For now the Government has neglected to comment on any Brexit impacts, and chosen not to model them in its Budget forecasting.

Have you enjoyed this article? We have lots more energy sector articles in our resources pages.