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The UK Government’s goal for the country to become net-zero carbon by 2050 presents huge challenges for businesses. It also brings with it huge opportunities. Some of the greatest of those lie in the home renewable energy sector, as the coming years will see major efforts to install green energy technologies in existing homes across the country, as well as in new homes being built.
The information in this guide has been designed to help businesses installing green energy technology in existing homes to ensure that they are following the rules for installing under government schemes.
The range of technologies available to homeowners who want to make their homes greener and more energy-efficient includes tried-and-tested methods of harnessing renewable resources such as sunlight and wind power, as well as relatively new, developing technologies such as large-scale lithium-ion battery storage. An overview of these technologies, along with their potential advantages and disadvantages, as well as practical considerations for installers, is given in Part 1.
Installers who wish to install renewable technologies under most government schemes will need to join the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (or equivalent). Details of this, as well as the purposes and requirements of Consumer Codes, is given in Part 2.
In order to achieve the net-zero goal, various incentivisation schemes have been introduced which enable homeowners to access funds they can use to make their homes greener. It is in this area that the most pronounced differences between the four nations come into play, with some schemes being available across the UK, while others can only be accessed by homeowners in certain locales. Details of each of the current incentives and their geographical reach are provided in Part 3.
Part 4 of this guide contains practical advice from experts in the sector about what traders should avoid doing. This includes common mistakes, exaggerations and omissions that could result in removal from approval schemes and Consumer Codes. In some cases, there could be enforcement action from trading standards. An overview of the consumer protection legislation relevant to traders in the sector is given in Part 5.
In addition to the written content of the guide, Business Companion has also produced handy graphics of the typical green home with renewable energy technologies installed, as well as a flowchart to show the ideal journey to becoming a fully certified installer. At the end of the guide, you will also find a checklist to help you ensure that your business has followed all of the necessary steps.