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If you manage a voluntary, community or social enterprise building you might qualify for a free energy saving assessment.

I am one of the expert advisors on the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, funded by central government, for organisations in the East and West Midlands.

If you qualify for the scheme you can choose me to carry out your energy assessment.

Please contact me for an initial discussion.

You can find out here if you meet the eligibility criteria here.  If you don’t qualify for a free assessment, then contact me for a bespoke quote.  

 

thermal imaging

 

Thermal imaging is a great way to understand how heat is being lost from a building. In this webinar I show you what to look out for when doing thermal imaging, and how to use a camera and software. Plus general hints and tips on energy saving and also ventilation. This webinar was held as part of Community Energy Fortnight 2022. I am grateful to Civic Square and Dark Matter Labs for their support in putting on this webinar.

Click on the video link below to watch the recording.  

I offer thermal imaging services as part of a whole-building approach to saving energy in your home or business.  Householders please click here for more information, businesses please click here.  

 

heat pump

 

 

Rhoda and Connor were thinking about replacing their existing oil boiler, which was 15 years old.  They were spending more time at home now and wanted to manage their fuel bills in their large 4 bedroomed detached home.  They were interested in air source heat pumps, because they wanted to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.  

Rhoda researched whether a heat pump would work for their home, what to look for in a heat pump, and whether they would be better off.  She attended a webinar put on by Energy Confidence with Phil Beardmore on home energy saving, where she learned that she needed to consider a whole-house approach to energy saving.

Expert advice 

Rhoda and Connor felt that they needed expert advice, so they signed up to an Energy Confidence advice package.  Phil advised them on the suitability of a heat pump with smart heating controls,  understand the quotes they got, to choose the right installer, and used spreadsheets to understand the economics of a heat pump.  

Phil also did a thermal imaging survey to identify where Rhoda and Connor needed to improve insulation for greater efficiency and thermal comfort.  

Leap of faith

Rhoda said, “Overall he gave us the confidence to make this leap of faith – and we have no regrets!! Our house is warm, our water is hot, and we look forward to £££ savings. We’ve also made a big reduction in our carbon footprint!! We have already recommended Phil to our friends.”

Connor is keeping records of how their fuel consumption has changed since the heat pump was installed in December 2020 and the oil boiler and tank were removed.  Watch this space – when the heat pump has been in for 12 months, I will write another blog on their fuel savings and carbon dioxide savings.

Green homes grant

Phil also advised Rhoda and Connor on the Green Homes Grant and the Renewable Heat Incentive.  Rhoda and Connor successfully applied for funding towards the cost of their heat pump.  

 

Are you ready to make your fuel bills steady?

If you’d like to work with me on energy saving in your home or business, please check out my energy saving advice packages.  

 

Energy confidence

 

 

I am excited to announce two new features in my energy advice packages, that will help give you the confidence to make the right decisions on energy saving in your home or business.

  • I’m using a new piece of software that will help you decide whether a heat pump is right for your home or business;
  • And I’m using another new piece of software that will help you decide whether solar power, with or without battery storage, is right for your home or business.

A heat pump can be a very efficient way to heat a home or business, but it’s a big decision to make, because the economics of a heat pump are different to the economics of other investments.  Up to now I have been using a spreadsheet to help my clients understand the economics of a heat pump in their home or business, but with this piece of software it will make it a lot easier to do this.  If you’re at home more nowadays, then you may well be using more heat, and I will help you to understand the impact of this on the economics of a heat pump; including whether to use the Green Homes Grant or the Renewable Heat Incentive to part-fund it.

Solar panels and batteries are coming down in price.  It’s still a big decision to make though, as the economics of solar are quite complicated.  Again I have been using a spreadsheet to help my clients understand if solar is right for them, but this new piece of software will enable me to work out whether solar is right for you, more quickly and accurately.

The best piece of news is that I will NOT be raising the prices of my energy saving packages, so you get the benefit of these new features at no extra cost.  So book now, tell me all about your home or business, and let’s get you energy confident.  

  

 

HOW I CAN HELP

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YOUR HOME

 

  • Green Homes Grant voucher advice
  • Online Energy Confidence coaching  
  • Advice packages with home visit and thermal imaging
  • Tell me about your home and the people who live in it
  • Payment by instalments available for householders

 

LEARN MORE

home office

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BUSINESS 

 

  • Win new customers by going green
  • Online Energy Confidence coaching 
  • Advice packages with site visit and thermal imaging
  • Tell me about what your business does
  • Payment by instalments for small businesses and non-profits

LEARN MORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thermal image

You can now get thermal imaging energy advice packages for your home or business, at a reduced price.  These packages are designed for people intending to apply for the Green Homes Grant, and include:

  • Expert coaching
  • Personalised advice
  • Action Planning help
  • Follow-up advice
  • Email support
  • Site visit with thermal imaging report.

 

  • What you’ll get:

    ✔ Site visit:  We work together to develop a  Climate Action Plan for your home or business.   Actions will include both short-term quick wins and longer-term environmental goals; ranging from zero-cost actions, to investments with a longer financial return, that will save you money too, and help you decide how to spend the Green Homes Grant.  This site visit will normally take around two hours.  This is included in your subscription if you are within 50 miles of Birmingham, UK.  If you are further than this, please contact meto discuss a bespoke quote, or go for one of my online coaching packages.

    ✔ Personalised Action Plan.  After this first session, I will provide you with a personalised draft report and Climate Action Plan including my recommendations. Your Climate Action Plan will include personalised tips for you and advice on how to monitor that your actions are making a difference, including an estimate of the percentage reduction in your carbon dioxide emissions.  At this stage I will also advise you of anything that you should not do, or that you should stop doing.  For householders, I will advise you of how you can use any grants, such as the Green Homes Grant, most effectively for your home.  

  • ✔ Thermography report, with thermal images showing where energy is being wasted in your building including walls, roof, windows, doors, floor, pipework.  The thermography report also includes recommendations on what can be done to address the issues highlighted by the thermal images.  Thermal imaging is usually carried out after dusk between November and March.  
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  •  ✔ Email support from me.
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  •  ✔ Session 2.  A follow-up coaching session at a mutually agreed time, usually 3-6 months after the home visit.  In this session we will review your progress, and discuss your next steps.   This session is around 30 minutes and will normally take place by Zoom.✔ Revisions to your Climate Action Plan as agreed at Session 2.If you haven’t used Zoom before then don’t worry, I will send you full instructions and tips.Things I will advise you on include:

    ✔  Energy Efficiency – quick wins that you can do now for zero-cost or low-cost; and long-term investments in your home or business.

    ✔ Is renewable energy right for your building?  Solar panels? Heat pumps? Biomass?

    ✔  Water saving – water waste is the hidden environmental cost that many people forget.  It’s easy to save water and if you are metered then it will save you money too.

    ✔  Green travel planning including electric vehicles.

    ✔   Energy tariffs and buying – are you on the best tariff?

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buy now

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  • Is there a “free” thermal imaging option?

    I don’t do a free thermal imaging package – this is why.  Some insulation companies do it – you don’t get an advice package with it.   With my advice packages you get the benefit of my time and expertise which you don’t with an insulation company. The insulation companies are funded by multinational energy companies to do thermal imaging, funded by energy bill payers. What you actually get is not simply a free thermal image – it’s a sales call to sell you insulation. I am in favour of people insulating their homes, but what I offer is a whole-house approach to energy saving.  If I recommend measures such as insulation to you as part of my energy advice package, then I will help you to find a reputable contractors for any physical measures such as insulation, heating, solar panels.  If you want a free thermal image then please feel free to book with one of these bill payer funded insulation companies – but please be aware you are not getting a full advice package and you will be getting a sales visit.  

     

    About me

    My goal is give you the confidence to control rising energy and water costs in your home or business.

    I give you the confidence to take action on energy saving that will make a lasting difference – to your financial bottom line, and to do your bit on climate change.  I specialise in energy saving, renewable energy, water saving, energy buying, and monitoring energy savings.

     

    Who am I?

    I founded Energy Confidence to help you feel that you are doing the right thing to save energy and water in your home or business.  I have two decades experience working in energy, and have won awards from Birmingham City Council and Sustainability West Midlands. I am an expert in energy saving, renewable energy, energy buying, water saving, and sustainable transport.  I’m a thought leader as well as an energy expert.  I have set up and delivered a wide range of energy-related projects.

     

    My values

    1. I am one of life’s doers.  I like to work out what to do next, and then get on and do it.
    2. If I see something that needs change, I will say it needs changing, and I will change it if I can.
    3. I deliver on my promises, on time and within budget.
    4. I don’t “chase the money”.
    5. I am not afraid to give bad news.  If I think it isn’t going to work, I will tell you, and suggest alternatives.
    6. I prefer cooperation over competition.  I want everyone to win at life.

    If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can pay by debit or credit card using PayPal.  Click on pay by card or checkout as a guest if invited. All services are subject to availability – I will endeavour to book you in at a mutually convenient date.

    What I will need from you is copies of your bills for gas, electricity, water and any other relevant fuels you use – e.g. heating oil, wood pellets.  Also an idea of your vehicle mileage if you want to include transport in your Climate Action Plan. Ideally I need your last 12 months’ bills.  This enables me to develop a baseline for your carbon dioxide emissions, so I can estimate how much carbon dioxide you will save through your action plan.  Once you have booked I will be in touch to ask you for these things.  Don’t worry if you can’t find them.

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