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Energy Saving Week domain name secured

October 5th, 2009

Bit of a coup, however we managed to secure the domain www.energysavingweek.co.uk [and the .com]. This site will be up and running by end of this week and we will obviously push to maximise the search engine side of things in readiness for next year’s event.

We are expecting delivery of a full size domestic wind turbine and will be providing photos on our websites of this and the other energy efficiency products and services we provide.

Anyone (and we welcome homeowner’s, business owner’s and Councillors alike) who would like to visit us during the Energy Saving Trust’s National Energy Saving Week, should register for their free energy efficiency “goodie bag”, which contains [amongst other things] the latest TV Powerdown.

The TV Powerdown is programmable through your remote and automatically turns your television off rather than leave on standby overnight. If everyone who owned a television in Lancashire used one of these, our County would reduce not only our Carbon emissions but also our actual energy usage (and obviously save ourselves a lot of money in the process!)

Tags: energy efficiency products, Energy Saving Trust, energy saving week, goodie bag, Lancashire, TV powerdown, wind turbine
Posted in: Renewables | Comments »

The Energy Showroom launch on the horizon

September 28th, 2009

We are approaching the launch of our Energy Showroom. A little longer than I would have hoped, however it is looking quite impressive. With the forthcoming National Energy Saving Week through the Energy Saving Trust [19th Oct to 25th Oct] it is good timing!

We will be promoting our showroom through the local press, radio, magazines, etc. and hope to have a busy week with plenty of footfall. On Friday 23rd October, we are having our business to business day, in which we will be inviting local businesses, councillors and other dignitaries to visit our showroom to view the latest technologies.

So we still have some work to do!

Tags: Energy Saving Trust, energy saving week, energy showroom
Posted in: Renewables | Comments »

50 percent of businesses paying far too much for their energy

September 21st, 2009

I have been advised by our in-house web designer that I should not put the date as the title ….. something to do with web-crawlers!!!

So, SME fuel switching …. our work with the Carbon Trust (whereby we install energy efficiency measures into businesses, paid for by an interest free loan through the Carbon Trust) has led us to the conclusion that in excess of 50% of all businesses we see are paying far too much for their energy.

We therefore want to enable them [and this is definately not our core business] to access cheaper gas and electricity after we have significantly reduced the amount of gas and electricity they use.

Therefore we have managed to arrange meetings this week with some of the utilities in the hope that we can set up agreements with them to provide SME Fuel Switching for our clients.

Tags: carbon trust, Energy, gas and electricity, SME fuel switching
Posted in: Energy Grants | 1 Comment »

Preparation for Brighton NEA Annual Conference

September 14th, 2009

Back from a terrific family holiday in Cornwall – lovely part of the world and the weather was very kind to us.

Now preparing for a trip to Brighton for the NEA Annual Conference, sponsored by EDF. Usually a very informative and interesting event with all the utilities represented and a number of opportunities to talk to potential suppliers and source new energy efficiency products [for our energy showroom and online shop].

A couple of training meetings towards the end of the week which could turn out to be either dead ducks or of significant value.

Tags: energy efficiency products, energy showroom, NEA
Posted in: GB Energy | Comments »

Exhibition in Preston and Blackburn shopping centres goes well

September 1st, 2009

What a great weekend at my friend’s 40th in Cork! Spent nearly 3 years working throughout the whole of Ireland and I always find it a fantastic place with very warm and friendly people. A little worried for them as their economy is really struggling, however didn’t appear to be a problem for “yer” man. Trouble is that the cost of day-to-day living is quite high.

Anyway, the energy world …. and GB Energy …..

A good week in The Malls – shopping centres in Preston and Blackburn – where we were exhibiting. I have noticed over the last 6-9 months that we are receiving a significant increase in enquiries relating to renewable energy, particularly solar thermal.

It appears that the general public are gradually realising that the use of this technology is of benefit and that this is the best way to reduce energy usage [and therefore costs!]

I am on holiday for the next couple of weeks, however will blog again on my return.

Tags: energy usage, renewable energy, solar thermal
Posted in: Renewables | Comments »

Energy Showroom due for Early October Launch

August 24th, 2009

Looking forward to another busy week. Energy Showroom progressing well and we are aiming for an early October launch.

Training Centre also coming on and awaiting our formal accreditation from ABBE following a successful Evaluation Visit last week.

Southport Flower Show went extremely well for us and we have over a hundred leads to follow up with the subject of enquiries received ranging from quoting for a full solar system to how to fix a leaky tap!

Some big meetings this week and will update in next blog.

Tags: energy showroom, leaky tap, solar system, training centre
Posted in: Renewables | Comments »

Preparations Underway for Southport Flower Show Exhibition

August 17th, 2009

A very busy week with preparations underway for our exhibition at the Southport Flower Show from Wednesday through to Sunday. We are partnering the Lancashire Magazine and promoting our new boiler replacement and solar thermal offers.

We also have our Centre Evaluation Visit on Thursday and our Open Day on Friday within our Training Centre.

And then following this, we have been invited to showcase our products and services at both The Mall in Preston and The Mall in Blackburn at their joint Enviromall Week which starts 24th August 2009.

We hope to generate a significant volume of business over the next couple of weeks and particularly as our offers are extremely competitive.

Tags: centre evaluation visit, lancashire magazine, open day
Posted in: Renewables | Comments »

Meetings Scheduled with Large Chain of Hotels

August 10th, 2009

Lots of work completed last week with both the retail outlet and our training centre shaping up nicely. Still on target for early September “opening”.

Another diverse week on the cards with meetings booked with North West chain of hotels to discuss their energy efficiency requirements; the local press and radio to chat about potential energy efficiency savings throughout Lancashire; and, further discussions with the energy companies regarding moving some of our CESP projects forward.

Tags: CESP, energy efficiency, retail outlet, training centre
Posted in: Renewables | Comments »

Energy Showroom and Training Centre work begins

August 3rd, 2009

Exciting day today, with us picking up the keys for our new energy efficiency retail outlet in the centre of Preston. We have a month of hard work to get it to the standard that our customers expect and are aiming to open on Tuesday 1st September 2009.

We also start work on converting our office next door into a high quality and fully accredited training centre. Again, lots to do with stud walls inserted and furniture, interactive whiteboards, etc. to order. We have applied for our Centre Evaluation Visit and are also looking to have an Open Day mid-end August which will allow local dignitaries and potential candidates the ability to have a look at what we can offer.

Tags: centre evaluation, energy assessor, training courses
Posted in: Training | Comments »

Pay As You Save Scheme Given Green Light

July 28th, 2009

The most interesting “bits” from last Wednesday’s announcements were:

CERT will be extended from April 2011 to the end of 2012 and the target for the extended period will be at least as ambitious as the current CERT on a pro rata basis. In addition, Government is proposing a particular focus on insulation measures during this extended period and to allow the carryover of additional measures undertaken by suppliers during the current CERT period to the extended CERT period.

Government intends to pilot new ‘Pay as You Save’ financing methods which will enable householders to spread the cost of measures over a long period of time and repay the cost though savings on their energy bills. The Government will be spending around £4m on these pilots.

The “Pay as You Save” scheme, I believe, will be of great benefit to those who are currently struggling to get on top of their ever-increasing fuel bills. If the homeowner intends to stay in their homes for 10 years+, it makes great sense to invest in your property to alleviate the cost of heating and lighting.

I am interested to see how this particular scheme pans out.

Tags: 2012, CERT, fuel bills, Government, Pay as You Save
Posted in: Energy Grants | Comments »