The Energy Bill will allow householders to pay for environmentally-friendly improvements to their homes, such as double-glazing and loft insulation, from the savings they make by using less gas and electricity under a new Green Deal.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has described the scheme as “the first of its kind anywhere in the world” and has said it would insure against future energy price rises while at the same time helping the poorest families save money on their bills and escape fuel poverty.

The Bill, which has cross-party support, was passed by the Lords in March and peers accepted without votes a series of amendments introduced in the Commons.”

Max Hastings article on the Daily Mail website on Saturday 25th June 2011 was entitled “La-La Land Britain faces permanent economic decline unless we face threat from the East“. In his article Max Hastings draws our attention to the fact that while “the latest Merrill Lynch World Wealth report shows that, while 300,000 new Asia-Pacific investors with at least a million dollars of investable assets were created last year — a 9.7 per cent increase — Britain’s percentage increased by only 1.4 per cent.

This country exports more to Ireland’s 4.5 million people than to Brazil, India and China’s combined 2.8 billion population — this, despite a 20 per cent recent devaluation of the pound.

I often disagree with the brilliant but sensationalist historian Niall Ferguson. But he seems absolutely right to argue in his latest book, Civilization: The West And The Rest, that our societies have suffered a disastrous decline of the Protestant work ethic.

“Europeans today,” he says, “are the idlers of the world.” We work shorter hours than our Asian counterparts, take more holidays and are readier to strike. Workers in the United States take fewer holidays than us, but the average South Korean puts in 39 per cent more hours than the average American a week.

Neither President Obama nor anybody else has yet produced a credible solution to the problem that Detroit’s car workers — for instance — cost almost ten times as much as their Chinese counterparts to produce the same vehicles.”

I totally agree with Max Hastings when he summarizes “we are witnessing the end of the age of abundance, the first phase of a savage contest for energy, natural resources including water, and technological dominance. We shall need to work harder to have less, both as individuals and as a country. The divide between the rewards for the skilled and unskilled will continue to widen.

Unless we shed our British obsession with protecting losers as the foremost social priority; unless we breed instead a generation of school pupils and university students committed to winning, our prospects are bleak.

It is the nature of politicians to focus on getting through tomorrow, leaving the next decade to take care of itself. But in this scary new world, our leaders need to rise above this, to embrace a vision for Britain far beyond the next general election. Many of the things that need doing will be unpopular and even nasty. They represent the antithesis of nice-guy politics — of Cleggery, if you like.

But unless Britain raises its game dramatically, we face not Mervyn King’s seven lean years, but 70 of them. We must work harder, teach our children more, and sell far more goods which the world wants, not at a price determined by the lifestyle expectation of our workers, but instead by global competition.”

The warning signs are there, and if both the UK and Europe don’t heed them and take drastic action now to reverse these trends, then sadly I am afraid an Asian dawn will soon eclipse the United Kingdom, the European Union and potentially the entire West.
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Having read the entire Daily Mail article in the newspaper, all it did was confirm everything I have read and heard about the current state of the Greek finances, and that they are unsustainable. Better Greece goes bust now, that in two years time when they blow another £100 billion Euros. We don’t want to pay more than £14,000 each if we don’t have to.

In my totally uneducated opinion Greece needs to default now and go back to the drachma. No wonder Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England is strongly advising against giving Greece any more EU money and calling for an audit of Eurozone Crisis Risk. Everyone knows not to throw good money after bad, even if there will be a domino effect and other countries will follow.

The only way out for Greece and any country (including the UK if necessary) is re-valuation back to affordable levels rather that propping up financial systems that will collapse harder, deeper and further if we all don’t face the reality of over spending and living beyond our means.

If we need examples of this within the UK, just look at the majority of professional football clubs living beyond their means, spending way more than their income in a desperate big to be successful. Even successful business models can become too old, or improved, just look at Habitat and Ikea. Habitat is in administration, as Ikea learnt to do a similar thing better, cheaper and smarter. In the same week Moben and Dolphin kitchens in administration too!

Sorry folks, but bad financial times are coming, so better we all pay now, that later when the damage will be greater. The rich will always find a way of getting a lot of their wealth off-shore, as have the means to do it. It will take strong leadership to get us out of this Global crisis, but sadly all we have is politically correct parties bowing to public opinion, rather than doing what is in both the country’s and public’s best long term interest.

Cutting out a cancer when it is small can often save a patient, leaving it and hoping radio therapy will avoid an operation is how the EU seems to be treating Greece. If in doubt, cut it out!

Yes, I, we are right to be fearful of the economic backlash of letting Greece go bust, but fear of another recession is not a reason to go on spending on a lost cause. We will all survive another Global recession, but may not survive a Global crash that could lead to a breakdown of society and the rule of law. I say we cut our losses and be grateful for having food on the table and a relatively free democracy. What say you?
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On May 5th 2011, the UK electorate are being given the option of two options, neither of which are perfect, but if voters don’t vote, be it on this issue, in a General Election, By-Election or in Local Elections, then they can’t complain if they don’t like the outcome.

I’ve always believed in voting, even if only to spoil my ballot paper, then at least I expressed my preference for “none of the above”, but assume spoilt ballot papers at least count towards the turnout figure?

The only major drawback with the first past the post system is that General Elections in the UK are seemingly determined by small minorities in marginals, which can’t be right, but at least first past the post system appears to deliver reasonably stable government, although I’m not sure the electorate would have actually voted for the current Coalition Government as it is, as I suspect many floating voters who voted Liberal Democrat (ironic really!), would not have done so if they even thought for one minute they would do a deal with the Conservatives, plus break their clear promise not to raise Tuition fees.

The Alternative Vote System definitely in contrast will give each voter more “say”, but could lead to more minority Governments, like so many European countries seem to struggle with. At least more what individuals preferences are taken more into account with AV, but lets face it neither system is going to deliver perfection.

Personally I’m marginally for AV on balance, but think it is far more important that voters vote more than anything else, as low turnouts are not in the interests of true democracy, plus by voting we tell our elected politicians what we prefer, and to some extent what we think of them, even if it is not a lot. Whatever happens on May 5th, I just hope there is a sufficient turnout to get a determination one way or the other on AV, as it is also, in effect, a referendum on the first past the post system, and whether we want change or the status quo.
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Mark Austin Pointing To A Dangerous Pothole

As a result the press release said the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s Chairman Colin Loveday is called on the UK Government to invest now to prevent further damage and an ever increasing repair bill. The same press release stated that “Three years of severe winter weather have revealed the fragile condition of the local road network, with road surfaces around the country deteriorating visibly to a serious degree.” More worryingly it goes on to advise that “authorities continue to report an annual shortfall in the highway maintenance budget they receive from central government. This year it amounts to £895 million, an increase of 12 per cent on last year’s shortfall.

Asked to estimate the level of one-off investment needed to get their roads back into reasonable condition local authorities estimated that £10.65 billion (aggregated across England and Wales) would be required. This is an increase of £1.15 billion on the amount estimated last year. Under funding of highway maintenance programmes is believed by 90 per cent of local authorities to create a threat to road user safety.”

AIA Chairman, Colin Loveday, highlights the industry’s growing concern: “Local authorities are doing what they
can, but reactive maintenance – such as simply filling potholes when they appear – is at least 20 times more
expensive than planned preventative maintenance.

“The annual shortfall in budget has increased this year and spending review cuts translate to a potential loss of another £440 million over the next four years. The additional £200 million announced in February and March 2011 is welcome but if the government wants to save the country money it should be investing in local roads now to save a massive repair bill later on.”
Potholes are often a sign of more serious underlying problems, says Loveday: “After several years of wetter winters and serious summer flooding which undermines the integrity of the road’s structure, our local road network is at its most vulnerable.”

I for one agree that “We have to keep up the battle against this blight which damages cars and risks road safety, especially for those on two wheels.” Hopefully Buckinghamshire County Council Highways Agency will take note of these facts and lobby the Coalition Government for funds to fix our dangerous and ever more costly roads, as always it is us taxpayers that pay the price, I recently had to yet again replace a front tyre at my expense due to pothole damage. Whenever the local County Council and District Council Elections come round, I suggest us voters should all make permanent repairs to our High Wycombe District and Bucks Highways a main campaign priority as to who we end up voting for and why!
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Hazlemere Windows Marketing Director Mark Austin Making His Point About Too Many Potholes

His compensation claim to Bucks County Council will apparently take 5-10 months to process, whereas he has to fork out for three new tyres now, plus is not guaranteed to be refunded the enforced outlay. It is a sad sign of both the way we are governed in the UK that taxpayers have to fork out upfront, but councils can not only delay payments, but can seemingly choose if and when they repair potholes.

It seems to me that the UK Government want more and more from taxpayers with increasingly shrinking disposable incomes, whilst delivering/providing less and less in return. This is why I believe potholes are symbolic of our crumbling short term UK society, given our infrastructure is the life-blood of the nation, which the Government and local council’s have a civic duty to maintain. More of us use the roads more often, and more than any other public service, so a large part of our experience of the environment directly realtes to the condition of the public highways. After the pothole crisis in 2009/2010 you’d have thought the lesson would have been learned by both Westminster and County Councils……clearly not.

In the South Bucks Star last Thursday, the front page headline was “The cost to rid our roads of potholes is estimated at £120 million“. And thats just Bucks! Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Transport Val Letheren says it is up to us taxpayers to register potholes. Everyone knows that repairing the potholes is not the best long term solution, proper re-surfacing of the roads is the answer, but of course councils claim they can not “afford” to. The real question is can they afford the financial costs of not resurfacing Buckinghamshire’s road network? Compensation claims and costs of repairs are only going to continue to increase until the political will is there to do the right thing for the country. By the way, if you want to report a Bucks pothole call 0845 230 2882

The strapline on page 13 of last Friday’s Bucks Free Press Newspaper read “Tell us instead where there are no potholes”, alongside a picture of a pothole in Marlow Common where the BFP reported at least three cars have suffered damage. I personally encounter dozens of potholes on my way to and from work in High Wycombe, many of which are difficult to avoid, and some extremely dangerous to cyclists and motorbikes, let alone motorists and pedestrians.

Our “elected” officials, just don’t seem to have got the message. Taxpayers expect decent roads and services to be provided by their local councils. They are not really interested in all the political in-fighting or arguments with central Government. Potholes, and temporary repairs to potholes are a depressingly visible, embarrasing and sad daily reminder that we currently live in a crumbling society.

What I believe the UK desperately needs is leadership at national, regional and local level, driven by conviction and direction to drag the UK highways and byways back from Third World standards, setting out a long term re-surfacing plan (which will actually cost less in the long term) to get the road network into some sort of decent order before someone gets killed and/or seriously injured by a dangerous pothole.
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The Press Association stated that the House of Lords was told that “consumers will have to pay for modifications, which include insulation and double-glazing, with the savings they would otherwise make from lower energy bills.”

Also that government proposals announced to the 2nd chamber by Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Marland would also mean “energy companies would be obliged to reduce carbon emissions, while wind turbines would be connected to the UK’s grid.”

Furthermore the Energy Bill, which gained an unopposed second reading in the Lords, also aims to ensure sufficient gas will be available during emergencies and provides a “stable and predictable market”. To pay for the environmentally-friendly alterations costing up to £6,500, homes would be fitted with a meter detailing the energy saving as a result of the modifications, Lord Marland said.

The Press Association understands that “payments would then be taken from that saving over a period of up to 25 years to cover the cost of the insulation or double glazing.”

“The instalments would never be greater than the cost of the energy saved, removing any risk to the consumer, the minister added. When the home transferred ownership, responsibility for the instalments would transfer with it, he said.
In rented accommodation, tenants would be responsible for paying the instalments but if landlords refused to make the alterations the Government would look at legislating to force them to make improvements.”

The Government estimates the number of people working in insulation could rise from 27,000 at present to 250,000 within the next decade. Lord Marland said the Bill would “stimulate innovation, competition and the supply chain” while at the same time safe-guarding consumers if an energy company went in to insolvency. In those cases their energy would be provided for until they had been transferred to a different supplier.”

“The Green Deal will help reduce energy bills for the long term and make our houses more energy efficient,” Lord Marland said. Lets hope he is right and this is not a smoke and mirrors policy, but instead a modern workable approach to cutting carbon emissions and reducing our carbon footprint.
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Commenting on the content of his speech Mr Huhne stated “I want Britain to say goodbye forever to leaky lofts and chilly draughts. At a time of increasing gas prices energy efficiency is a no-brainer. It’s also a massive economic and job opportunity which could help Britain’s economy turn the corner. With up to 100,000 green jobs up for grabs over the next five years, and even more in the long term, this is about growing our economy in a way that’s good for jobs, the environment and energy security.”

Nothing wrong with good intentions Mr Huhne as long as they work, are thought through and well funded. According to Chris Huhne “A quarter of UK carbon emissions come from housing. We use more energy heating our homes than Sweden. Our homes may be our castles. But they shouldn’t cost a king’s ransom to run. In houses across the country, boilers are firing up earlier than they need to. Burning more gas than they have to. Producing more emissions than they should do. And all because our outdated housing stock leaks heat and wastes carbon.”

The Coalition’s response is “the Green Deal, a radical programme to bring our houses out of the dark ages.”. As independent double glazing manufacturers and installers, who specialise in supplying and fitting energy rated, energy efficient double glazing, as well as triple glazing, we can only hope Mr Huhne’s Green Deal works!

He says that “Over the next two years we expect to insulate 3.5 million homes, with a renewed focus on those in fuel poverty – and those who need it most. Then, from 2012 onwards, energy saving packages worth thousands will be installed in millions of homes, with the capital and interest costs covered by savings on energy bills. And we will look at how we can apply the Green Deal model to businesses, too – enabling them to cut carbon, and cut costs.”

I am not so sure as to his claim that the Green Deal will create 100,000 new jobs mind. More likely it will help keep folk employed, which in itself is to be welcomed, plus Mr Huhne cannot guarantee that the majority of any new jobs created will go to British workers, so as always the British taxpayer will reserve judgement as to whether any government spends our money wisely.

However, on the positive side the Energy and Climate Change Secretary of State reckons that “The most inefficient households could save £550 a year on their fuel bills; if every household took up the Green Deal, spending on gas would fall by £2.5 billion per year.” And as the Minster states “double-glazing your windows really can improve the UK’s energy security.”

Steven Baker MP for High Wycombe being shown Hazlemere's Factory by MD Stuart Braham

They were given a guided tour by Hazlemere Group Managing Director Stuart Braham and by Sales Director Tony Beale, both of whom have been with the family business for well over 20 years. The High Wycombe MP saw Hazlemere Windows CNC machines in operation and kindly took the time to meet several of Hazlemere Windows fabricators, as well as office staff. Given that the majority ownership of RBS is by the British Taxpaper, the bank are keen to show they are investing “our money” wisely, so brought Steven Baker MP along to show the sensible way Hazlemere have used the commercial loan to grow the thriving double glazing family manufacturing and installing business.

As part of their investment in property, the Hazlemere Group replaced the original steel single glazed windows in the old run down factory in Wellington Road, on Cressex Business Park with thermally efficient aluminium double glazed windows, to match the existing aluminium blue windows in Hazlemere’s adjacent 4,000 square foot home improvement showroom. By replacing all the existing windows and doors with high quality aluminium commercial windows and doors, not only is the premises more secure, better looking and warmer, it has added thousands of pounds onto the value of the site.

Many extruders and double glazing manufacturers like Hazlemere Window Company obviously hold stocks of double glazing profiles which the new legislation is rendering obsolete after 30th September 2010. Had the industry had more notice it could have run down its stocks over a sensible period of time. In addition, companies with double glazing showrooms will have to replace all the products that are being discontinued if they are to on display products which comply with the new more thermally efficient requirements of Part L which come into force on all windows and doors installed on or after 1st October 2010.

Regardless of if a company is a double glazing manufacturer, supplier or installer, each individual business immediately faces the moral dilemma of whether or not to advise each of their customers that the majority of them have bought products for their homes which will no longer be available from 1st October 2010. It was a no brainer for the family owned and run Hazlemere Group who last week sent letters to every single one of their customers informing them about the implications for UK property owners of the Part L changes, along with an explanatory information leaflet on how these major legal revisions to the Building Regulations will affect home owners. Fortunately the Hazlemere Group have been manufacturing, supplying and installing energy efficient energy savings windows since 2007, so are geared up for the challenge, with a wide range of BFRC and Energy Saving Trust approved “A”, “B” and “C” energy rated double glazed windows.

Since sending the mailing, Hazlemere Windows received calls from customers wanting to order windows and doors of the same specification and finish they already have had fitted in their properties. Given the short time frame, it could well end up being the case of first come, first served, as double glazing manufacturers can only survey, fabricate and install a finite number of double glazed windows and doors between now and 30th September 2010, the last day products can be installed which only comply with the existing Building Regulations, but which do not comply with the new ones that come into effect on 1st October 2010.

Download a PDF of a Part L 2010 Changes Information Factsheet