Partnerships leading the way forward to ensure quality energy efficiency installers

Panel: Panel 5: Energy Efficiency Markets & Financing Mechanisms

Author:
Susan Crowley, Energy Saving Trust

Abstract

The Energy Saving Trust (EST), in conjunction with relevant industries and the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (the Partnership), strives to increase customer awareness and installer interest in energy efficiency to result in measures being installed. The EST launched its installer network in 1997 to provide quality domestic energy efficiency advice and workmanship. However the gap between customers and installers is hard to manage. Energy Efficiency Advice Centres can provide general domestic advice but often this does not result in measures being installed.

Research has shown that:

Customers may only want advice from an installer and not an installation,
Installers do not necessarily offer the customer the most appropriate energy efficiency advice,
A large range of potential network users (e.g. local authorities and energy suppliers) doubt the credibility of installer networks, preferring to vet and collate their own installer base.

Using the support from the Partnership and relevant industries this gap is being tackled. Industry strategy groups are examining the training and skills available within their industries and the EST has launched an installer pilot throughout autumn 2000 to create a locally based network of energy efficiency installers. The pilot is working with industry to identify the necessary training courses for installers and by introducing standardised monitoring we will create a credible and reliable network, which can be used as an industry resource to push customers into action.