Energy Statements

Planners and Councils in the UK are committed to helping reduce the causes of climate change by requiring new and refurbished developments to produce a percentage of their energy needs onsite.  Additionally a focus of Planners is also increasing energy efficiency in the developments ahead of the renewable energy implementations.

The Government has advised that new and refurbished developments should be designed so that at least some of the energy requirement of the development is provided by sources of renewable energy.  Typically, the installation of renewable energy technologies must reduce the development’s predicted carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 10%.  Some local councils might request a higher figure. 
Consequently, an Energy Statement should be the first process in producing a high quality development, and should form an integral part of any planning application.

IT Power’s Services
IT Power can provide Energy Statements for a proposed development and can provide modelled outcomes, showing the significance of any proposed actions in terms of:

• Reduction of Total Energy Consumption, therefore Overhead reduction, through the implementation of energy efficiency measures
• Reduction of non-renewable Energy consumption through implementation of renewable energy technology
• Reduction of CO2 emissions through either or both of the above two methods

IT Power is unique in that it has the knowledge to not only show what can be achieved in terms of Energy, Overhead and CO2 reduction, but also to assist in the implementation of the recommendations though our expertise in renewable energy and sustainable building technology.

Elements of the Energy Statement
1.  Assessment of the Baseline Energy Demand.
2.  Proposals for Energy Efficiency Measures.
3.  Feasibility – Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
4.  Proposals for Renewable Energy Options

• Feasibility - Photovoltaics
• Feasibility - Solar Water Heating
• Feasibility - Ground Source Heat Pumps
• Feasibility - Biomass
• Feasibility - Wind

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

Further Background
The new Planning Policy Statement (PPS): Planning and Climate Change was published on 17th December 2007, making clear that tackling climate change is central to what is expected of good planning.  Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) (and their predecessors Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs)) are prepared by the Government after public consultation to explain statutory provisions and provide guidance to local authorities and others on planning policy and the operation of the planning system.

The draft PPS has been issued as part of a broader package including the ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ and the ‘Building a Greener Future’ consultation document.  Local authorities and planners must take the contents of these documents into account when preparing plans. The guidance may also be relevant to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.