Clearview North December 2013 - Issue 145 | Page 55

ENERGYEFFICIENCY

GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
MARKET TO INCREASE
A compound annual growth rate (CAGR)
of 17.9% has been forecast for the green
building materials market through 2016,
driven by the need for enhanced cost
reduction and the increase in initiatives by
government bodies.
The use of green building materials has
remained relatively consistent during the global
recession, and recent figures indicate that
demand is only going up.
Solar power products saw explosive growth
between 2002 and 2012, driven by increasing
installation of rooftop-based solar power

modules connected to electricity distribution
systems.
Going forward, favourable tax incentives and
strong interest in the use of renewable energy
sources will promote demand for LEED-eligible
solar power products.
In recent years, energy efficiency has become
a major global concern, particularly as a result
of global warming and the rapid depletion
of non-renewable power resources. It is
currently estimated, that buildings account
for 40% of total global energy consumption.
This high consumption has prompted several

governments across the globe to form policies
to improve energy efficiency in buildings.
For instance, the US government offers a
tax reduction of US$1.80 per square foot to
building owners who use green materials and
techniques. Also, many states in the US offer
incentives for the usage of recyclable items such
as windows, doors, roofs, and insulation.
A major challenge currently facing the
industry is the lack of awareness regarding the
benefits of green building materials. The lack
of awareness in developing countrie s has had a
negative impact on the growth of the market.

Selling homeowners
what they want in 2014
SWISSPACER’s Marketing & Sales
Manager, Vic De Costa, says energy
efficiency is what homeowners want…
“At the end of last year all eyes were on the
Green Deal. But so far the Green Deal, hailed
by some as a lifeline for the glazing industry,
has failed to deliver. And according to the
Department of Energy & Climate Change,
windows are also losing out to boilers. Of
the £1.8 million cashback vouchers issued by
the Green Deal, “virtually all have been for
replacement boilers.”
Whatever the shortcomings of the Green
Deal and its botched launch, the scheme
has touched a consumer need. Homeowners
clearly do want to make their homes more
energy efficient. Homeowners might be
frustrated by the Green Deal’s endless

form-filling, but thousands are applying for
assessments every month.
And who can blame them when four of
the ‘Big Six’ energy providers have already
announced average price increases of 9.1%
before the winter? Some experts predict annual
fuel bills will be an eye-watering £3,000 a year
by 2020. Whatever the actual figure, it can
only go one way, and it’s a game changer.
People know new energy efficient windows
and doors will cut heating bills and save
them money in the long run. And the higher
the bills to come, the more they will save.
That’s why selling energy saving windows is a
huge opportunity for our industry, and will
continue to be in 2014 and beyond. But don’t
forget we’re competing with other energysaving measures like roof and loft insulation,

cavity and solid wall insulation, new boilers
and renewables. We’ve got to convince the
homeowner they’ll do better to invest in your
windows rather than the alternatives over the
longer run. They’ll want to know what your
windows will save over the next 20 years.
And Green Deal or not, it’s up to window
companies to really sell the benefits of high
performance windows and doors!
By benefits I mean a more comfortable
indoor environment, less noise in built-up
areas, no more damp and condensation on
the inside of the windows and of course,
lower heating bills over the lifetime of those
windows.”

ECO GREEN ENERGY SCHEME IS KEY
As the Government has announced a
review into so called green energy taxes
and the clearest indication that some
may be cut, the National Insulation
Association (NIA) highlights that green
energy schemes such as the Energy
Company Obligation (ECO) are key to
lowering domestic energy bills and that
the savings can far exceed the associated
costs.

To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com

‘adds just £47 a year to
the average energy bill’
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO),
which provides free and subsidised energy
efficiency measures, adds just £47 a year to
the average energy bill. The NIA advised: “The
savings available to householders through

installing energy efficiency measures can far
outweigh this cost.
“In addition there are other benefits to be
derived from the scheme, for example, it is the
only scheme to ensure that those at risk and in
fuel poverty receive energy efficiency measures
thereby reducing cold related excess winter
deaths, the security of energy supply and job
creation. The ECO also contributes towards
climate change targets.”

DEC 2013

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