News and events

Green day

Published 10 May 2011

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker visited the University of Brighton yesterday on the eve of the coalition government unveiling details of its Green Deal to make properties more energy efficient.

He described the deal as the "most ambitious programme of its kind ever attempted", adding "I'm here for a reality check, reminding me what it will mean on the ground.

"The Green Deal, when it is launched next year, will unlock billions of pounds of new investment. It will be the biggest national home improvement programme since the war and will create a massive opportunity for British business."

He held in-depth discussions with local companies and organisations involved in energy efficiency and said the university will be well placed to help lead the way in this sector.

He said: "We are looking for a paradigm shift in how we approach sustainable energy use. Success depends on the people in this room implementing measures at a local level. We know that locally-based projects have the most effective chance of getting community buy-in."

The government says the Green Deal will provide the framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill.

Mr Barker was visiting the university's new £23m Huxley Building in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, where he joined a round-table discussion with entrepreneurs, business leaders and organisations which are working with the university on ways to cut carbon emissions and to improve sustainability.

Zoë Osmond, business development manager for environmental sectors with the university, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, and Colin Monk, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (business)

Colin Monk, Pro-Vice Chancellor (business) welcomed the minister and city MPs Caroline Lucas, Simon Kirby, and Mike Weatherley. Zoë Osmond, business development manager for environmental sectors with the university, said: "The university has a strong applied research base in environmental disciplines and has been providing expertise and knowledge to businesses and organisations for many years now.

"Our aim is to act as the innovation hub or knowledge centre for our partners.

"Easy access to the university's knowledge and skills will help organisations achieve green growth and to thrive in a low carbon economy."

She said the university had launched a Carbon Management Plan with the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50 per cent by 2016, including emissions from gas, electricity, refrigerants, waste and business travel. And projects were underway in the community to help fight climate change. She explained how Professor Mike Mcevoy was helping lead a multi-million-pound European project to retrofit council homes in Kent in collaboration with housing associations in the UK and partners in France.

Ms Osmond highlighted other case studies where the university was working with business on eco projects:

Knowledge Transfer Partnership to introduce a retrofit capability to the Guinness Partnership involving Dr Jon Gates, senior lecturer in the School of Environment and Technology.
Plastipack's third Knowledge Transfer Partnership involving the international marketing of its water and energy conservation products.
An innovation voucher scheme-funded consultancy project to address legal issues for Brighton Energy Co-op.
An innovation voucher scheme-funded consultancy project to address produce innovation in solar systems for South Downs Solar.
An innovation voucher scheme-funded consultancy project to provide innovative solutions to site investigations for GeoEnvironmental.
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership providing support for Brighton and Hove 10:10 emissions reduction campaign.
Dr Kaiming She, senior lecturer in the School of Environment and Technology, who has invented and patented a novel wave-energy converter.

Ms Osmond said of the university's partners: "We are excited about working together and we are ready for the challenges ahead. The University of Brighton is open for business."

Zoë Osmond, business development manager for environmental sectors with the university, with university academics and business people after the visit by Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker

Earlier, the minister visited the Hove home of Oliver Heath, the eco designer and TV presenter to inspect major energy efficiencies he has incorporated. Mr Heath is a member of the sustainable design group with the university's Profitnet organisation which enables small and medium-size enterprises to learn from each other and to gain access to university expertise.

James Grugeon, chief executive of Environment Protection UK, said he was encouraged by the Green Deal but warned there were challenges ahead: many homes in the South East were not fit for purpose and accounted for a quarter of all carbon emissions; how can the community be galvanised into action and will the Green Deal provide incentives to bring people together?

David Porter, of Low Carbon Era which provide retrofit services, questioned the time gap before Green Deal comes in next year and asked how businesses could generate income in the interim.

The minister said the government was taking its time to ensure they were getting it right.