Uk Energy Statistics from Dept Energy and Climate Change Press Release

UK Energy Statistic Headlines.

Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications are published today 29 March 2012 by the  Department of Energy and Climate Change. The publications cover new data for the fourth quarter of 2011 and thus provisional annual data for 2011. This press release focuses on the 2011 annual data.

Energy Trends covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides  an analysis of the year on year changes, and now includes a section on renewables. Quarterly Energy Prices covers prices to domestic and industrial consumers, prices of oil products and comparisons of international fuel prices.

The main points for 2011 are:

·    Total energy production was a record 13½ per cent lower than in 2010. This decline in output was due to the falls in oil and gas production as a result of maintenance activities and slowdowns, which resulted in a net import dependency of 36½ per cent, the highest level since 1976.

·    Oil production was 17½ per cent lower than in 2010, the lowest level of production since the

1970’s and continues the downward trend seen since 2000.

·    Natural gas production was 21 per cent lower than in 2010. In 2011 gross imports of natural gas were greater than gross production for the first time since 1967, with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) accounting for 47 per cent of gas imports. Gas exports were at record levels in

2011, up by 4 per cent. Production though continued to exceed net imports.

·    Total primary energy consumption for energy uses fell by 7½ per cent from 2010. When adjusted   to  take  account  of  weather  differences  between  2010  and  2011,  primary consumption  fell by 2 per cent.

·    Low carbon electricity’s share of generation increased from 23 per cent in 2010 to 28½ per cent in 2011, due to higher renewables and nuclear generation.

·    Of electricity generated in 2011, gas accounted for 40 per cent (a fall of 6 percentage points on 2010) and coal 30 per cent. Nuclear’s share increased by 3 percentage points on 2010, to 19 per cent of the total.

·    Renewables’ share of generation increased by 2½ percentage points on 2010 to a record

9½ per cent. Hydro generation increased by 58 per cent on 2010 as a result of higher rainfall, whilst wind rose by 54½ per cent, of which offshore wind rose by 68 per cent, due to higher wind speeds and increased capacity. Overall hydro and wind generation was 55½ per cent higher than in 2010.

·    Coal production was ½ per cent lower than in 2010. Coal imports were 23 per cent higher.

Generators’ demand for coal was higher by ½ per cent. Coal stocks were 4½ per cent lower.

·    Final energy consumption was 8 per cent lower than in 2010, with falls recorded in all sectors. Domestic consumption fell by 18½ per cent due to the milder weather in 2011, with temperatures being 1.8 degrees warmer than 2010.

·    Gas demand was 17 per cent lower than in 2010 and was at its lowest level since 1995, whilst electricity consumption was 3½ per cent lower in 2011 than in 2010.

·    Average annual household standard electricity bills (fixed consumption of 3,300 kWh per annum) across all payment types in 2011 are £36 higher than in 2010 (up 8.5 per cent to

£453), and average gas bills (fixed consumption of 18,000 kWh per annum) across all payment types are £61 higher (up 9.3 per cent to £719).  UK domestic gas and electricity prices are the lowest and fourth lowest in the EU respectively.

·    Unleaded petrol and diesel prices in March 2012 have reached new record highs.

Butler & Young CPD Presentations

If you would like to discuss or receive a free CPD presentation on the Building Regulations please get in touch with your Butler & Young contact,call 0800 652 7172 or email info@byl.co.uk.
The Butler & Young Group is a multi-disciplinary construction practice that provides professional services for building control, fire safety, CDM and health & safety.

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BUTLER & YOUNG PODCAST SERIES 1 Building Regulation Basics - Written content

BUTLER & YOUNG PODCAST SERIES 1

BUILDING REGULATIONS BASICS. No 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE REGULATIONS.

Introduction

Welcome to the first Butler & Young building control Podcast.

Butler & Young building control are the premier building control service provider in the country and are an alternative to using the local authority building control system. We also provide complementary services such as CDMC, Equality Act access audits, fire risk assessments; fire engineering and environmental engineering if you would like to find out more about us visit www.butlerandyoung.co.uk

Butler and Young Building control  have produced a series of podcasts aimed at those seeking knowledge into what the building regulations are, how they are applied and how best to use them in the design of the built environment. Future podcasts will look at subjects such as fire safety and thermal compliance in more detail.

This first podcast in the series will focus upon building regulations basics and will introduce the umbrella legislation, the building regulations themselves, the types of construction work that is exempt or controlled and the documents that indicate a path to compliance.

Part One

So, why do we have building regulations and what is the legislation backing the regulations?

The purpose of building regulations is to secure health, safety, welfare, convenience of people in and around buildings, the conservation of fuel and power, the prevention of waste, undue consumption and contamination or misuse of water, furthering the protection or enhancement of the environment, facilitating sustainable development and furthering the prevention or detection of crime.

It is worth noting that building control bodies are obliged to consult other parties such as the fire service for relevant use buildings, relevant use being a place where someone is employed to work or with the water authority when building over or close to a sewer on map of sewers. Consultees have generally 15 working days to reply.

Although the regulations are administered by approved inspectors such as Butler and Young Building Control and local authorities; any enforcement action is carried out by the relevant local authority under The Building Act  Section 35 and 36. Failure to comply with the regulations is classified as a criminal offence and can be enforced with the full powers available to local authorities.

The Primary legislation is the Building Act and The Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004 these can be viewed with other legislation at   www.Legislation.gov.uk

The Building Act is the primary legislation that provides the legislative structure for building control in England and Wales. The Act is a consolidation of previous legislation that laid down requirements in relation to health and safety in and about buildings. It consolidates items from as far back as the 1875 Public Health Act right up to the 1984 Housing and Building Control Act.

Other associated legislation is The Town & Country Planning Act, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, Equality Act and local Acts.

Returning to The Building Act, this is split into five parts:-

One                - The Building Regulations

Two                 - The supervision of building work by alternatives to the local authorities such as Approved Inspectors.

Three              - Other provisions such as drainage, defective premises, demolitions and dangerous structures.

Four                - The General duties of local authorities including entry to premises and interpretation

Five                - Supplementary provisions such as transition arrangements.

Part Two

In this the second part of the podcast we will explore what type of work is subject to control or is exempt under the regulations and briefly look at the requirements of the regulations.

It is difficult to comprehensively list all works subject to building control. A general list that indicates the scope of building control could include building work to building super and sub structures, the provision of new buildings, replacement of thermal elements such as glazing and access to buildings. This list whilst not exhaustive gives a feel for the remit of building control.

Some types of work are exempt from the regulations and these are categorised as buildings controlled under other legislation, buildings not frequented by people, greenhouses and agricultural buildings, temporary buildings, and ancillary buildings, small detached Buildings and some extensions.

Although subject to control some types of specialist work can be self-certified by the installer. Examples of this are gas, oil and solid fuel appliances, ventilation and air conditioning systems, electrical installations, replacement windows doors and roof lights,  Installation of bathroom fittings, hot or cold water systems , micro generation and renewable energy systems,  cavity wall insulation and finally the  re-covering of roofs.

Now we have an understanding of the legislative background what guidance is available to help the designer or constructor of buildings to comply with the building regulations?

The guidance is contained in a series of very useful approved documents. To view the entire range of Approved Documents visit: www.planningportal.gov.uk

The guidance in the Approved Documents is one method of demonstrating compliance, however, it is not the only method. Other guidance documents such as British Standards, CIBSE Guides etc may be used to demonstrate an adequate design to comply with the building regulations.

The Approved Documents are:

•Part A – Structural stability.

•Part B – Fire Safety.

•Part C – Site Preparation and Resistance to Contaminants and Moisture.

•Part D – Toxic Substances.

•Part E – Resistance to the Passage of Sound.

•Part F – Means of Ventilation.

•Part G – Sanitation, Hot Water Safety and Water Efficiency.

•Part H – Drainage and Waste Disposal

•Part J – Combustion Appliances and Fuel storage Systems

•Part K – Protection from Falling, Collision and Impact.

•Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Power -Approved Documents L1A and AD L2A refer to work in new buildings and Approved Documents L1B and L2B refer to work in existing buildings.

•Part M – Access to and Use of Buildings

•Part N – Glazing: Safety in Relation to Impact, Opening and Cleaning

•Part P – Electrical Safety

We also have an Approved Document to support Regulation 7 that tackles Material and Workmanship

The private industry has also issued an Approved Document entitled: Basements for Dwellings. This Approved Document can be found on the Basement Information Centre website at www.basements.org.uk

The Government department for Communities and Local Government provides the infrastructure to the regulations and the website:  www.communities.gov.uk provides valuable information on determinations and appeals, competent persons schemes and consultations on future regulations and the future of building control.

Part Three

In our second podcast on building regulations basics we will compare the two systems of building control and provide 10 tips to help secure building regulations approvals.

Butler and Young building control hope that you have found this podcast to be useful and your feedback is valuable to us. If you have any questions regarding this podcast,  or you would like to hear a podcast on a subject that is important to you please send an email to podcast@butlerandyoung.co.uk.

Butler & Young Podcast can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi5Ge1A_RBM&context=C47fd168ADvjVQa1PpcFOj2RKDm7Uq2Zf1SVGHuwOwoX1Pk1HGi6g=