ABBE Level 3 Diploma in Domestic Green Deal Advice Annex H : Specification Changes v004

1. ABBE Level 3 Diploma in Domestic Green Deal AdviceAnnex H: Specification Changes v004 Presented by [Name] Changes to the Specification for organisations Providing the Green Deal Advice service v004/2013 - 17/06/2013

2. Implementation Timetable for the Assessor Specifications 004-2013 Specification for Organisations providing the Green Deal Advice Service (Published on 17th June 2013) The new Green Deal Assessor Specifications have now been published on the GD ORB website: http://www.greendealorb.co.uk/assessors/assessor-specifications A Green Deal Assessor organisations must be certified against and continue to comply with the requirements of the relevant Assessor Services Specification.

3. Implementation Timetable for the Assessor Specifications Version 004/2013 of the Specification for Organisations Providing the Green Deal Advice Service will need to be complied with from the date that version 3 of the Green Deal Code of Practice is issued by the Secretary of State. This is anticipated to be on 31st July 2013 but is subject to Parliamentary Approval. Until version 3 of the Green Deal Code of Practice issued, version 003/2012 of the Specification for Organisations Providing the Green Deal Advice Service will apply.

4. Compliance requirements Green Deal Assessor Compliance requirements *Subject to Parliamentary Approval of the Green Deal Code of Practice (version 3)

5. Changes to the Specification Introduction 2. This Specification has been produced exclusively in connection with the Green Deal, which is a market framework based on the key principle that the cost of some energy related changes to properties can be recovered through the resulting savings on fuel bills. The Energy Act 2011 creates a financing mechanism that will allow the installation of energy saving measures in both domestic and non-domestic properties at no upfront cost. Organisations providing the Green Deal Advice Service must be Green Deal Assessors authorised pursuant to the provisions of the Energy Act 2011, the Green Deal Framework (Disclosure, Acknowledgment, Redress etc.) Regulations 2012 and the Green Deal Code of Practice. N.B. All changes to the specification will be highlighted in red.

6. Changes to the Specification 3. The role of a Green Deal Advisor, employed or contracted by a certified and authorised Organisation, will be to carry out a Green Deal “qualifying assessment” (hereafter referred to as ‘the Green Deal Assessment’) and produce a Green Deal Advice Report, on behalf of the Organisation, that explains sets out the findings and recommendations from that Green Deal Assessment. This will be a pre-requisite for any person who wishes to take out a Green Deal Plan in order to pay for the installation of energy efficiency measures at their property

7. Changes to the Specification 5. This Specification may be amended from time to time by DECC, or the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body on behalf of DECC. 1.1 Contractual and Legal Considerations 6. Compliance with this Specification does not in itself confer immunity from legal obligations. Therefore, this Specification does not include, for example, requirements to observe Health and Safety regulations, with which users of this Specification will need to.

8. Changes to the Specification 8. Where necessary this Specification separates out requirements that are specific to the particular type of Green Deal Assessment, such as the requirements for Green Deal Assessments of domestic and non-domestic properties. Organisations may apply to be certified and authorised to deliver the Service for either, or both, of domestic and non-domestic properties. The Specification covers the generic requirements common across sectors as well as the sector-specific requirements relevant to their application.

9. Changes to the Specification 3. Terms and Definitions Domestic Property A building or part of a building intended to be occupied as a dwelling. EPC Register The register maintained under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections)(England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (or any regulations replacing them) or the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (or any regulations replacing them) for the purposes of storing the data from which an energy performance certificate and/or a recommendations report may be produced.

10. Changes to the Specification Green Deal Improvement Package Tool An approved and validated software tool that allows an Organisation or a Green Deal Provider to tailor and record the package of measures recommended by Organisation following a qualifying assessment. Details of the approved and validated software tools are available at: http://www.bre.co.uk/sap2009/page.jsp?id=1642

11. Changes to the Specification Organisation providing the Green Deal Advice Service (“Organisation”) A person (legal or natural) who is authorised by the Secretary of State to act as a Green Deal Assessor, and is listed on a the public register of Green Deal Assessors maintained by the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body.

12. Changes to the Specification 4. Eligibility Criteria 4.5 Registration of Green Deal Advisors 23. Organisations shall ensure that details of their Green Deal Advisors are provided to their all the Certification Bodiesunder whose certification their contracted Green Deal Advisors are operating, for their records. Organisations shall inform their relevant Certification Bodiesof any change to their details of their contracted Green Deal Advisors within seven working days.

13. Changes to the Specification 44. Organisations shall agree to their current or past Certification Body sharing information with other Certification Bodies and other relevant third parties (including UKAS, insurance underwriters, the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body, DECC, and those acting on behalf of DECC, the Green Deal Ombudsmen, the Scottish Government and the Operator of the EPC register,) where appropriate, which allows for investigation of (but not limited to) the issues at (a) to (e) of this clause: a) Their compliance with the requirements of this Specification; b) Any ongoing or completed disciplinary actions; c) Complaints against the Organisation or their Green Deal Advisors; d) Details of qualifications and CPD/ competency assessments; and e) The outcome of any monitoring undertaken by Certification Bodies.

14. Changes to the Specification 6. Operational Procedures 6.3 Information Provided to All Customers Prior to a Green Deal Assessment Visit 57. Organisations shall ensure that the customer who has commissioned the assessment – whether domestic or non-domestic – receives the following information at (a) to (i) of this clause in a manner that is clear and accessible by the customer, prior to a Green Deal Assessment visit at the property. Organisations shall ensure that this information is provided / requested at least 24 hours in advance of the assessment visit taking place, unless specifically requested otherwise by the consumer: Cond…

15. Changes to the Specification b) The basic scope and process of the Green Deal Assessment – what the customer can expect will be involved (dependent on the sector and complexity of property), including: vi. That the output of the assessment will be a Green Deal Advice Report which is portable and may be used to obtain quotes for a Green Deal Plan from one or more Green Deal Providers, but that there is no obligation to obtain or agree to a quote from a particular Green Deal Provider Cond…

16. Changes to the Specification i) That if any changes are made to the property after the Green Deal Assessment visit which might affect the recommendations or estimated energy bill savings in the final Green Deal Advice Report (such as the installation of energy efficiency improvements, or any structural additions or alterations that would change the energy demand for the building), a Green Deal Provider may not be able to use the Green Deal Advice Report to provide a quote for a Green Deal Plan.

17. Changes to the Specification 6.4 Information Provided Specifically to Domestic Customers 59. Organisations shall ensure that, in addition to the information to be provided according to paragraph 57, domestic customers also receive the information at (a) and (c) of this clause prior to the Green Deal Assessment visit: a) What access to the domestic property will be required (e.g. loft access) in order to carry out the inspection; and b) That there are circumstances in which some customers may be entitled to a free assessment or financial support for energy efficiency improvements to their property and that the customer can contact the ESAS in England and Wales, or the ESSAC network in Scotland to find out more; c) Contact details for ESAS or the ESSAC network (as applicable).

18. Changes to the Specification 6.10 During the Green Deal Assessment 6.10.1 Preliminaries 72. The Green Deal Advisor shall take questions from the customer, and record any which are material to the provision of the Green Deal Advice Service.

19. Changes to the Specification 6.11 Information Collection 6.11.1 Domestic Green Deal Assessment 75. The Green Deal Advisor shall use Approved Software to carry out the occupancy assessment. In particular and subject to paragraph 75A, they shall carry out the activities at (a) to (m) in this clause: a) Explain to the customer the purpose and scope of the occupancy assessment and associated advice if the customer requests more information than has already been provided; b) Ask the occupier the questions mandated in the Approved Software and enter data as required; c) Identify the actual energy use for the household as reflected in existing energy bills;

20. Changes to the Specification d) Make an assessment of whether the standard predictions in the EPC for the property reflect actual use by the current householder, or whether they are higher or lower than typical use; e)Explain the results of the occupancy assessment, in particular the Green Deal Advisor must explain the household factors that make a difference e.g. number of occupants, hours at home each day, thermostat setting and annual energy bill; f)Make an assessment of the likely suitability of Green Deal package to the current householder and communicate this; g) Discuss possible packages of measures appropriate to the customer and potential energy savings; h) Explain to the householder any ways to save today and other ways to avoid waste in the home suggested on the occupancy assessment; Cond…

21. Changes to the Specification i) Provide behavioural advice on any other free and low cost ways to reduce energy use, which are relevant to the customer; j) Explain what the Green Deal Improvement Package Tool does and that the package of measures chosen in the Green Deal Advice Report can be adjusted later by a Green Deal Provider or Green Deal Advisor without needing to re-do the assessment; k) Explain what possible subsidies may be available to domestic customers at the current time; l) Explain the availability of relevant incentives, and where the customer can find out more about them; and m) Signpost the customer to further sources of advice (usually the ESAS in England and Wales or the ESSAC network in Scotland) if he/she is unable to answer a particular question. Cond…

22. Changes to the Specification 75A. Where the property is unoccupied, the Green Deal Advisor shall use the input values for a typical household living in that property, as provided for by the Approved Software.

23. Changes to the Specification 80. The Green Deal Advisor shall carry out the activities at (a) to (c) in this clause before concluding the assessment visit: a) Ask the customer if they have any questions or feedback regarding the Green Deal Assessment visit and the recommendations discussed; b) Explain to the customer that: I. if any changes are made to the property after the Green Deal Assessment visit which might affect the recommendations or estimated energy bill savings in the final Green Deal Advice Report, a Green Deal Provider may not be able to use the Green Deal Advice Report to provide a quote for a Green Deal Plan; II. relevant post-assessment changes would include the installation of energy efficiency improvements, or any structural additions or alterations that would change the energy demand for the building; and

24. Changes to the Specification c) Inform the customer who they can contact if they have any follow up questions once they receive the final Green Deal Advice Report.

25. Changes to the Specification 88A. An Organisation may re-lodge an occupancy assessment or Green Deal Advice Report with a revised assessment date where a technical malfunction prevented lodgement within the two week period required by paragraphs 84, 85, 87 and 88. In such circumstances the Organisation: Is not required to revisit the property before re-lodging the occupancy assessment or Green Deal Advice Report; b) Must confirm with the customer that there have been no material changes to the property since the Green Deal Assessment visit;

26. Changes to the Specification c) Must inform the customer that re-lodgement of the occupancy assessment or Green Deal Advice Report will take place with a revised assessment date and provide reasons for the relodgement; and d) Must provide its Certification Body with details of the technical malfunction that prevented lodgement within the two week period and the number of its occupancy assessments and Green Deal Advice Reports affected by the malfunction.

27. Questions?

28. Web Links www.stroma.com/certification Contacts Stroma Certification Ltd. 4 Pioneer Way, Castleford, WF10 5QU 0845 621 11 11 training@stroma.com