National Energy Foundation
Encyclopedia
The National Energy Foundation (NEF) is an independent British
charity
, established to encourage the more sustainable use and generation of energy.
emissions through energy efficiency
and use of sustainable energy sources (notably renewable energy
) in order to maintain affordable energy services and combat global climate change
.
Development Corporation in order to preserve for the future benefit of the UK public some of the energy initiatives that had been undertaken within the new city. Its initial projects included extending a technical home energy label (known as the Milton Keynes Energy Cost Index - MKECI) into a more generally applicable home energy rating called the National Home Energy Rating
(NHER), and technical energy monitoring work on low energy homes in the Milton Keynes Energy Park. In 1994, the NHER Scheme was injected into a subsidiary company which still runs the business on behalf of the charity.
From 1993-2001 NEF worked closely with the Energy Saving Trust
, setting up the UK's network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs) on their behalf, and managing the network for the first five years. But as domestic energy efficiency moved more into the mainstream, NEF expanded its interests into Renewable Energy (from 1995) and non-domestic energy efficiency, through its management of the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme from 1998 onwards. In 2005 this scheme was transferred to the Carbon Trust but still managed by NEF; in 2008 it was relaunched as the Carbon Trust Standard.
Many of NEF's activities are concerned with renewable energy
and, in particular, with integrating it into buildings and assisting local authorities and other bodies to create the right environment for a wider uptake of sustainable energy
. It also provides secretariat functions to the Ground Source Heat Pump Association and the Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme. In support of these functions NEF runs a programme of training courses and educational activities. In 2007-8 it launched a global warming game
called LogiCity, funded by the Defra Climate Challenge Programme, in an attempt to raise interest in the subject among young adults. Most of the charity's work is within the UK, although it participates in a number EU projects and has undertaken some work in SE Asia.
Most local and regional domestic energy efficiency activities have been handed over to the United Sustainable Energy Agency (formerly Milton Keynes Energy Agency - MKEA), but it retains involvement in projects such as Milton Keynes' Low Carbon Living (formerly ThimkAgain!) campaign. The Foundation undertakes work with local communities across the UK in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Academy, most notably through the Old Home Superhome project.
system. There is a winter back-up heating system in the form of a wood pellet
stove. The building is naturally ventilated, with brise-soleils
to prevent overheating in summer, and use of daylight is encouraged through light tubes
('SunPipes'). Around a fifth of the office's energy is supplied by a 6.47kWp photovoltaic
array. As well as energy features, its environmental credentials include the use of rainwater for toilet flushing and a low thermal mass sustainably sourced timber frame structure.
The adjacent low energy building was constructed in 1999 to show how super-insulation can enable a 1,000m2 building to be heated from a gas condensing boiler little larger than would be used in a typical UK home. This served as NEF's headquarters until 2004.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, established to encourage the more sustainable use and generation of energy.
Aims
The charity's mission is to mobilise individuals, businesses and communities to make their contribution to reducing carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions through energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
and use of sustainable energy sources (notably renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
) in order to maintain affordable energy services and combat global climate change
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
.
Activities
NEF was founded in 1988 by Milton KeynesMilton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
Development Corporation in order to preserve for the future benefit of the UK public some of the energy initiatives that had been undertaken within the new city. Its initial projects included extending a technical home energy label (known as the Milton Keynes Energy Cost Index - MKECI) into a more generally applicable home energy rating called the National Home Energy Rating
National Home Energy Rating
The National Home Energy Rating Scheme is both a UK accreditation scheme for energy assessors and a rating scale for the energy efficiency of housing.The NHER is owned and operated by National Energy Services...
(NHER), and technical energy monitoring work on low energy homes in the Milton Keynes Energy Park. In 1994, the NHER Scheme was injected into a subsidiary company which still runs the business on behalf of the charity.
From 1993-2001 NEF worked closely with the Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation jointly funded by the British Government and the private sector in order to help fight climate change by promoting the sustainable use of energy, energy conservation and to cut carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom.-Background:The Energy...
, setting up the UK's network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs) on their behalf, and managing the network for the first five years. But as domestic energy efficiency moved more into the mainstream, NEF expanded its interests into Renewable Energy (from 1995) and non-domestic energy efficiency, through its management of the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme from 1998 onwards. In 2005 this scheme was transferred to the Carbon Trust but still managed by NEF; in 2008 it was relaunched as the Carbon Trust Standard.
Many of NEF's activities are concerned with renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
and, in particular, with integrating it into buildings and assisting local authorities and other bodies to create the right environment for a wider uptake of sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
. It also provides secretariat functions to the Ground Source Heat Pump Association and the Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme. In support of these functions NEF runs a programme of training courses and educational activities. In 2007-8 it launched a global warming game
Global warming game
A global warming game, also known as a climate game or a climate change game, is a type of serious game. As a serious game, it attempts to simulate and explore real life issues to educate players through an interactive experience...
called LogiCity, funded by the Defra Climate Challenge Programme, in an attempt to raise interest in the subject among young adults. Most of the charity's work is within the UK, although it participates in a number EU projects and has undertaken some work in SE Asia.
Most local and regional domestic energy efficiency activities have been handed over to the United Sustainable Energy Agency (formerly Milton Keynes Energy Agency - MKEA), but it retains involvement in projects such as Milton Keynes' Low Carbon Living (formerly ThimkAgain!) campaign. The Foundation undertakes work with local communities across the UK in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Academy, most notably through the Old Home Superhome project.
Buildings
NEF occupies a purpose built low energy building designed to demonstrate some of the features that it espouses. Built in 2002-3, its office is heated by a Ground Source Heat Pump, with hot water being partly provided by an evacuated tube solar water heatingSolar hot water
Solar water heating or solar hot water systems comprise several innovations and many mature renewable energy technologies that have been well established for many years...
system. There is a winter back-up heating system in the form of a wood pellet
Wood pellets
Wood pellets are a type of wood fuel, generally made from compacted sawdust or other wastes from sawmilling and other wood products manufacture, but also sometimes from sources such as whole-tree removal or tree tops and branches leftover after logging and which otherwise help replenish soil...
stove. The building is naturally ventilated, with brise-soleils
Brise soleil
Brise soleil, sometimes brise-soleil , from French, "sun breaker"), in architecture refers to a variety of permanent sun-shading techniques, ranging from the simple patterned concrete walls popularized by Le Corbusier to the elaborate wing-like mechanism devised by Santiago Calatrava for the...
to prevent overheating in summer, and use of daylight is encouraged through light tubes
Light tube
Light tubes or light pipes are used for transporting or distributing natural or artificial light. In their application to daylighting, they are also often called sun pipes, sun scopes, solar light pipes, sky lights or daylight pipes.Generally speaking, a light pipe or light tube may refer to:* a...
('SunPipes'). Around a fifth of the office's energy is supplied by a 6.47kWp photovoltaic
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material...
array. As well as energy features, its environmental credentials include the use of rainwater for toilet flushing and a low thermal mass sustainably sourced timber frame structure.
The adjacent low energy building was constructed in 1999 to show how super-insulation can enable a 1,000m2 building to be heated from a gas condensing boiler little larger than would be used in a typical UK home. This served as NEF's headquarters until 2004.
Leadership
- President: Dr Mary Archer
- Chair: Brian WhiteBrian White (British politician)Brian Arthur Robert White is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for North East Milton Keynes from 1997 to 2005.-Early life:...
- Chief Executive: Dr Tim Lunel
- Deputy Director: Ian Byrne
See also
- Energy Use and Conservation in the United KingdomEnergy use and conservation in the United KingdomEnergy use in the United Kingdom stood at 3,894.6 kilogrammes of oil equivalent per capita in 2005 compared to a world average of 1,778.0. In 2008, total energy consumed was 9.85 exajoules - around 2% of the estimated 474 EJ worldwide total...
- Global WarmingGlobal warmingGlobal warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
- Renewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...
External links
- Official website
- LogiCity Climate Change Game
- National Energy Services Ltd (former subsidiary)
- National Home Energy Rating Scheme
- Carbon Trust Standard
- United Sustainable Energy Agency
- Milton Keynes' Low Carbon Living campaign includes history of energy projects in the city
- Sustainable Energy Academy
- National Energy Foundation (Utah, USA) - unconnected organisation