Taking the hassle out of greener living http://www.ecoconcierge.org/ http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/97583-solar-panels-installed-in-the-last-scramble-for-solar-how-many-will-it-be-this-time-N24 We've almost recovered from the last 'Scramble for Solar', when almost 100,000 domestic solar panels were installed in 6 weeks last November. The rush was caused by the governments sudden halving of the Feed in Tariff (amount paid per unit of electricity produced) from Dec 11th onwards, when it was originally planned for April 2012. Now, the Court of Appeal has ruled that reduction to be illegal due to it having been before the end of the consultation period, meaning it is likely (not guaranteed!) the full rate is now valid again until March 03rd. Given the reducing cost of solar panels, that can mean returns of investment now in excess of 14% for some properties. That's why Eco Concierge have been preparing for our second 'Scramble for Solar'. We helped many people beat the deadline last time through our network of independently recommended suppliers, and we want to help as many as possible do it again.   If you missed the deadline last time, don't miss it this time, and don't leave it too late! Supplier schedules are already looking full as many predicted the successful legal challenge. Call us for free expert advice, or to organise a free no obligations survey on 0208 123 2575.   http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/danger-cowboy-builders-ahead-N23 In the recent scramble for solar panels we recommended an award winning supplier who guaranteed installation before an important deadline to several of our customers. Missing the deadline meant losing around £25,000 of potential income over the following 25 years of a total £50,000. We’re delighted that every customer beat the deadline, but disappointed that the experience for two of them was not the frustration free experience it should have been. Following multiple delays, mishaps and broken promises from the supplier they barely made the deadline. This is not the kind of service we would expect from an award winning installer, and so we will not be recommending them again. Customers tell us our independence is the biggest attraction to our services, and this reminded us why. In two and a half years of operating, we have never received a complaint, and our suppliers have never let us down (until this one). There are many cowboy installers out there, we come across them all the time. Salesmen who promise the World and then disappear when things go wrong or have been paid. We are redoubling our efforts to weed out the dodgy installers, ensuring our clients only receive the highest levels of service. If you have a story of a dodgy eco-supplier, email us about it at info@ecoconcierge.org, or if you’re worried about your supplier over charging or cutting corners, give us a call on 0208 123 2575 and we’ll be happy to offer you free and independent advice on our experiences. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/getting-it-right-N22 It’s great to be reminded of the value of what you do occasionally. We often speak to other behaviour change experts to ensure we remain effective in supporting people towards the huge advantages sustainable living has over the carbon heavy and stressful 20thC lifestyle. Time and time again we are energised by the realisation that Eco Concierge is consistently at the cutting edge of this field, supporting, empowering and encouraging people with the most effective methods available. Lorraine Whitmarsh, author of numerous papers and a book on engagement and behaviour change, was the source of our re-assurance yesterday evening. Noting that we primarily seek to highlight the areas people are already living sustainably in, Lorraine excitedly reminded me of this as potentially one of the most effective routes to supporting further change. As individuals identify themselves as more ‘green’ than they had realised, other ‘green’ changes become more likely to occur as part of a consistent self image.  Leading suggested changes with this ‘identification’ technique is one of many methods Eco Concierge use to encourage and support people in living sustainably. We'd suggest you use it too. Draw your listeners attention to the great things they're doing first, show how eco friendly it is, and once that settles in, then ask for more.   If you would like to conduct research with our clients, or understand more about your target audience and how to engage and motivate change in them, give us a call on 0208 123 2575 to see how we are helping push the sustainable living field forward. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/going-green-with-audi-N21 Finding ways that help people slash their environmental impact whilst actually enhancing their quality of life makes us happy. Delivering the Sustainable Snapshot  service to Ed is the perfect case. After looking at Ed’s whole lifestyle over a cup of tea, we found solutions that were meaningful, desirable and worked for Ed. Upgrading from an Audi A4 Cabriolet (204g/km CO2e) to an Audi A1 (99g/km CO2e) slashed his car based footprint in half whilst giving him the driving experience he loves. Switching from eating 10 meat portions to 5 a week, and from red to white meat also means he’s healthier and at less risk of a heart attack whilst again reducing his environmental impact. Congratulations to Ed on reducing his footprint by almost 25% whilst saving £2500 per year! See Ed's Case Study here.   If you’re interested in other green cars, or in why eating meat has such a big impact on the environment, give us a call on 0208 123 2575 to see how we can support you today. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/the-gift-of-sustainable-living-N20   It's nice to give gifts, and so thanks go to 'Deki', an excellent micro-finance charity based in Bristol, who gave us the chance to gift our services to their supporters as part of their prize draw (Our Operations Director Scott Davidson presents to one of our lucky winners (left)). We look forward to working with the 'Sprint Start consultation' winners shortly.   Each winner will recieve an hour of our time used to quickly identify the perfect sustainable lifestyle wins for them and the environment, along with follow up support from our extensive network of recommended services and suppliers.   It's great particularly to reward supporters of such a closely related charity. As we support people to live more sustainably in the West, we give room for developing countries to grow (supported by organisations like Deki). To be rewarding such socially focused charities, with such environmentally focused services gives us a great feeling of working to a broader definition of sustainability.   If you're interested in offering our services as a gift, whether it be for Christmas or as a corporate gift or as part of a charity event like Deki, give us a call on 0208 123 2575 to find discover our full range of gift services today.   http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/focussing-on-habits-an-area-worth-cracking-N19 Eco Concierge are in the final stages of receiving a substantial grant to thoroughly test interventions aimed at shifting particular habits towards pro environmental habits. Should we be successful, we hope to work with a few of the largest companies in the UK in testing not only its effectiveness, but vitaly its potential for upscale.   Habits are an important area to focus on for two reasons. Firstly in that they are difficult to change by their automated and subconscious nature, and secondly in that they are often high impact due to their consistency and so represent a chance for meaningful change.   This intervention is in line with our values. It is not about preaching, it is about supporting. It is based on the believe that people do want to do more, but that the change is not always easy and needs a little support. Lives are busy, other priorities rule. There are children to pick up, friends to meet, and chores to do.    With that in mind, we hope this project can uncover effective methods in supporting for the formation of pro environmental habits. If we learn it, we will share it with the rest of our field, and we will do everything we can to upscale it's application, core to our value of creating the greatest change we can. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/the-unmeasured-benefits-of-employee-engagement-N18 We've been busy these last two months chatting with many of the largest UK companies about employee engagement, corporate responsibility and how the two may best combine to drive the greatest business and environmental benefits together. The most cost effective methods have been as numerous as have been the companies we've chatted with, from the formation of project teams based on 'pockets of passion', to sprint start consultations delivered for the most time poor. From engagement campaigns adding value to previous environmental champions programmes through our time bank programmes, to the at home reward schemes such as our Corporate Membership Package.  One theme remains common; the value of the employee. As companies carefully steer themselves through these choppy economic waters, operational benefits, bottom line and clear delivery of their CR objectives are front of mind. Sometimes though, the direct value of the actual engagement is lost in the background. The increased employee retention, productivity, motivation and satisfaction are mentioned but rarely the focus.  Yet research suggests this has more financial, operational & CR delivery benefits than engagement focused on delivering direct efficiency gains. It's important we don't limit ourselves to the concretely measurable, but that we seek ways to understand the wider impacts to engagement too, as these may be the areas with the greatest benefits to business. We will continue to exceed out clients expectations on operational efficiencies and bottom line achievements as we have done over the last few years, but we will do it the way have we always done it so far. In making employee's feel truley engaged, in sparking their passion, in giving them the platform and the skills to embed sustainability within their own roles and organisation, and by leaving them feeling happy, empowered and valued within their organisation. It's challenging work, and even more challenging to measure, but we're confident that the value we provide whilst delivering operational efficiencies, delivers them most effectively through the employee's passion for creating change. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/installing-solar-more-urgent-than-ever-N17 It looks certain now that the government will slash the Feed in Tariff payments for solar panels by around 50% for installations completed after December 11th. Solar panels installed before this date however are still legally guaranteed for 25 years and still offer pretty much the best guaranteed return on investment out there (hence why so many investor groups have been installing panels for free on people's roofs in return for the tariff payments) So, whilst we hadn't intended to offer our renewables concierge for free until closer to the original April deadline we've brought it back early to help as many people as possible install solar before December 12th.   We can still guarantee installation before the deadline! So what are you waiting for? It's only 4 weeks until the deadline. Call us now on 0208 123 2575 and let us independently recommend the best installer in your area, and organise everything for you from start to finish! http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/babies-population-and-eco-concierge-in-the-independent-on-sunday-N16 Our Director, Kirsten Jack, has just given birth to her second baby boy, Daniel. We're delighted for her, and it's a timely birth given the Eco Concierge mission for sustainable living.   Was Daniel the 7 billionth human to grow the swelling population?   With this in mind, Kirsten gave her thoughts to the Independent on Sunday last weekend (31/10/11), on the burgeoning population, it's environmental impact, and why she see's services like Eco Concierge as essential in making sure there's room for everyone on this planet.    Let us know what you think of Kirstens thoughts with our feedback forms this weekend. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/another-insulation-heating-installer-signed-up-and-making-cosier-homes-around-the-country-N15   Cosy Home Concierge attracts yet another great supplier to sign up with Eco Concierge. We've made sure our new supplier has all the relevant accreditations, uses the best insulation and heating technology, and has a range of excellent customer testimonials, not to mention a solid environmental management system. Eco Concierge are completely independent which means if we recommend a supplier, it's because we think they are best placed to answer your specific needs in living more sustainably. That’s why we are sure they can make the major heat leaks in your home disappear for this Winter. Did you know that...   the majority of homes don’t have cavity wall insulation which is where homes lose 35% of their heat  the majority of homes don’t have the full depth of loft insulation (270mm).  there are government grants, available to all, subsiding insulation by up to £400 and even making it free to some.    If you didn't know some of that, or just haven’t got around to making your home as cosy as it can be, you’ll love our Cosy Home Concierge service.   We will listen to your exact needs, finances and priorities and then give you independent advice to make sure you get maximum cosy for the minimum cost. We’ll even develop a step by step plan to do one thing at time, and then organise everything for you at each stage, meaning zero hassle for you. No chasing installers, no organising dates, we'll do it all. So sit back, put your feet up and let us make your home cosy. Interested? Call us now on 0208 123 2575. Our sustainable lifestyles experts are waiting to chat with you. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/free-renewable-concierge-offer-only-available-in-august-N13   Eco Concierge is offering a FREE Renewables consultation, worth £45, for the whole of August. That means we will offer you expert advice on either renewable electricity or renewable heat technologies for your home. If you decide that any of the technologies are right for you, we will also recommend trusted and tested suppliers to you. Our recommendations are completely independent. Our mission is to make sustainable lifestyles easy, not make money. That means we recommend organisations on the basis of their service, technology and environmental credentials. If you'd like us to organise everything for you including other supplier surveys, quotes and installation, it's the perfect time to make use of our full concierge service too (ask us for more detail during your free consultation): The current Feed in Tariff level means on a Solar PV installation of around £13,000, you will typically receive £35,000 return over 25 years. This will drop in April 2012, meaning installers maybe booked solid closer to April i.e. now is the time to organise your renewable technology!   Further, the Renewable Heat Premium Payment has just come online. That means you can access up to £1250 in government grants for renewable heating until the 31st of March 2012. Grant levels are as follows: Solar thermal hot water panels - £300 Ground Source Heat Pump - £1,250  Biomass boiler - £950  Air source heat pump - £850   We want everyone to be able to access these grants and tariffs. That's why for this August, we want to help homeowners avoid missing out with a FREE Renewables Consultation, worth £45. Interested? Call us now on 0208 123 2575. Our sustainable lifestyles experts are waiting to chat with you. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/beat-the-rush-install-your-solar-panel-before-the-payback-levels-drop-N12   Join our many customers in earning tens of thousands from renewable technologies before the payback levels drop in March 2012. Solar panels & other renewable technologies installed after 31st March 2012 are likely to generate significantly lower income for their owners than those installed before. Early next year, solar installation companies are at risk of being booked solid, and people risk losing out on the high returns currently guaranteed for 25 years. The Renewable Heat Incentive has also recently been confirmed, which will see savvy individuals earning income from heating their home too. We're already working with many of our friends and family to help them take advantage of these new schemes, but we want everyone to take advantage of these schemes while they last! That's why for this August, we want to help homeowners avoid missing out with a FREE Renewables Consultation, worth £45. Our sustainable lifestyles experts will shortlist the most beneficial renewables technologies for your home and lifestyle. If you decide it’s what you want, then they’ll be happy to recommend a trusted supplier, and work with you and the supplier to ensure you get the best technology, for the best price and the best service. Interested? Call us now on 0208 123 2575. Our sustainable lifestyles experts are waiting to chat with you. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/renewables-concierge-service-ready-to-go-happy-days-N11   Did you know that a typical solar installation costs around £13,000 but earns back around £33,000 over 25 years, not including energy savings? Are you unsure of what kind of renewable would suit your home, or give you best return on investment? Let us figure it out for you. We will listen to your needs, get the relevant info (technical, asthetic, available finances etc), and give you a break down of costs, pay back periods, & ecological impact saving etc for each of the appropriate technology's to your home.If you decide one of the options is right for you, we'll bring in one of our recommended and trusted suppliers, make sure you get the best deal, and organise the installation for you hassle free.We'll even be at the house for you if you like, to make sure everything goes smoothly. Like the sound of us doing all the research, calculations and organisation for you, then call us on 0208 1232575 http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/love-throwing-your-money-out-through-the-ceiling-walls-and-windows-N10 Would like a warmer home but not sure where to start or not enough time to do it? Call us and we'll give your home the 'wrap in a big duvet' treatment, from draft exclusion to underfloor heating, cavity wall insulation to double glazing. You will have the cosiest, warmest, driest Winter in your neighbourhood guaranteed, and we'll access all of the government grants and loans available to make sure it's done as cheaply as possible. We help you figure out your current insulation situation, listen to your needs, wants, finances and priorities and then breakdown the options for you with costs, payback periods (in energy bill savings) and plan out a step by step insulation upgrade making sure we hit the areas that will make the biggest difference first.Once we've got a plan, you sit back, put your feet up and let us take care of it. We'll arrange the installers, the fitting and let you know what's going on as we go. As you sit back and relax, we'll be wrapping the duvet round your home step by step, in time with your available finances... Interested? Call us now on 0208 123 2575. Our sustainable lifestyles experts are waiting to chat with you. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/flushing-9-litres-of-good-drinking-water-down-the-loowe-think-not-N9   Whether you've experienced one too many hosepipe bans, hate the idea of flushing 9 litres of good drinking water down the loo, or can't help thinking about those without water, our Home Water Concierge will reduce your worry. We'll come to your house, fit aerated shower heads, aerated tap heads, flush wise or water hippo devices, shower timers and a gorgeous water butt (if you have space), giving you around 50% savings on water use and your water bill...happy days.   That means a saving of around £150 a year for the average person.   Like the sound of hassle free, easy savings, and us doing all the research, calculations and organisation for you. Great! Call us now on 0208 1232575 to see how we can help you save lot's of water and cash this year. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/scottish-government-highlights-eco-concierge-as-leading-example-on-employee-engagement-N8 Eco Concierge were flattered to receive the invitation from the Scottish government recently to help them produce good practice guidance for workplaces seeking to encourage low carbon behaviours among their staff. We were only to happy to help and outlined successful engagement strategies we had employed in transport, energy, food, waste and reducing consumption. We are proud of our record of exceeding the expectations of every organisation we've worked with so far, and it was nice to get to share that.  It's part of our belief and our work. To develop the most effective methods of engagement around and then share those methods with our peers, business and policy makers to the benefit of all. To be highlighted as a leading example of an organisation which has undertaken innovative and successful work in this area is a great recognition of where that ethos is taking us.  We hope to be able to share plenty more of that soon! If you would like our support in designing your next engagement, don't hesitate to call us or look at more of our services in the business section. http://www.ecoconcierge.org/news/another-new-service-launched-the-corporate-membership-package-N7 The new Corporate Membership Package is a faster, more efficient way to engage employees and leverage work based action using home based rewards and includes: Introductory consultations with sustainable lifestyles experts for every employee. Access to Eco Concierge’s extensive network of independently recommended suppliers. Access to special offers and discounts exclusive to your employees. Follow up proactive support in sustainable living at home and work. Complementary communications package.   Companies using these services so far have found: Increased reach. Over 50% of Eco Concierge respondents “do not normally respond to green messaging.” Increased engagement. Over 79% of employees choose Eco Concierge offers as their favourite way to be engaged. Increased action. A minimum of doubling in action in every organisation Eco Concierge has worked with. More effective communications. Over 62% of employees want Eco Concierge enewsletters next year to keep them up to date on company sustainability activity. Increased personal congruence. Change at work rewarded through support in change at home equals personal congruence. That means change not only sticks, but increases over time alongside employee satisfaction and productivity.   If you are from a business seeking to improve your employees work satisfaction, productivity and sustainable practice, the Corporate Membership Package may be just the thing you're looking for.   Call us now to see how Eco Concierge can help you take your engagement to the next level. 0208 123 2575.