The SAP is the Government's recommended system for energy rating of dwellings. The Standard Assessment Procedure is used for calculating the SAP rating, on a scale from 1 to 120, based on the annual energy costs for space and water heating and also for calculating the Carbon Index, on a scale of 0.0 to 10.0, based on the annual CO2 emissions associated with space and water heating. The SAP rating is used to fulfil requirements of the Building Regulations to notify and display an energy rating in new dwellings.

Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council conducts an annual survey of randomly selected properties throughout the Borough in order to assess the authority’s overall performance for summarising elements of the energy conservation report under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA). The overall improvement in energy efficiency from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2005 was 18.08%

There has been a considerable increase in the amount of cavity wall insulations and loft insulations carried out during 2005/06 as grant funding by the Energy Saving Trust under its Innovations Programme was allocated to support the Northumberland Cavity Wall Project with an estimated number of 2000 installations completed making it one of the most successful innovation schemes.

Energy efficiency advice is available from
Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre
St. Andrew's House
90-92 Pilgrim St
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 6SG

Tel/Fax 0191 230 5492
www.est.org.uk/northeast

The Officer responsible for this topic is:
Kathleen McNish
Technical Officer Environmental Health
Tel. 01289 301825 (Office hours)
Email kam@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk