nextGenergy - harnessing the power of Renewable Energy at Fife Business Week

Tuesday 18 October 2016

AWARD winning Fife business, nextGenergy has come a long way since its beginnings four years ago.  The company will be showcasing smart technologies during Fife Business Week from 7 to 11 November.

Based in Glenrothes, the business was founded by Shirley Paterson, a lady so passionate about saving people money on energy and fuel bills that she has energy-proofed her whole life.  From cars and solar power to insulation and heating, her home is a perfect example of how making changes to green energy can save thousands on a family’s bills.

Shirley commented: “It’s great that Fife Business Week this year is supporting New and Growing Businesses.  nextGenergy is delighted to be hosting daily events throughout FBW, and will be sharing the learning gained from the outset of our energy-saving journey 5 years ago.  I do hope that businesses and householders in Fife will be inspired to take serious action to tackle rising energy and fuel costs.  Significant energy reductions can certainly be achieved.  We will demonstrate what can be gained from embracing new technologies today.  Property energy assessments will be explained, routes to funding improvements will be signposted, and there will be time for Qs & As about the technologies we use.  Afterwards, there is much that nextGenergy can support.....from energy assessments to our mission of ‘technology turning around energy bills’.”

Shirley explained how she makes the process work through providing a Green Deal Advice Report. “The first step is to carry out a Green Deal Assessment of a client’s property.  This includes a review of the fabric of a property to produce an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), a copy of which is lodged on a national register and is valid for 10 years.  An EPC shows the property’s energy efficiency rating – the higher the rating, the lower energy bills are expected to be, and implementation of recommended energy-saving improvements reduces bills.

“An Occupancy Assessment is the next stage where information is collected on the number of occupants in the home and their energy use habits, to the amount of energy used gathered from energy bill evidence.  The result is a valuable Advice Report, showing feasible improvements, estimated costs, anticipated savings, and the expected increase in energy rating if those recommendations are implemented.”

nextGenergy can advise on Renewable Technology improvements which, with the reports, are eligible for interest-free loans and tax-free incentive incomes, as well as gas boilers, glazing and insulations which are eligible for grants and interest-free loans too, and also lighting improvements. Savings do not stop in the home.  Householders can save on their car fuel bills with electric cars, hybrid cars and chargepoint installations.
Shirley commented:  “There are many financial incentives for the cars and chargepoints – the cars can also be fuelled up at public chargepoints, just now at no cost.  I promote the integration of technologies, and nextGenergy’s strapline ‘technology turning around your energy bill’ is exactly what I have done at my home – which was the inspiration behind what nextGenergy offers – these improvements have made a huge difference to our bills – it’s about investing in technologies to save energy and money, and to be set up to be far less reliant on our electricity grid and fossil fuels in the future.”

nextGenergy also works with landlords to improve tenanted properties and businesses too for similar improvements, resulting in lower energy and fuel bills.

The achievements of nextGenergy were recently recognised at the Kingdom FM Local Hero Awards, winning the Best Green Initiative award.

For information on Fife Business Week and attending the nextGenergy event, check out www.fifebusinessweek.co.uk  or www.nextgenergy.co.ukr