The Carbon Charter offers impartial advice and therefore does not recommend or promote any particular business, however this searchable Suppliers Directory provides information about the contractors offering services across this region.
Click here: Sustainable Suppliers Map for East Anglia
When looking to implement any renewable energy, carbon reduction or wider sustainability measure it is recommended that you:
• Always seek 3 quotes for the service
• Ask for testimonials that demonstrate relevant previous work and follow up on references
• Check that the contractor complies with the relevant trade body (see below)
• Agree – in writing – a payment plan and method that you are comfortable with e.g. per milestone or based upon an agreed set of outputs – do not pay upfront.
• Make sure that you understand what guarantees and warrantees are provided for the equipment being installed
Finding a Renewable Energy Installer (Solar PV and Heat Pumps)
Select an installer and products that are certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). This will provide you with the confidence that the project and service will meet industry standards and is more likely to deliver the intended benefits.
MSC certified installers must be registered with a consumer protection scheme such as the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or the Home Insulation & Energy Systems Contractors Scheme (HIES) https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/
Finding an Electrical Contractor
All competent contractors should be registered with an accreditation scheme, such as the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC).
This is one of several organisations that assesses the competence of businesses undertaking works across the building services sectors in the UK. This demonstrates that they have public liability insurance and comply with the most up to date version of the British Standard (BS76171) regulations on electrical installations.
The services offered by NICEIC also extend to heating and gas engineers and renewable energy installers. For emergency lighting or any fire safety installations, the contractor must be certified by British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE) and listed on their Fire Safety Register.