Opinion
Q&A
Two minutes
with . . .
ADRIAN WRIGHT
Happy Energy
Who are you?
Stephen O’Hara, managing director of Elmhurst Energy
What do you do?
Elmhurst Energy provides first class software, accreditation, training
and technical support for over 6,000 energy assessors. We also
provide training and hold a register for those undertaking ESOS
audits.
Where are you?
Our headquarters is in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
How’s business at the moment?
Business is good, we have recently launched new energy
assessment software apps with a broad use across apple and
android devices. We’re also excited about our new tool for GDIPs
and our ECO2 software.
How could business be better?
Everyone in this industry would benefit from a more consistent
strategy from government on tackling energy inefficiency and
fuel poverty. We have created our own manifesto which outlines
how energy policy could be improved. You can find a copy on our
website at www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk.
Who do you admire in renewables/energy efficiency?
There’s no one I admire more than those small businesses on the
ground whose job it is to go out there and sell the vision whilst
working within a restrictive framework. They’ve seen many changes
in this industry and know that policy can take them in a new
direction at any time. I hope one day this will change.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
Never stop listening to your customers. They only need you if you
can make life better for them.
REI: What have you got planned for 2015?
AW: A particular holy grail of ours is to offer whole
house upgrades such as LED lighting, insulation,
biomass, solar PV and solar thermal to our customers
rather than focus on one or two measures. We will be
looking to continue to drive this offer and also expand
our renewable energy offer, looking at new ways of
packaging up finance for products to give a new type
of offering to our customers.
What do you see as the growth area for renewables?
I can see biomass demand dropping off fairly
quickly as the tariff continues to be reduced through
degression but, as we witnessed with solar PV, this
may make way for lower cost boilers to come onto the
market making biomass a more affordable proposition
given the lower returns that will be provided through
the RHI.
How is your company cutting its carbon footprint?
Our head office here at Pool Innovation Centre in
Cornwall has been designed and built to the BREEAM
Excellence standard, and uses 60 percent less energy
than a conventional office building.
In addition to this our installation depot in
Perranporth has been fitted with our own biomass
boilers to become energy efficient and reduce our
carbon footprint. The office is largely paperless thanks
to the use of safe and secure online systems to process
and store much of our administrative ‘paperwork’.
Adrian Wright is CEO at
Happy Energy
20 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk