FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is the Carbon Census?
- Are we part of the government?
- What happens when I sign up?
- How long does a survey take?
- Will I have to wait around on the day?
- What actions do we recommend?
- Which parts of the country do we serve?
- Can tenants take part?
- What is your privacy policy?
- Can we survey commercial property?
- Can you help after the survey?
What is the Carbon Census?
A new company, created in 2009 to count (and cut) the carbon footprint of every home in the UK that signs up for our service.We aim to save 1 million tonnes of CO2 from UK housing : to give an idea of what that means, it would take 100 trees one year to absorb 1 tonne of CO2. So our goal is to save as much CO2 as 100 million trees in a year.
Learn more About Us
Are we part of the government?
No, we're an independent Social Enterprise (so we're not subsidised by your taxes!) Like any other company we cover our costs through selling a service on its own merits.However, we are officially endorsed by The Energy Saving Trust and use the official methodology for home energy surveys (RdSAP), which means our recommendations are independent and objective.
In addition, we are registered holders of the Social Enterprise Mark, a scheme sponsored by the Cabinet Office and providing recognition for organisations like ours, which have the legal form of a limited company but the social objectives of a charity or NGO.
What happens when I sign up?
You will receive a confirmation email straight away, followed by a letter in the post with your appointment date and time, based on the preferences you have given us during the sign-up process.We do it this way around, so we can arrange to survey properties in the same area on the same day. But don't worry, if you can't make the appointment time we recommend you can reschedule easily, and for free, so long as you give us at least one week's notice and don't take more than 6 months to complete an appointment.
There are various easy ways to reschedule, we'll explain it all in your confirmation letter.
How long does a survey take?
Usually an hour or two, depending on the size of your property and how much work you've already done.A small flat with one or two bedrooms might take an hour or less, but a large detached property might take 2 or 3 hours.
In general we'll do our best to tailor the visit to suit you - to answer the questions you're interested in as quickly and effectively as we can.
Will I have to wait around on the day?
No, we give individual appointment times for each property.However, you'll recognise that we'll often be seeing other properties on our way to you, and that means sometimes we can be delayed. Equally we can make progress faster than expected some days. It can be hard to predict exactly how long we need in each property.
So in general we ask you to be sympathetic to the nature of the Carbon Census, and to bear with us if we do arrive slightly early or late on the day.
What actions do we recommend?
Our recommendations are different for every property, covering any of 50+ actions that make sense in a residential property.When we started the Carbon Census, we began with a simple Energy Performance Certificate. But since then we have substantially expanded the advice we offer, to cover all aspects of energy use in the home - everything from kettles and washing machines to boilers, heat pumps and solar panels.
Some actions are simple (improving your insulation) and some are more complex (replacing a boiler). We also provide information about things you can do for free, or very little cost, and about how you can access grants and subsidies if we think you would be eligible.
Which parts of the country do we serve?
We are currently covering around 150 postcode regions around the UK. The list will expand as we recruit and train more assessors.To find out if we can currently serve your area, simply fill out the first step of the registration form opposite, and press the green button to start your registration. If you live in an area we can't currently serve, we'll tell you straight away. We won't take any payment, but we'll keep a note of your contact details and let you know as soon as we have a service in your area.
Can tenants take part?
Yes, tenants can take part in the Carbon Census. However, the online registration must be completed by your landlord.You will need your landlord's involvement later on, if improvements are going to be made to the property, so we require that the landlord be involved (and give permission) from the beginning.
Please note: the Carbon Census is popular with landlords! We provide an Energy Performance Certificate (which most landlords are now obliged to provide) and information on landlord's energy related tax incentives. So if you are a tenant, don't hesitate to contact your landlord and ask them to register your property.
What is your privacy policy?
We have a privacy policy and terms of trade designed to protect you and us.You can read the polices here:
Our policies ensure we have your permission to collect, store and analyse your carbon footprint data, including an electronic copy of your EPC.
They also confirm we do not share your data with anyone else except where appropriate to do so - for example if you ask us to provide a service to you through a contractor, if we are required to do so for regulatory reporting, or where your data is used for research or (anonymous) statistical analysis.
Can we survey commercial property?
Yes, we can now also survey commercial property.However, for the time being we can only accept registrations for residential property through the website. So if you're looking for help with a commercial property survey, please use our contact form to get in touch.
Can you help after the survey?
Yes, we can help you get the work done that we recommend.We collect all the information in one visit, so if you want to go ahead with the actions we recommend, we can provide you with a quote. So most times you won't have to stay home for another survey, and you'll have direct access to our approved contractors.
Our contractors can also save you money. They offer us great rates, because we're buying on behalf of all the households we've visited, and where possible they will have access to grants and subsidies through the CERT scheme. But of course the choice is yours, you can decide if you would like to work with us after the survey.
