Good Energy has reported a 92 per cent drop in its pre tax profit for the year ending December 2015, following the sale of West Raynham solar park. Good Energy chief executive Juliet Davenport The company said the performance was in line with expectations, highlighting that revenue grew by 12 per cent over the period, driven by customer growth which was up 44 per cent, and increased revenue from the company’s generation business of which the total output was 83 per cent higher than in 2014. Good Energy chief executive Juliet Davenport said: “Good Energy has seen significant growth in the last 12 months. It has continued to deliver against its strategic business plan – investing in systems and assets, and driving growth across all sectors of its customer base. “At the same time the company has demonstrated high levels of flexibility and nimbleness in adapting its business approach to reflect the changes in government energy policy, successfully delivering growth against this challenging back drop.” The firm announced in September 2015 that it would be reviewing its ongoing strategy on asset development, improving efficiency and investing in technology because of the changes in UK renewable energy policy. Source link

Home ownership in the United States has slowly fallen in recent years to currently its lowest level since 1965 but new research from the National Association of Realtors suggests that could be halted. The research shows that there are many affordable metro areas and a large segment of current people who rent their home earn enough income to qualify to buy a property.  NAR reviewed employment growth, household income and qualifying income levels in nearly100 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas across the country to determine which areas with employment gains above the recent national average also have the largest share of renters who can currently afford to buy a home. Of the top 10 metro areas with the highest share of renters who earn enough to buy, nine were either in the South or Midwest, including three cities in Ohio. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, pointed out that there has been a significant increase in renter households both among young adults and those who lost their home since the economic downturn, especially in metro areas that have seen robust job creation and a resulting influx of new residents. ‘Even in a time of expanding home sales, steady job growth and historically low mortgage rates, the homeownership rate recently tumbled to its lowest level in over five decades as many renters struggle to juggle escalating rents without commensurate income gains,’ he said. ‘However, this new study reveals that there are several affordable, middle tier markets with solid job gains and a large segment of renters who earn enough to buy,’ he added. The top 10 metro areas highlighted in NAR’s study were all outside of the West Coast and each had a share of renters who qualify to buy that was well above the national level of 28%. Top is Toledo in Ohio and Little Rock in Arkansas both with 46%, followed by Dayton in Ohio at 44%, Lakeland in Florida, St. Louis in Missouri and Columbia in South Carolina all at 41%, Atlanta at 40% and then Columbus in Ohio, Tampa in Florida and Ogden in Utah all at 38%. According to Yun, it’s no surprise that many of the markets with the most renters qualified to buy are in the Midwest and South. The median existing home sales price in these two regions continue to be lower than the Northeast and West, and while many of these areas were slower to recover from the recession, improvements in their local labour markets in the past year have pushed their hiring levels to at or above the national average growth rate. ‘Overall housing affordability and local job market strength play a pivotal role in a renter’s decision on whether to buy a home or sign another lease. The good news is that other recent NAR survey data shows that those residing in the two regions were the most likely to say that now is a good time to purchase a home,’ Yun explained. ‘With mortgage rates now at their all-time low, these identified markets are well suited for the many renters financially capable and interested in taking advantage of the stability and wealth building benefits owning a home can provide,’ he added. Source link

A high level of uncertainty has been evident in the build up to the referendum but the country has given its decision to leave the EU.   Julia Evans, chief executive, Bsria, said: “The decision is ‘out’ and the country has voted. “But we now have some very serious questions for government: how do we maintain economic investor confidence? What does this mean for energy efficiency? And how will this impact the skills issue and how we should we address this? Specifically regarding labour – how will the industry access much-needed tradesmen? Industry needs to know answers to the questions! “Bsria calls on government to take the lead and show direction now. With the current housing shortage crisis – we ask how are we going to find the workforce with the right skills to build these? But we must not lose sight of the fact that house building volume cannot be at the expense of quality – so such skills shortage are even more acute. “We also ask government where will direct investment now come from without EU financing and backing? If government is not going to make any necessary investment – where will it come from? “And what of carbon reduction energy policies? Will these still be followed? Industry needs to reassured and quickly.” According to the latest Markit/CIPS survey, output growth over the month slowed to its weakest rate for over three years. Source link