A TEESDALE green construction firm has written to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to highlight a glaring omission from the Government’s renewable energy policy.

CA Group, of Evenwood, near West Auckland, has won a string of high-profile contracts since it took the bold decision to invest in a revolutionary low-carbon building system.

The transpired solar collector absorbs warmth from the sun through thousands of tiny holes made in a building’s south-facing wall.

The heat is then circulated around the building via a system of fans and pipes. The system can slash energy bills and carbon emissions.

CA Group’s investment in machinery and premises to build the low-carbon walls was a watershed moment for the firm which had been forced to cut its workforce from 250 to 160 during the recession.

Last week it advertised for 12 staff to join the firm which has delivered major building contracts for the likes of Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Jaguar/Land Rover and B&Q.

Its expertise was recently called upon to provide an air and water-tight home for the iconic De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, nicknamed the wooden wonder when the fighter plane’s existing asbestos hanger fell into disrepair.

The business is on an upward curve, but CA group development director, Brian Watson, has grown frustrated by the Government’s refusal to acknowledge the environmental benefits of the technology that his firm has pioneered in the UK.

In July, Chris Huhne, Energy Secretary, outlined a roadmap of technologies which included onshore and offshore wind, biomass electricity and heat, ground and air source heat pumps, which he said were capable of delivering more than 90 per cent of the UK’s renewable energy by 2020.

Transpired solar collectors were not even mentioned.

“We are determined to get DECC to listen,” said Mr Watson.

“If the Government is serious about saving CO2 then they cannot ignore the most efficient method.

“The SolarWall system that we use has the fastest return on investment of any renewable technology available, with payback periods as low as three years.”

The technology had been given independent endorsement by Oxford Brookes University, the Welsh Assembly, Cardiff University and testing consultancy BSRIA.

Mr Watson said: “There is a renewable heat incentive coming out next year and we want the Government to acknowledge transpired solar collectors as one of the options in the mix.

“In the US they give state and city grants for installing this.

“The US and Canadian Governments use it on most of their military establishments.

Why are we ignoring something that patently works?”

Mr Watson expects to meet with DECC to press his case.

“Ultimately, this is all about a County Durham company looking to employ more people.

Things are still very tough for anyone in the construction sector, but we see slight growth ahead and are bringing in staff.

“We had to cut the headcount a couple of years ago but as we get involved in more schemes we need skilled people to deliver the service.”

The business was established in 1983 by four men looking to tap into the skills of unemployed pitmen.

It now employs mechanical engineers and designers and bids for major national contracts.

It recently played a major part in building Brighton and Hove Albion’s acclaimed stadium.

Mr Watson added:“We have come a long way and the people we employ are key. The Government say ‘we are all in this together’, but at CA Group, we really are – no one is better than anyone else.

“Coming to work is fantastic.

“The people around Evenwood and West Auckland are brilliant.

“When I work on that shop floor and tell them I am in the clarts the lads say ‘How can we help you?’ I have never worked anywhere like that.

“They will roll up their sleeves, put in the hours and get me out of the proverbial.

“It is that kind of spirit that makes this a special place. I wouldn’t swap it for the world.”