Concern grows over Green Deal

Business broadly welcomes plans for the Green Deal but fears elements of how it could be introduced later this year will doom it to failure.


Industry bodies and the business lobby group the CBI have voiced concerns over the scheme, which the Government hopes will get its ‘greenest government ever’ pledge back on track.

The Green Deal, created in last year’s Energy Act, is due to be launched in October and aims to remove the need to pay upfront for energy efficiency measures and green technology.

However, the Property and Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) today (January 19) urged the Government to consider ‘a staged introduction’ of the Green Deal to ‘ensure’ long term success.a

PEPA, speaking after a consultation into the Green Deal closed yesterday, said its submission it feels confident the Government’s plans for domestic buildings under the Green Deal are well advanced.

However, while being ‘strongly behind it’ PEPA is concerned there are still a number of unanswered questions and unresolved issues with respect to implementing the Green Deal for non-domestic buildings.

PEPA chairman, Stephen O’Hara, said: “Rather than delay or jeopardise the entire introduction of this new framework, we are urging the Government to introduce a staged implementation model, which will see the framework for domestic buildings introduced as scheduled, followed by an introduction for non-domestic buildings at a later date, when any potential issues have been addressed.

“It is imperative that the Government gets it right from the off-set, it was evident from the recent consultation process that while plans for domestic properties are well advanced there are still a number of unanswered questions relating to non-domestic properties.

“As such, we feel that more time needs to be spent to address these concerns and to make any necessary revisions.”

Business lobbyists the CBI also backed the Green Deal and particularly welcomed the allocation of £200m to incentivise early adoption.

But it demanded that cost-effectiveness be made a priority when implementing it.

CBI director for business environment, Rhian Kelly, said: “Without demand we haven’t got a Green Deal.

“Businesses are ready to work with the Government to excite and incentivise consumers, by emphasising the cost-saving as well as the carbon-saving benefits.

“The Green Deal has the potential to play a key part in the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

“If successful, the Green Deal will be a win-win policy, delivering cost-effective emissions reductions and driving private-sector growth.”

Luke Walsh

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