DECC raises cap on Green Deal pay-back scheme

The Government has announced changes to the Green Deal scheme which will see the amount of money consumers get back increase on some installed efficiency measures.


Changes to the Government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme will mean that payments to householders who install double glazing, solid wall insulation and ‘room in roof’ insulation, such as loft insulation, will significantly increase.

For solid wall insulation, the cash-back amount has been increased from £650 to a potential £4000. ‘Room in roof’ insulation pay-back will increase from £220 to £1000, while double glazing will rise from £320 to £650.

In addition to the cash-back amendments, the Department of Energy and Climate Change is extending the scheme, with householders now able to submit applications for Green Deal cash-back up to the end of June, with a further three months for households to install energy efficiency measures and redeem cash-back vouchers.

DECC says the extension will give householders “more time to take advantage of the scheme”.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “Inefficient homes use a lot more energy than they need to, which consumers pay a high price for.

“The extension and increase to Green Deal cash-back means more families will be helped to have warmer, more energy efficient homes and lower energy bills by next winter. These changes also create more opportunities for the growing number of authorised green deal companies.”

Association for the Conservation of Energy’s (ACE) director Andrew Warren welcomed the changes but highlighted the barriers still plaguing a mass uptake of the scheme.

“The biggest obstacle towards getting mass market buy-in for such cashbacks is that the work still cannot be undertaken by any firm which is not a registered Green Deal Provider.

“This rules out the vast majority of heating engineers, smaller builders and insulation or glazing companies, precisely the firms to whom most householders would normally turn to undertake such work,” he added.

Since its launch in January 2013, the scheme has experienced slow uptake of signed deals with many blaming the high interest rates. The changes come after organisations last year called for reforms to the scheme to make it more attractive to consumers.

Leigh Stringer

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