Renewable Energy Installer February 2014 | Page 25

Knowledge: Green Deal
Green party
Phyllis Prior Boardman B.E.M, Green Deal Consortia, says 2014 will be a year to
celebrate for Green Deal as planned reforms drive the scheme to new heights
he 2014 New
Year’s Honours List
rewarded individuals
for the fi rst time by
mentioning energy
effi ciency work relating to the
Green Deal. This signifi es the
start of this credible new market
where Green Deal will bring about
ground breaking and amazing
results. A fi tting reminder on
what the successes of Green Deal
can bring to the UK - a nation that
will be rich with job opportunities
and warmer cosier homes. So
let’s keep the optimism alive!
The Green Deal is all about
providing householders with
advice on how to implement
energy effi ciency measures in
their homes. And the scheme has
certainly boasted many successes
to date. Up to end of October
2013, a total of 388,128 measures
were installed in around 336,000
properties through ECO, Cash
Back and Green Deal Finance.
A total of 117,454 Assessments
were lodged by end of November
2013 and 1,478 households had
Green Deal Plans in progress.
In addition, 10,170 Cash Back
vouchers were issued, valued at
£2.3 million, following installation
of the measures.
Yet since its launch in
January 2013, there has been
increasing adverse media
coverage of Green Deal. The
unwelcome and damaging
negativity appears driven by a
pre-conception that the policy
framework is fl awed. This is
one reason why government is
T
reforming and renergising the
Green Deal in 2014.
Nothing great is achieved
without enthusiasm. And
government is displaying plenty
of enthusiasm by positively
addressing this negative publicity
with a revised campaign, the
fi rst phase being delivered ready
for spring’s usual wave of home
movers. Business champions
together with a new branding
platform and a comprehensive
communications strategy are set
to strengthen the campaign with
better resources and innovation.
This vibrant way of marketing
will promote Green Deal from
a totally different perspective
in order to boost the take up of
Green Deal.
ECO costs to a minimum which is
of particular importance to ECO’s
continuation post 2015. With a
push for blending, Green Deal
Providers will be in a position
to offer attractive packages
2014 will see blending as a major priority
and will be the key driver to maximise
uptake of Green Deal
Whilst the Energy
Companies Obligation (ECO)
has been successful in
driving forward the number
of households having energy
effi ciency measures installed,
Green Deal Providers have
struggled to do so, especially
with the all important blending of
ECO and Green Deal fi nance in
offers to householders. Therefore,
2014 will see blending as a major
priority and will be the key driver
to maximise uptake of Green
Deal. Blending will help keep
for whole house retrofi ts.
Blending will also kick-start
the Community Green Deal, it’s
funding having quadrupled to
£80m in the Autumn Statement.
Reforms to Green Deal
processes and/or legislation are
also on the 2014 horizon. Any
changes will aim to make a Green
Deal offer to householders more
fl uid, simpler to operate, lower
in cost and more competitive.
For example, the Golden Rule.
Currently, some householders are
facing large upfront contributions
especially if they are not eligible
for ECO subsidy. One solution
will be to refl ect real fuel infl ation
so householders can expect to
make savings without impacting
the Golden Rule calculation
and amount of fi nance they can
borrow. Likely areas of reform
too are the current barriers such
as multiple approval statuses for
businesses entering the market.
Entry can be a costly operational
start-up, creating complex
contracts and diffi culties with
compliance.
New markets take time to
establish and Green Deal is no
different.  Its reform will drive
forward expansion and growth
in the energy effi ciency market. 
There are defi nite signs that
industry is keen to participate
in 2014 and take advantage of
opportunities, with householders
being further inspired to make
their homes more energy effi cient.
2014 is looking extremely good
for Green Deal!
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