Expert view: Green deal caused confusion, but offers opportunities
The Low Carbon Energy Company is offering guidance to homeowners and businesses regarding the complexities of the government’s Green Deal.
The Burnley-based sustainability experts are one of the few organisations that are both accredited assessors and approved installers.The Green Deal comprises two separate elements and there has been much confusion as to who is entitled to what. Basically, homeowners can be eligible for loans, whilst under the ECO (Energy Company Obligation) energy businesses have £1.3bn to distribute every year for the next seven years.
Ged Ennis, operations director of The Low Carbon Energy Company, said: “The Green Deal will allow you to make energy-saving improvements to your home or business without having to pay all the costs up front.”“This means you could make significant savings or be entitled to free energy-saving improvements that can include things such as loft or cavity wall insulation heating, draught-proofing, double glazing or renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels or wind turbines.”
“In the first instance you need to contact an approved Green Deal assessor who will examine your property to see what improvements need to be made and how much money you could save on your energy bills.”People going ahead with improvements will sign a Green Deal Plan - a contract between with their provider stating what work will be done and how much it will cost. The provider will then arrange for a Green Deal installer to do the work. If there is a cost to the work it is paid off in instalments through your electricity bill. “Despite some of the confusion around Green Deal, it is something we welcome at The Low Carbon Energy Company. We’re all for people making a saving on their bills and if there is support to help them, that’s great. The bigger picture is that energy efficiency is vitally important and this move will help support the sustainability agenda – and that’s something we care passionately about,” added Ged.
