UK Government Green Deal Scheme
How to take advantage of the government's new initiatives...
The Coalition Government’s 2011 Energy Act announced the “Green Deal”, a major initiative for reducing future carbon emissions. The objective is to make UK household and business properties more energy efficient, but this will be paid for in instalments on your electricity bills rather than as an up-front cost.
A network of locally appointed and accredited installers, providers and advisers will work closely with home owners, landlords and business people. As a leading provider in the renewables industry, Ploughcroft will play a major part in making the Green Deal a success.
The Green Deal Explained
Here at Ploughcroft Renewables, we understand that a lot of people are finding it hard to understand the new Green Deal that is proposed by the British Government. As the Green Deal is immensely complex and confusing, we thought that it was time we laid out the facts in the simplest of terms so that everyone can understand just how the Green Deal will affect them.
What is the Green Deal?
Coming into force in October of 2012, the government’s Green Deal is a financing mechanism that is designed to help homeowners, afford home improvements which will reduce both their bills and environmental emissions. British energy companies such as British Gas and E.ON have been confirmed as providers as well as the high street store B&Q. These companies as well as many others will provide low cost charges (though not officially loans), which will then be paid back through energy bills.
The golden rule of the Green Deal is that the savings of improvement must be equal or less than the costs. To make sure that a building will benefit from improvements, an energy consultant will evaluate the household to make sure that it is suitable for the energy charge. There are two assessments during this process; the first looks at the average amount of fuel consumed by a house whilst the second takes into account how the occupants use their home so that they can maximise their savings.
As it is likely that you will move at some point or another, the debt which you have incurred through house improvements will stay with the house rather than follow you. This means that you will not be paying for someone else’s benefit and if you move into a house; you pay your fair share for the improvements that someone else has made.
Why is it needed?
It is estimated that up to 14 million homes throughout the United Kingdom have inadequate installation; the Green Deal therefore means that people will now be given the opportunity to improve their homes, cut down on their emissions and save money. On a national scale, the government is working to reduce 80% of the nation’s emissions from the level in 1990 by 2050 and experts predict that with full Green deal co-operation, this is a very likely target.
What improvements are covered in the deal?
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- Condensing boilers
- Heating controls
- Under-floor heating
- Heat recovery systems
- Mechanical Ventilation (non-domestic)
- Flue gas recovery devices
Building Fabric
- Cavity wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Flat roof insulation
- Internal wall insulation
- External wall insulation
- Draught proofing
- Floor insulation
- Heating system insulation (cylinder, pipes)
- Energy efficient glazing and doors
Lighting
- Light fittings
- Lighting controls
Water Heating
- Innovative hot water systems
- Water efficient taps and showers
Microgeneration
- Ground and air source heat pumps
- Solar thermal
- Solar PV
- Biomass boilers
- Micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power).
Who can apply for the Green Deal?
The Green Deal will be available to everyone in the United Kingdom and will not be assessed with credit checks or other background surveys. People who do not own their own home can also apply for the deal and either the landlord or the tenant can apply for the finance.
What happens if a person cannot pay their bill?
Anyone who defaults on their Green Deal repayments will be treated the same way than if they had defaulted on their electricity bill. This means that people are treated fairly, meaning that those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly and those under eighteen, shall have the same care extended to their Green Deal payments.
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