Although it’s early days yet for the government’s Green Deal initiative, Sky News has reported that ‘not a single household has yet signed up for a flagship coalition energy efficiency scheme despite a £1,000 cashback offer which ministers said would get it off to a “flying start”’.
The primary reason for Green Deal is to help homeowners with the cost of energy saving home improvements to their homes, in line with the major carbon reduction requirements necessary in the UK housing stock.
As Sky News points out, the scheme covers the upfront costs of home improvements such as insulation and new boilers and allows homeowners to pay the money back through savings on bills.
From October when Green Deal was launched, no households requested to have their home assessed for these important energy efficiency improvements. In fact, energy and climate change minister, Greg Barker, (DECC) has admitted that no home assessments ‘have yet been logged on the register’.
According to Sky News, Labour has said this admission meant the Green Deal scheme was in tatters!
DECC has, however, blamed the lack of formal applications on people waiting until nearer January 2013, when building work can actually start, before getting involved.
Sky News reports that a DECC spokeswoman insisted the Green Deal was “coming alive” and it was pleased with the progress made so far. She says: “We understand that assessments are generally being scheduled to take place closer to the date at which a plan can be signed and the work can begin – this makes perfect sense.”
More information: www.decc.gov.uk