GGF is left frustrated by changes to the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Following the recent news on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund the GGF is frustrated that glazing is still not high on the agenda.

Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

The Government recently announced that more people will get help to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through a new release of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF).

From 9am, Wednesday 10 December, the scheme re-opened to new applications, with up to £5,600 available to households in England and Wales to help with the cost of installing energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, double glazing, boilers, cavity wall and floor insulation.

Up to £30 million in vouchers are now available and details of further releases will be announced on a quarterly basis with the next release expected in February 2015. This is part of the additional £100 million for household energy efficiency measures announced in October 2014 which is in addition to the £450 million already allocated to household energy efficiency over 2014 – 17.

The £30 million will be split into two categories:

• Up to £24 million for solid wall insulation;
• Up to £6 million for two measures from a list of home improvements available under the scheme.

Once the funding under each category has been committed, no more applications will be taken for that category – though applications will still be taken for the other category if funds are still available.

The GDHIF launched in June and has already provided vouchers for more than 20,000 households. Through this second release of funding, domestic energy customers can now receive:

• up to £4000 for installing solid wall insulation;
• up to £1000 for installing two measures from an approved list;
• up to £100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment;
• up to £500 more if applying within 12 months of buying a new home.

Though Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said “the fund is a big success story for the Green Deal – helping thousands of people improve their homes so that they’re warmer, greener and cheaper to run. The best way people can cut their energy bills, this winter and every winter, is to improve their homes so that they leak less heat and use less energy.”

Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive, expressed the frustration the glazing industry feels in his comment, “Once again the Government has not addressed the issue of offering genuine incentives for homeowners to make their properties energy efficient through installing energy efficient windows. Up to 23% of heat can escape from inefficient windows and approximately 80% of homes do not have energy efficient windows up to current modern standards. Though it is good that the Government is increasing the fund, it is frustrating that they are only offering incentives for replacing single glazed windows, when it should be all windows that are not energy efficient.”

To complete the two-stage application process, householders will need:

• A Green Deal Advice Report (GDAR) or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that is less than two years old
• A quote from a GDHIF registered installer or provider for work specified on the GDAR or EPC and included on the list of GDHIF approved measures
• Proof of property ownership (for landlords/undertakings only)

Householders are encouraged to get more than one quote, particularly when they are having expensive work done, to make sure they are getting the best deal available.

The £100 million announced in October is in addition to the £450 million allocated to household energy efficiency over three years, which was announced in December 2013.

In providing a fund to householders the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund will create job opportunities for the energy efficiency sector as a whole. More than 1100 Green Deal authorised businesses are currently registered to provide work under the scheme.

Funds are limited and DECC may vary the terms of the scheme (including the incentive rates) or suspend or close the scheme, with immediate effect, without notice and at any time.

More information about the Green Deal and the funding please visit https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures