Government adds £50m to Green Deal

The Government has put £50m towards financing its flagship Green Deal scheme as part of its £244m initial funding package announced last month.

Energy Minister Greg Barker said the Green Deal market was “gathering real momentum”.

“9,268 Green Deal Assessments taking place in just over two months is very encouraging and shows a genuine interest from consumers,” Mr Barker said.

Richard Griffiths, policy and campaigns consultant at the UK Green Building Council, said the figures were “encouraging”. He continued: “The real proof will be how many of these assessments are ‘converted’ into installations. Long-term incentives will be key to ensuring that there is continued demand for the Green Deal and not just an initial bubble.”

The government figures also revealed £42m of Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding - which is used to pay for energy efficiency measures in buildings - had been spent in March, up from £17.4m in February.

Additionally, the number of providers, installers and assessors within the scheme all grew. There are now 831 installer organisations, 48 providers and 108 assessor organisations accredited.

Source : Builders’ Merchants News www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/7512/Green_Deal_gets_extra_finance.html