The Guardian and B&Q get behind Green Deal

The two large organisations are getting behind the Government flagship energy efficiency plan that aims to improve the energy usage of millions of energy leaky homes.

The Guardian, in association with the Green Deal, has teamed up with B&Q to offer readers the chance to win £1,000 of B&Q vouchers to improve their homes.

The Green Deal scheme helps households make improvements such as cavity wall and roof insulation, double glazing, replacement boilers and install microgeneration technologies such as solar and ground source heat pumps, by helping with the costs.

Under the Green Deal any home improvement that reduces energy bills qualifies for a Green Deal loan, which is not a conventional loan as it is tied to the energy bill itself.

Via a “Golden Rule” the loan can be no more than the expected savings made from the improvement work and repayments are made from the energy company.

Customer energy bills remain the same whilst Green Deal improvements have made the home warmer and more comfortable.

This message is really starting to filter through to customers with the likes of partnerships between B&Q, the Guardian and the Green Deal appearing.

Partnerships like this are aimed at putting energy efficiency on consumer DIY shopping lists.

The Guardian reads: “Paint? Check. Tiles? Check. Insulating materials? Check.”

Leading industry experts such as boiler manufacturer Worcester, say boilers should be replaced now so customers can enjoy the comfort of warmer homes and reduced energy bills rather than only being replaced when broken.

The Green Deal prize draw of £1,000 of B&Q vouchers will kickstart a home improvement programme but “for more substantial jobs it’s worth taking a look at what the Green Deal has to offer”, the Guardian reports.

Through the Green Deal £10, 000 worth of work paid for through energy bills can be carried out to improve the energy efficiency of homes.

This is the first time that energy-saving improvements has been so affordable and accessible.

Green Deal energy-saving improvements include:

-Heating
- Insulation – e.g. loft or cavity wall insulation
- Draught-proofing
- Double glazing
- Renewable energy technologies – e.g. solar panels or wind turbines
To find out how much energy bills could be reduced a Green Deal Assessment is needed.

A Green Deal Advisor produces an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that forms the base of the Green Deal Advice Report which details measures that would maximise the energy efficiency of a home.

The Green Deal Advisor recommends what will qualify for Green Deal lending.

This is where the Green Deal Provider, such as the soon to be accredited Green Deal Central, step in to provide the finance.

Green Deal Providers will then organise the work to be done with certified installers, who are required to complete all Green Deal related installations.

Source : Green Deal Central
www.greendealcentral.com/news/?p=515