The
Parliamentary Information Office, as part of its ongoing reports on energy and
climate change policy, reported last year (2012) on the launch of the “Green
Deal Cashback Scheme”. On Monday of this week, 14th January
2013, Edward Davey announced that the Scheme is now open.
The Green
Deal Cashback Scheme is a first-come, first-served offer where householders in
England and Wales can claim Cashback from Government on energy saving
improvements like insulation, front doors, windows and boilers. Packages could
be worth over £1000 - the more you do, the more you get.
Cashback
levels are based on the energy efficiency savings typically attached to the
qualifying measures. Loft and cavity wall insulation is the simplest and most
cost effective basis for an energy efficient home so the cashback will be
conditional on having such insulation installed at the same time as other
measures if the Green Deal assessment recommends it – the householder gains
because the cashback grows.
“Energy
saving has never been so attractive” – that’s the message from Energy and
Climate Change Secretary, the Rt Hon Edward Davey mp, as he announced the Green Deal Cashback Scheme is open,
with hundreds of pounds of cash available to householders in England and Wales
who make energy saving home improvements.
Householders
who use the Green Deal to make improvements such as loft insulation, solid wall
insulation and new heating systems will qualify. Packages could be worth over
£1,000.
The more
work households decide to have done, the more cash they could receive. To
qualify for the Cashback Scheme, households need to book a Green Deal property
assessment so they are then ready to have improvements installed under the
Green Deal from 28 January and get their cashback.
Edward
Davey said:
“The
Green Deal will be a great offer for people to insulate their homes from the
cold, and their wallets from rising energy prices. With cashback too, energy
saving has never been so attractive.
“Our
Cashback Scheme is a generous offer but it’s first-come, first-served so
householders need to be quick off the mark. Get an assessment, be ready to have
home improvements done with a Green Deal when it launches on 28 January and
then get your cashback.
“This
also sends a clear message to the industry that the Green Deal is coming. Green
Deal Providers and businesses in the supply chain need to start gearing up to
take full advantage of what promises to be an exciting new market.”
Neil
Schofield, Head of External and Governmental Affairs at Worcester Bosch, said:
“The
opening of the Green Deal Cashback Scheme really underlines the progress being
made on the Green Deal ahead of the first plans being signed on 28 January.
This is a great offer for consumers and will help us to attract early
customers, so it’s good news for business too.
“This is
a clear signal that the Green Deal is building momentum and I’m delighted there
is such a strong incentives scheme in place to encourage early take up. We’re
excited about how this could open up the energy efficiency market.”
The
Green Deal is the Government’s new initiative to transform the UK market for
energy efficiency. It will let homes and businesses make energy efficiency
improvements with the costs repaid through expected savings on their energy
bills.
The
Green Deal Cashback scheme is a time-bound offer and is limited to one per
household, but can cover a package of improvements so long as the householder
is contributing to installation costs and work done is overseen by an
authorised Green Deal Provider. To qualify for the Cashback Scheme householders
need to:
o have a
Green Deal assessment carried out on their property;
o get and
agree quotes from a Green Deal Provider (this could be directly with a national
brand or through a local tradesperson linked with a Provider);
o apply
for a cashback voucher online or by phone; and
o complete
works within the specified period.
A total of £125 million is available so hundreds of thousands of people could qualify. The rates currently available are guaranteed for the first £40 million of the scheme. Community minded households will have the option of donating some or all of their cashback to registered charities and Community Interest Companies who have signed up with the scheme administrator.
The
Cashback Scheme also applies to private or social landlords who can benefit if
they are the property improver and are paying the costs themselves.
The
Parliamentary Information Office will report further on the
progress of these and other measures as we go through the months ahead.
Email: parliamentaryyearbook@blakemedia.org
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