Minster for climate change Greg Barker has set out his plans to ensure that customers won’t be ripped off by the countries new ‘Green Deal’.
The Green Deal is the centrepiece of the governments new plans to cut energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions, starting with Britain’s households. From next year, home owners will be able to apply for £10,000 up front to pay for energy efficiency measures to their home, to make them warmer, and to reduce fuel bills – repaying the money through savings on bills.
The legal framework of the deal is currently being put through parliament, under the energy bill, and will be up for discussion at committee stage in the house of commons next week.
A statement from Mr Barker said the following:
“The Green Deal will be the biggest home improvement programme since the Second World War shifting our outdated draughty homes from the past into the future, so it’s vital people can trust it. I have heard too many cases of shoddy workmanship or dodgy technology from Government schemes in the past so from day one there will be strict rules about standards, information will be readily available and there will be a proper route for complaints. “We’ve already started putting in place the foundations for this and I am pleased the United Kingdom Accreditation Service has been formally appointed to ensure that installers and assessors will meet the necessary standards when the Green Deal starts next year.”
A newly published document entitled ‘Consumer Protection In The Green Deal’ outlines plans to ensure that the Green Deal gives a fair deal to everyone and includes:
• Plans to set up a new Green Deal Code – to protect customers at every stage of the Green Deal from initial assessment to installation.
• Plans to set up a new Green Deal advice line – this will provide impartial advice and referral to accredited Green Deal assessors, installers and providers as well as a route for any complaints.
• The formal appointment of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) – which will ensure assessors and installers adhere to robust standards in order to participate in the Green Deal.
Two more papers were also released today, they were
- Helping vulnerable people and hard to treat homes under the Green Deal – How the deal will help vulnerable people with measures such as home insulation
- Eligible measures under the Green Deal – Determines which measures are suitable to be used under the Green Deal.
So, as the era of the Green Deal edges closer, we wait patiently to see if the governments promise of being the ‘Greenest Ever’ will actually come to fruition or whether it will just be a lot of hot air.
