Thursday, June 27, 2013

Green Deal inspiring energy saving improvements, survey finds

By Thomas Bridge
Loft insulation, double glazing and draught proofing are among improvements installed through the Green Deal.
Over three quarters of households which have received a Green Deal assessment are installing energy saving measures or intend to do so, figures suggest.
Research from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has found 47% of residential properties which received a Green Deal assessment before the end of March had - or were due to have - energy saving measures installed.
A further 31% of questioned households said they would ‘definitely or probably’ install at least one measure.
Figures will be released tomorrow on take up of the Green Deal.
Under the Green Deal, assessments on homes and businesses can be undertaken to see where energy saving improvements – such as insulation and double-glazing - can be installed and what savings can be made on energy bills. A Green Deal provider can carry out these improvements, which are paid off through electricity bills.
DECC research found three quarters of households rated the usefulness of the assessment process as high, while 77% were confident in the recommendations of their assessors.
A majority of households said saving money was their greatest motivation for having a Green Deal assessment but only 38% said environmental reasons had been their incentive to take part in the scheme.
Speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Green Deal, energy secretary Edward Davey said: ‘The Green Deal has only just got underway, but it’s already inspiring consumers to take action to keep their homes warm and bills down.
‘This is great news for the energy efficiency industry as well, because this shows a genuine appetite among householders for more energy efficient homes.’
Energy and climate change minister, Greg Barker, said: ‘This is a long term programme that will last for years and decades, but we’re already seeing evidence that people are aspiring to improve their properties, make them more efficient and take control of their energy bills.’

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