Under the UK Coalition Government’s proposed Green Deal, businesses and tenants will now also benefit from energy-saving measures as well millions of homeowners, according to Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.
Speaking during a visit to the London School of Economics yesterday, Huhne said that the Government’s plans could boost the numbers employed by the insulation industry alone from around 27,000 now to 100,000 by 2015.
From 2012 onwards, the proposed Green Deal will provide homeowners with a three-stage approach to help improve the energy efficiency of their homes, cutting costs and emissions.
Properties will first undergo an independent energy survey, which will provide advice on the best energy efficiency options, such as loft or cavity wall insulation’.
Financing will then be provided to cover upfront costs of any installed measures, which will be repaid through savings on energy bills.
Installations will be made by accredited and appropriately-qualified installers, which be overseen by Government.
“Nothing on this scale has ever been attempted before,” Huhne said. “It is one of the single biggest interventions in British domestic history: a nationwide, once-in-generation refit to future-proof our homes.”
But he added that the Government is now looking at how the approach can be applied to businesses too. And rented accommodation – which includes over half a million of the lowest energy rated properties – will also be included in the deal.
Landlords will not face upfront costs either but if they fail to capitalise on the offer, Huhne warned that the Government would take steps to ensure that any tenant requesting energy efficiency improvements would not be refused. Local authorities will also be given powers to insist that landlords improve the worst performing properties.
Utility British Gas is already investing £30 million in its own ‘green deal’ to install energy efficiency measures in customers’ homes at no upfront cost.
It has already recruited 1000 staff in insulation, renewable energy and smart metering out of a total of 3700 to carry out the plans.