Government confirms £200m green deal sweetener
The government has confirmed plans to put £200 million into encouraging take up of its green deal energy efficiency scheme.
The chancellor’s autumn statement, released yesterday, states the money will be allocated during 2012/13 and 2013/14. It says further detail will be released next year, and will be subject to ‘state aid considerations’.
Under the green deal households will be able to get energy efficiency improvements made to their homes at no upfront cost. They will then repay the cost of the work over 25 years using the savings on their fuel bills.
The government is concerned this will not be enough to encourage take up of the scheme, and is considering further incentives.
Last week energy secretary Chris Huhne suggested cash back payments of up to £150 would be offered to consumers, but he added that the Treasury was looking at other measures.
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said the £200 million is ‘great news and a huge victory for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, although we still have to wait until next year for the detail’.
However he was critical of the overall direction of the autumn statement and accompanying growth plan, saying: ‘This was an opportunity missed to put green growth and green jobs at the heart of economic recovery.’
