Month: July 2014

Government closes popular Green Deal Home Improvement Fund immediately

The Department for Energy and Climate Change have just announced in press release that the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund is to close with immediate effect. Despite only two days ago they issued a press release saying how successful the scheme had been and seemed to suggest that more money would be available, although they were reducing the subsidy for solid wall insulation from £6000 to £4000 from Friday 25 July and from 5 August 2014 flue gas heat recovery systems will not longer be an eligible measure for the subsidy.

GDHIF

See latest press release

My comment:

Only last week was I expressing concern that this scheme was in danger of becoming a classic example of “roller-coaster” intervention by DECC. This appears to have become true. DECC appear to be incapable of managing energy efficiency or renewable energy (Solar PV – Feed-in-tariff) that will lead to a steady sustainable uptake of measures – that are good for the environment, householders and the industry.

Peter Bates

 

UK government now received applications worth 50 million pounds for subsidies under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

The UK government has now received applications from householders for £50 million of vouchers from Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. As a result it it now releasing the remaining more money from a pot of at least £120 million available until the end of March 2015.

GDHIF

However, from 5 August 2014 flue gas heat recovery systems will not longer be an eligible measure for the subsidy. And from 25 July 2014 the government is reducing the subsidy for solid wall insulation from £6000 to £4000.

The latest £7600 incentive offered to households is split into a number of parts; £1000 is given for installing two measures from an approved list of renovations, £100 is available towards the cost of an the initial assessment and £4000 is on offer for the expensive procedure of installing solid wall insulation. Those who’ve bought their property within 12 months of application to the scheme are also eligible for a further £500.

 

GDHIF cores

12 improvement measures

Please note a flue gas heat recovery system will no longer be an eligible measure for the subsidy from 5 August 2014. And from 25 July the subsidy for Solid Wall Insulation will be £4000 not £6000.

Click here for more details on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Or contact The 80percent Hub about having a Green Deal Assessment

Click here for the latest figures

See press release

Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has now issued over 36 million pounds of vouchers

Just five weeks into the scheme, over £36 million pounds worth of vouchers have now been issued by the UK government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. This means the first £50 million, current rates guaranteed, could be used up within the next two weeks at the current rate of uptake.

GDHIF

The new £7600 incentive offered to households is split into a number of parts; £1000 is given for installing two measures from an approved list of renovations, £100 is available towards the cost of an the initial assessment and £6000 is on offer for the expensive procedure of installing solid wall insulation. Those who’ve bought their property within 12 months of application to the scheme are also eligible for a further £500.

It is unknown at present, what the government will do once the £50 million threshold, has been reached. Although, it is understood that this £50 million is part of £120 million available during this current financial year. Government could decide to reduce the subsidy for some or all the measures or simply release more money and put it into the GDHIF pot. No doubt there will be surplus funds available from the previous Cash-back scheme that finished on 30 June 2014.

However, government needs to move quickly in order to avoid being accursed of “roller-coaster intervention” by the industry and householders – which fails to create a sustainable market that is of benefit to both householders and installers.

GDHIF cores

12 improvement measures

Click here for more details on the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

Or contact The 80percent Hub about having a Green Deal Assessment

Click here for the latest figures

See press release

2014 launch of Cambridge Open Eco Homes

open eco homes

Cambridge Carbon Footprint have just launched their 2014 Open Eco Homes Project that will include at least 18 new-build and retrofit low-energy homes, both new-build and retro-fit in and around Cambridge being open to the public in September. Householders will show and explain the energy-saving features of their homes – the pros and cons and how to get the best out them to save on energy bills and carbon emissions.

Open Eco Homes aims to inform and inspire visitors to improve the energy efficiency of their own homes or choose very efficient new ones.
The homes demonstrate a wide range of eco-renovation technologies, from underfloor heating to wood burners, all kinds of insulation and condensing boilers, right through to green roofs, gardens and water-butts.

The Open Days will take place on the 14 and 20 September 2014 – but must be booked in advance. In addition there will also be a series of workshops “digging deeper into home renovation” during October and November. Their website will also contain a series of case studies.

open eco homes poster

For more details go to the Open Eco Homes Website.