FOR MANY people improving the energy efficiency of their home is a huge concern as gas and electricity bills creep higher and higher.
There are many ways this can be done, and a new government initiative, called the Green Deal, will allow people to install measures, such as solar PV panels, to help them.
Though many seem confused about The Green Deal when laid out clearly it does make sense. The government scheme is a new initiative focused on making UK properties more energy efficient without putting any financial strain on property owners.
The government has a 2050 carbon emissions reduction target, which isn’t actually all that long away in the grand scheme of things. At the moment, UK properties waste a shocking amount of energy because they are simply not equipped to retain heat in these cold British winters. The Green Deal sets out to make all sorts of home improvements that will, in turn, reduce the amount of energy needed to heat a building, and significantly reduce the carbon emissions currently being pumped out into the atmosphere.
These measures will include things such as boilers, solar PV and insulation.
Green Deal advisors who are trained assessors will survey a property for which the owner has expressed interest in participating in the Green Deal, and advise on the individual needs that property has for becoming more energy efficient. For example, a house or building with an old, inefficient boiler will qualify for a new, efficient one. This is a vital part of the Green Deal as each individual property will have separate needs.
So, how exactly is all of this going to be financed? With the Green Deal loan, the money it costs to improve a home will be paid back through monthly instalments. However, this will never cost the property owner extra in monthly outgoings as it is the Green Deal promise that the money spent will only ever equate to, or be less than, money saved on energy bills.
This is a scheme with simple aims: to help the environment and make homes more comfortable to live in. Many UK property owners are currently living in fuel poverty, which means that they spend 10% or more of the household’s income on energy bills. The Green Deal will solve this problem, whilst simultaneously getting closer to achieving that 2050 carbon reduction target.
So there you have it, it’s a win-win situation and really should be embraced by property owners across the UK.
