Clearview South June 2014 - Issue 151 | Page 29

INDUSTRYNEWS Revamped Green Deal launches this month The Next Generation of Coloured Frames The government’s revamp of the controversial Green Deal, the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund providing grants of up to £7,600 against energy efficiency measures such as insulation, new boilers and double glazing – will be launched this month. This replaces the original Green Deal under which households borrowed money to fund improvements and repaid it through their energy bills. Take-up of the latter was disappointing – despite a £125m cashback incentive – and it was widely criticised for its complexity and cost. The new scheme, which reimburses up to 75 per cent of the cost of qualifying improvements provided certain conditions are met, is also available to private or social landlords. In order to claim the money, householders must first obtain a Green Deal Assessment Report at a cost of £100£150, or provide an energy performance certificate less than two years old. They can then apply to the fund to carry out two improvements from an approved list. These include installing cavity or solid wall insulation, double glazing, new doors, loft insulation or fitting a new boiler. If the application is approved, a voucher for the work will be issued. The work must be done by an approved Green Deal installer, who will validate the voucher once the work is complete. After completing the claim, the householder will be reimbursed for three-quarters of the cost up ‘regardless of income’ to a limit of £1,000 (or £6,000 for solid wall insulation). The cost of the assessment will also be reimbursed up to the value of £100. The fund is not means-tested so householders can apply regardless