Green Deal gets much needed cash boost

The Government has announced funding of £3.5m to train hundreds of people ahead of the launch of the energy efficiency scheme later this year. It is a vital shot in the arm, but is it enough?

Energy and climate change secretary, Ed Davey, explained that the money “will help hundreds of people gear up for the Green Deal” to make sure the scheme is successful.

Davey added, “We have worked hand in hand with industry to get this right and are targeting funding at the areas where this is an urgent need as well as a clear demand. We hope this will encourage business across the country to fully prepare their staff for the launch of the Green Deal later this year.”

The Green Deal was given the green light back in October 2011 when the DECC said that the scheme was at the forefront of energy efficiency because “reducing demand for energy through eliminating waste cost effectively is one of the best ways to reduce emissions”.

Since then, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the Government’s flagship scheme.

Data obtained by Building Magazine found that the Government’s own figures show that there will be a drop in the uptake of energy efficient measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation.

Another concern raised was the inadequate skillset of plumbers and heating installers in the UK, which could hinder the uptake of renewable energy.

CITB-ConstructionSkills CEO, Mark Farrar, said, “Training shortfalls have been identified as one of the main barriers to the success of the scheme. We have invested funds to tackle training shortages and unlock commercial opportunities […] and we welcome DECC’s commitment to skills and training by doing the same thing.

“We are now calling on employers and the supply chain to also invest in sustainable skills training for their workforce, so they too can capitalise on the Green Deal.”

Our own report, The Rise of the Sustainable Home, highlighted the importance of radically changing the way we heat homes, otherwise we will miss our carbon emissions targets for 2050.

When Blue & Green Tomorrow spoke to architect Luke Tozer last year, he explained, “It’s all very well peppering the south facing roofs with PVs [solar photovoltaic panels] but actually what you want to do is reduce the amount of energy that is being used in the first place”.

It is imperative to consider how your home could be heated more efficiently. Not only will it help the planet, but it will also soften the blow to your wallet. If you’re interested in finding out more about renewable energy, we recommend talking to Good Energy.

Related articles:

Green Deal gets the green light

CBI and Green Alliance cautious over Green Deal

Government’s own figures show that Green Deal could fail

The Rise of the Sustainable Home

Picture source: Grayskullduggery