The Green Deal Hub – Bringing the latest Green Deal Scheme information for home owners, installers and providers

Trading standards is warning homeowners to be wary of doorstep salespeople claiming that they are linked with the Green Deal energy efficiency scheme, as they could be fraudsters. The fraudsters have been asking for an ‘administration fee’ in order to undertake various tasks on behalf of the homeowners, and are claiming that the improvements will be free.

The Green Deal scheme, set up by the government, allows homeowners and businesses to pay for energy efficient home improvements. The improvements are made to help save money on energy bills, with the ‘golden rule’ stating that the savings must be greater than the cost of the improvements for a home or business to be eligible.

The improvements are paid for through the property’s energy bills, with a manageable amount being added to the bill until the loan is repaid after a set amount of time. An added benefit is that the loan is attached to the property, so a homeowner only need pay for the improvements while they are living in the property.

The Green Deal involves a variety of businesses, from providers to installers and assessors. All companies or individuals involved in the Green Deal are fully trained and qualified to carry out the work, and this is reflected by them receiving a Green Deal Approved Quality mark. Action Fraud advises homeowners to look out for this quality mark before accepting Green deal offers, as it is likely those without it are only looking to prise money from unsuspecting consumers.

If you are interested in the Green Deal, either as a homeowner, a landlord or as the owner of commercial property, then feel free to get in touch with The Green Deal Hub. We work closely with a range of Green Deal Installers and Providers, all bearing the Green Deal Approved Quality mark, and can help you get on the way to having energy efficient home improvements in your home or business building. Alternatively, we have a wide range of information on our website if you’re simply wanting to find out more.

Contact The Green Deal Hub on 0800 080 7997 or email us at info@thegreendealhub.co.uk with your enquiries.

With summer fast approaching, and the final residue from what was the coldest spring since 1963 finally melting, it might be time for you to consider using the suns upcoming rays to energise your home. The Green Deal gives consumers just that opportunity. By signing up to the Green Deal Scheme, consumers have the option of making energy saving alterations to their properties now, before proposed government legislation may take effect.

Interested? You should be! The first stage would be to register your interest with The Green Deal Hub. Once your application has been processed, a Green Deal report will be drawn up following an inspection by a Green Deal Accredited assessor, giving advice on what options are recommended for your individual needs. Whether you’re advised on a new boiler, double glazing, insulation or solar energy panels (yes they still work with the amount of sunshine in the UK!), you can be assured you are getting the best advice available.

Once the Green Deal report has been drawn up and work has been agreed, your high quality products chosen by us will be ordered from the best product providers ready to turn your home into an eco-friendly paradise.

Although there was a slow start to campaign, mainly due to some technical issues on the scheme’s I.T software, it is up and running now. So far over 1800 households have taken advantages of the scheme and received a Green Deal assessment. Installation will begin before the beginning of May and should be completed by the time the sun has got his hat on! Our fully trained, accredited installers are expected to work to our high standards and to the certified frameworks we set.  The vGreen Deal framework ensures a high level of standard is maintained for Green Deal measures and ensures the consumer receives the same level of service throughout the 60,000 installers. Armed with this knowledge, you know that you will be receiving the best service from the Green Deal installers.

Despite a few teething problems for the scheme, the government consider this is to be a long term plan, not a short term solution for a greener eco-system in the UK. By continuing training to ensure the installers are up to the high standards set and using the highest quality products, it’s safe to say we can expect to see green deal work carried out for years to come.

Love your house or business office to be more energy efficient? Love to save on your energy bills and pay no upfront cost? Love DIY jobs? Love to help others to get into the Green Deal Scheme and reduce their energy consumption? If all of your answers to these questions are positive you should definitely consider becoming a Green Deal Hub installer.

To join in our network of Green Deal installers you don’t need to be in a particular industry but you are required to get be certified as an official Green Deal installer, and make sure you work to the same high standards with every customer.

Becoming an accredited installer will also require expanding your network. To ensure that the Green Deal Scheme providers value you for your wide skill set and want to work with you, you should take advantage of your colleagues and associates and partner with them on Green deal hub projects. There are currently 60,000 accredited installers and around 6 million houses in need of energy-saving measures which will help them become a part of the Green Deal network family.

The Green Deal Scheme is a government funded scheme which is aimed at reducing waste, minimising energy consumption and helping home owners to avoid unnecessary costs. Therefore Green deal installers need to undergo robust training and accreditation process. The Department of Climate & Energy Change has ensured that homeowners are protected through the terms of Consumer Credit Act. Consequently, Green deal installers are obliged to work to high standards and protect their clients’ interests at all times by advising them on which measures should be installed and making sure the expected financial saving of the homeowner will be greater than their energy bill.

Green deal Installers should also comply with Code of practise. To execute high level customer service and successfully implement energy efficient measures installers are expected to provide certified products, customer care service and insurers warranty for the used materials and products. In order to demonstrate that the Green Deal Installers will need to display the Green Deal Official Quality mark.

January 2013 finally saw the launch of the highly anticipated Green Deal Scheme. Aimed at confronting our everyday energy waste, the new government scheme intends to make homes and (eventually) businesses more eco-friendly at no upfront cost.

The scheme works by encouraging property owners to ‘invest’ in money-saving home improvements, without having to actually pay any money. The idea is that the cost of the improvements will be covered by the subsequent savings made.

Such Green Deal home improvements may include double and triple glazing, new boiler installation, draught-proofing, cavity and solid wall insulation, floor insulation, the replacement of storage heaters and loft and hot water tank insulation.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) are even suggesting that the installation of wind turbines and solar panels could also soon be eligible as part of the scheme.

The initial cost of the improvement work ultimately depends on which Green Deal provider the property owner decides to go with. For example, some providers are offering the preliminary assessment at a discounted rate in exchange for them being used to complete the work.

Aside from the cost of this assessment, no other money will be needed up-front, as the scheme allows for the cost of the work to be paid over time, via utility bills.

The government claims that the ‘golden rule’ of the Green Deal is that: “the expected financial savings must be equal to or greater than the costs attached to the energy bill.” Therefore, for the Green Deal scheme to prove effective, the estimated savings must always equal more than the total cost of the improvements.

The scheme has been recognised by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. He claimed that the Green Deal would support “thousands of jobs” and help homes to “stay warm for less”.

Furthermore, MP Edward Garnier said: “The Green Deal will transform the energy efficiency market and put consumers in charge…”

So, a month on and the future is looking… well, fairly green!

As the Green Deal moves forward the phones in The Green Deal Hub office are ringing regularly with homeowners keen to book in their Green Deal Assessment, but most calls start with the same question: will my assessment cost me anything? Some have been affronted at the idea of paying a charge for the assessment when the Green Deal has promised to come at no upfront cost. However, it has to be taken into consideration that this is the only upfront cost involved with the Green Deal, and that all other work will be paid back in instalments, saving the property owner having to fork out thousands of pounds for, let’s say, a new boiler.

Most providers have claimed that they will charge to carry out a Green Deal Assessment. However, all of the providers spoken to by Green Deal Initiative said that they will reimburse the assessment charge if the property owner stays with them for all of the Green Deal work.

Just to make things a little clearer for those interested in getting involved with the Green Deal and to give you an idea of the price range of assessments, here is a list of some providers and what they charge:

Anesco:                                                £150

InstaFoam & Fibre Ltd:                    £70-£120

British Gas Trading Ltd:                  £99

Aran Services:                                   £80

Inteb Sustainability Ltd:                  £175

MED Total Limited:                          £150

Enact Energy Renewables Ltd:      £99

GHE Solar Ltd:                                  £100

GR33N Ltd:                                      £120

Grafton Merchanting GB Ltd:        £99-150

Infinity Energy Organisation Ltd: £150

Instagroup Limted:                         £75-150

So, as demonstrated here it looks as though the charge for Green Deal Assessments will range from £80-175. Green Deal Assessments cannot be avoided if a property owner wishes to have Green Deal work done to their property. It is the only way that your financial situation can be assessed, which is needed in order to calculate how much money you will pay back for the Green Deal work each month. It is also essential for your property to be surveyed for its energy inefficiencies.

If you would like to register to book for a Green Deal assessment, please fill out our homeowner form.

As we move through February, a change in season can be very faintly detected. The snow has melted and spring doesn’t seem such a far off prospect as it did a couple of weeks ago. The Green Deal has been largely associated with winter hardships. A way of making properties more affordable to heat, its focus has clearly lied in the colder months. However, the Green Deal does not just provide boilers and affordable heating; it provides solid methods of keeping homes draught-free and comfortable, which is still needed in our temperamental British summers.

Despite each year bringing with it new levels of optimism and high hopes that “this one is going to be a heat wave”, us Brits are lucky to get a week of sunshine and warmth at most. Our homes still need to be protected against a British chill in the summer, with drizzly rain and wind an inevitability. This is where home improvements such as insulation and double glazing can be a real saver. Nobody expects to have to put the heating on in summer months, but if a house has single glazing or lacks insulation, sometimes it can feel as chilly as if it were winter.

The Green Deal offers cavity wall, external wall and loft insulation. The difference it makes having a well-insulated house is phenomenal. Not only does it keep heat it, it keeps cold out. Now here’s the really clever part: on the off chance we do miraculously get a heat wave, insulation protects your home against excess heat. An un-insulated home is guaranteed to be uncomfortable; either it will be too cold, or too warm. Insulation stabilises the temperature of a property and keeps it comfortable all year round.

The same applies to double glazing, which is multi-beneficial. Not only does it keep heat in in the winter, it keeps any unwanted heat out in the summer.  It also works wonders in preventing outside noise. Noise reduction is a huge benefit of double glazing, especially if there are noisy garden parties going on late into the night!

Now, we may be getting ahead of ourselves here with all this summer talk, but it doesn’t hurt to think ahead. The Green Deal is intended as a long-term plan, not just a quick winter fix.

Don’t forget to fill out our homeowner form if you have not yet registered for a Green Deal Assessment. We will then contact you over the next couple of weeks to book you in!

With the arrival of the Green Deal many are eager to have their homes assessed under the scheme. However, owners of business buildings are left wondering whether they, too, come under the initiative. The answer is yes, but not right away. Because of the huge scale of Green Deal UK, its launch is only covering residential properties to begin with. David Cameron recently defended the scheme’s slow start, stating that industries would be inundated and the manpower would not be available if it were to get off to a too rapid, heavy start.

Green Deal offers to make properties across the UK more energy efficient through various energy-efficiency home improvements. These Green Deal home improvements will cover things such as draught exclusion and cavity wall, loft and external wall insulation. It comes at a time when not many property owners can afford the upfront cost of such home improvements, and energy prices are on a drastic incline.

Green Deal work will apply to business buildings too, but not right away, the government has announced. It is expected that the Green Deal Scheme will open to business buildings in the next 9 months or so. It is certainly worth owners of business buildings holding out for the scheme, as it is a great way to finance any cost-heavy energy-related improvements.

The Green Deal Loan is financed through various Green Deal providers. You can choose which provider to go with when it comes to your Green Deal plan. The money spent on Green Deal property improvements will be paid back through the money the property owner saves on energy bills. A Green Deal charge will be added onto the bills, but will never be allowed to exceed the money saved on energy bills.

The size and nature of business buildings mean that if they waste energy, they waste a lot. This can cost the owner extortionate amounts of unnecessary spending. Therefore, for a more energy-efficient business building, it is worth holding out for the Green Deal Scheme.

For more information on Green Deal, feel free to call The Green Deal Hub on 0800 080 7997 or fill out our contact form.

Green Deal Scheme has been subject to criticism since its ‘soft-launch’ in October 2012. Claims that the scheme was moving slowly only became stronger upon the scheme’s official launch last Monday (28^th January 2013). Green Deal UK is a much needed initiative that hopes to transform 14 million properties across the UK into more energy efficient buildings. The scheme will provide loans of up to £10,000 for properties that are in need of energy-efficiency increasing home improvements. These loans will be paid back through the property owners energy bills, or, more accurately, through the money they save on energy bill spending.

Over the past week people have criticised the scheme’s ‘slow start’, picking up on the fact that very few houses have been assessed yet. However, David Cameron recently defended Green Deal UK, claiming that the scheme was intended to “build up slowly” in order for officials to be able to cope with the future demand.

Cameron went on to say: “It’s very important with these big new programmes to get the balance right. On the one hand if you go off with an enormous advertising bang you will not have the capacity to meet demand and you will end up with disappointed consumers. You’ve got to try and balance that, this is a programme we want to build over the months and years ahead.”

Cameron highlights the fact that the Green Deal is not just a quick-fix scheme, rather it is a carefully thought out initiative that should transform Britain’s attitudes towards energy permanently.

Green Deal home improvements will make UK properties much warmer places to live, increase their value and help significantly reduce fuel poverty. It is a huge, innovative project and requires patience. It seems that David Cameron really is keen to defend the scheme, even going as far as to call the coalition the “Greenest Government Ever”.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California, has also backed the Green Deal Scheme and Cameron’s enthusiasm for it, saying, “David Cameron is a really great leader. Back in 2005 when he came to California to see what we are doing he said he wanted to do the same in England. He keeps his promises as always. He is a terrific leader.”

For more information on how you could benefit from the Green Deal, contact The Green Deal Hub on 0800 080 7997.

Greg Barker, Energy Minister, has claimed that he wishes local councils to become ‘agents’ for the Green Deal. Several councils have already gotten on board with this. Barker believes that this will help market the Green Deal Scheme to towns and push the initiative forward by urging people to get register with the initiative.

Town halls can help by doing one of several actions. They can act as actual providers of the scheme in their area, as partners with others, or simply market the plan to locals with no direct involvement.

Some authorities have already shown their enthusiasm and dedication to the Green Deal by launching schemes to start off the Green initiative in their areas. The government has provided £22m of initial funding for the programme to 150 local authorities.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has also announced that some councils will be revealing ‘big programmes’, which will help the progress of the Green Deal.

The Green Deal Scheme should be embraced by local authorities due to the many benefits it offers families and their properties. Those that cannot afford the upfront cost of energy-efficiency home improvements are the perfect candidates for the scheme. Green Deal UK offers to significantly increase the energy efficiency of properties across the country through various measures. These include the installation of new boilers, cavity wall, loft and external wall insulation and double glazing.

The scheme will be financed by providers, who will offer a Green Deal loan to each house that wishes to take part. The Green Deal loan will be attached to the property, not the person. If councils get on board it will give the scheme much more exposure, as well as bringing it to a slightly more personal level for those that are interested. At the moment the scheme is very much on a national scale; bringing it down to a local level may instil greater levels of trust amongst homeowners and make the process easier for them to get on board with.

If you would like to be contacted in the next few weeks to book a Green Deal Assessment please fill out our home owner form or call The Green Deal Hub on 0800 080 7997.