The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced the first wave of organisations that have signed up to become Green Deal providers, ahead of the scheme’s launch in October.
Over 20 organisations have penned an agreement to help implement Government’s flagship environmental policy, which promises to improve the nation’s leaky housing stock at no upfront cost to the consumer. The wide breadth of organisations committed to the Greed Deal range from big businesses to community groups.
Greg Barker, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, commented: “The signing of this agreement between Government and business pioneers represents a watershed moment in the development of the Green Deal.
“The commitment shown today highlights the opportunity organisations see in the Green Deal from community groups, SMEs to big business which only bodes well for the scheme’s future success.
“We will be working with these organisations to ensure they can fulfil the potential they have demonstrated today and become the first to offer Green Deals.”
Commenting on British Gas’s involvement in the Green Deal, Gearoid Lane, Managing Director of British Gas New Markets said: “Britain’s housing stock is some of the most inefficient in the developed world with £1 in every £4 spent on heating our homes wasted because of poor insulation. The Green Deal is an innovative way to help households cut their bills whilst improving their home. British Gas is proud to be one of the first green deal providers in the country.”
Phil Gilbert, Head of Energy Innovation at energy giant, E.ON, added: “The Green Deal has the potential to help millions of customers to improve their homes, cut their fuel bills and their carbon emissions, without needing to find the upfront investment. This is a green revolution in home improvements and it’s vital that customers have confidence in the improvements and in the companies delivering them. This agreement brings together Government and many other players to ensure a full, joined up solution for the launch in October. We believe that by working together under this framework, we can better deliver excellent customer service for those customers and help them get the maximum benefit from the very beginning.”
Government hopes to work closely with the 22 organisations to ensure a smooth transition from testing the schme to its eventual launch, which is slated for October this year.
Adam Hewson, Director of ReEnergise Finance, summarised: “We believe The Green Deal represents an important element in the overall drive to reduce carbon emissions and improve the UK's overall energy efficiency. Signing this memorandum of understanding is therefore a very sensible reflection of this strategy.”
The full list of organisations signed up to become Green Deal providers are: Ampere GDP, Anglian Home Improvements, BritishEco, British Gas, CarbonLow Group, Carillion, Empower Community, Enact, E.ON, Gentoo Group, Grafton Group, Insta Group, Keepmoat, Kingfisher, Mark Group, ReEnergise Finance, SIG plc, SSE, Stroma, Toriga Energy, Willmott Dixon Energy Services, Yorkshire Energy Services.