The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) and Easy Green Deal have both urged industry to hold faith in the Green Deal.
The companies have been vocal in their support for the policy and offered advice to householders and tradesmen in the potential energy and financial savings that can be made under the policy.
More than 40,000 energy saving assessments have been performed as part of the Green Deal policy since it was launched in October 2012 by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). However, there is still a long way to go for the Green Deal to facilitate its target of 14 million homes being accredited by 2020.
Thomas Farquhar, marketing manager at Easy Green Deal said making more homes in the UK comply with the Green Deal was a long term aim and that the market for it could yet grow exponentially. Farquhar was keen to stress that if more tradesmen took the steps to get Green Deal certified, it could lead to more awareness among customers as well as potentially improved profits for certified tradesmen. Farquhar went on to say that the Green Deal is a “big education programme for the consumer. Up until now the industry has focused on just one or two energy saving measures such as solar panels. Now we are presenting the consumer with up to 45 different options. As more people begin to understand this we will see a big uptake in signups”.
Meanwhile NAPIT referred to DECC’s findings that homeowners could boost the price of their property by 14% in some parts of the UK and even 38% in others by making their homes energy efficient to Green Deal Certified status. For an average UK home, energy savings that brought the home’s EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) from band G to E, or D to B, could add more than £16,000 to its value.
NAPIT director of standards, David Cowburn concluded: “Energy efficiency is clearly a priority for both homebuyers and tenants, especially as bills continue to rise. This demand may have the potential to make the Green Deal a great deal for both homeowners and landlords, who from 2018 should not be able to lawfully let premises’ with poor energy efficiency ratings.”
“Considering that 46% of properties in England currently have a band D EPC rating, these statistics from DECC really do speak volumes about the potential of the Green Deal, the overwhelming number of properties that need to make energy efficiency improvements, and the potential for thousands to benefit financially too.”