81% of British public Never Heard about the Green Deal

The Green Deal project was launched yesterday, yet, according to a survey commissioned by USwitch.com,  only 19 percent of the United Kingdom population have even heard about this cool scheme.

Announced emphatically as the "“biggest home improvement programme since the Second World War”, the Green Deals is the most important green policy project of the UK's government in order to address the country's energy inefficient housing stock.

YouGov conducted a poll, commissioned by USwitch.com, which revealed that less than two consumers in ten are aware of the existence of such a programme, i.e. the Green Deal scheme.

Even if the public is not aware about the existence of the Green Deal, they are pretty concerned when it comes about energy efficiency, 67% being very interested in making their residences more energy efficient and 86 percent of the general public see lower heat/energy bills as the main benefit of such an improvement.

The Director of Consumer Policy at USwitch.com, Ann Robinson, made the following comment:


“The high cost of energy today means that Green Deal has to deliver - there is a lot at stake here for consumers. Household energy is rapidly becoming unaffordable and reducing the amount we use will protect us from higher bills. This is why consumers need to have a simple, well-designed and well-communicated scheme they can trust, if they are to feel the benefits in their pockets and on their bills.
“In the face of higher prices there are two simple steps to lowering bills: use less energy and pay the lowest possible price for what you do use. The Green Deal should hopefully help many more with the former, and I would urge consumers to help themselves now with the latter.”

This poll underlines the importance of the almost  £2.9 million spent by the Government in a marketing campaign, promoting the Green Deal scheme. Over sixty percent of the survey respondents showed interest in the advice, reassurance and support that the Green Deals scheme will offer after its launch. 54 percent of them also showed interest in receiving a report that will help them understand better what are the main benefits of the Green Deal scheme and what improvements are to be made in order to make their residences more energy efficient.

Almost half of them liked the "Golden Rule" concept, which states that you may repay the cost of these improvements through energy bill savings.

As the Department for Energy and Climate Change is working closely with the Public Relations Agency Freud, in order to help make these issues of public interest more popular, the Minister Greg Barker stated that:

"We now have funds for a communications campaign that will build further understanding of the Green Deal, helping to create a real buzz. When you add our fantastic cash back into the mix, it's clear that the Green Deal is building momentum and will be a brilliant offer for people."

For more information and news about solar energies in the UK, you may visit here anytime:  

http://www.solar-energy.co.uk/

The Green Deal launched in UK, despite some criticism

Today was a big day for the solar/renewable industry, after a soft-launch which took more than it should, at last, the Green Deal scheme was officially launched to the general public.

There will be many beneficiaries of the coalition's most important energy scheme, almost all the residences in England and Wales will be allowed to install energy efficiency measures without paying anything in advance.

The costs are to be paid for by the savings resulted on utility bills, and also the cost of repayments will be no bigger than the savings created by the installed measures, a consequence of higher efficiency etc.

Mr. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, spoke today about the scheme's potential, which is able to help “thousands of homes stay warm for less”. He also stated that:

"The UK green sector is a success story – it is the sixth largest in the world and has a crucial part to play in building a strong economy. The Green Deal will support thousands of jobs – not just over the next few years, but in the long term.”

Not everybody was happy with the Green Deal scheme, actually it came under heavy criticism, there were allegations about the  "rip off interest rates", as they were revealed Friday to the general public.Indeed, the Gren Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) announced that the initial interest rate will start at 6.96 percent and it will be up to 7.96 percent for a ten year loan.

As Luciana Berger, the Labour’s Shadow Climate Change Minister explained:

"The whole point of the Green Deal is that households are meant to save money on their energy bills - but with rip off interest rates, hidden charges and penalty payments the Green Deal could end up costing people more than they save. With sky-high interest rates it’s hard to see how the Green Deal will be anything other than a bad deal for the public." 

The Green Deal launch suffered from a lack of attention from the general public, as a research showed that over 80 percent of the British public has no idea and never heard about the Green Deal scheme.

The United Kingdom Government invested heavily in a communications campaign, in order to combat the issue, over  £2.9 million were spent in this regard, and it is live as I write this article. The whole purpose of the campaign is to convince the population that the Green Deal is there to help them lower  their bills  and also keep their residences warmer.

The Department for Energy And Climate Change (DECC) Minister, Mr. Greg Barker commented about the Green Deal launch:

The Green Deal will transform the energy efficiency market and puts consumers in charge. It’s a fantastic new scheme that will allow people to make their homes warmer and save energy at the same time. And it’s not just consumers who will benefit. The Green Deal is also great for business, creating a new market and new jobs. I’m truly excited about the potential the Green Deal has to transform Britain’s buildings.”

For more information and news about solar energies in the UK, you may visit here anytime:  

http://www.solar-energy.co.uk/

Green Deal Just Added 15 New Measures

The full launch of Green Deal is near the corner and is rapidly approaching, hence the Department for Energy and Climate Change also known as DECC made an announcement, regarding the list of eligible measures.

The list which initially contained 30 measures now has 45, so much for bureaucracy, so DEEC, after extensive consultation, included them in the scheme. You may take a closer look at the full document here .

 In January of 2013 we are expecting the publication of the final draft of  the PAS 2030 specification, regarding the installation process, the process management and service provision. Let's take a closer look:


Energy efficiency measures covered in PAS 2030:2012

• Condensing boilers, natural gas-fired and liquefied petroleum gas-fired (domestic and non-domestic)
• Condensing boilers, oil-fired (domestic and non-domestic)
• Heating controls
• Under-floor heating
• Flue-gas recovery devices
• Gas-fired warm-air heating systems (domestic and non-domestic)
• Electric storage heaters (domestic and non-domestic)
• Cavity wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Pitched roof insulation
• Flat roof insulation
• Internal wall insulation
• External wall insulation
• Hybrid wall insulation
• Draught proofing
• Floor insulation
• Heating system insulation (pipes and cylinders)
• Energy efficient glazing and doors
• Lighting fittings
• Lighting controls (non-domestic)
• Ground and air source heat pumps
• Solar thermal
• Solar PV
• Biomass boilers
• Micro-combined heat and power (CHP)
• Micro- and small-scale wind turbine systems

 Quoting from the document, these are the new measures which are to be eligible in the future, under the Green Deal :

• Chillers
• Duct Insulation
• HVAC Controls
• Hot Water Showers
• Hot Water Systems
• Hot Water Taps
• Roof Lights, Lamps and Luminaires
• Radiant Heating
• Sealing improvements
• Solar blinds, shutters and shading devices
• Transpired Solar Collectors
• Variable speed drives for fans and pumps
• Water Source Heat Pumps

 When the National Solar Centre was launched recently, as I covered it in a previous post on my blog,the Energy and Climate Change Minister, Mr. Greg Barker asked the solar industry leaders to operate outside its silo and, let me quote, "use the Green deal to market solar PV as an energy saving option”.

 The Green Deal is the most important policy of the United Kingdom's coalition government and it will be supported in the near future with great aplomb, with the new Green Deal cashback scheme, a 2.9 million pounds  marketing budget and the full attention of the UK's Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron.

 Of course, there are critics and skeptics of the Green Deal project, they are doubting that the scheme will persuade the general public to engage with energy efficiency.

For more information and news about solar energies in the UK, you may visit here anytime:  

http://www.solar-energy.co.uk/

£46 Million Announced by DECC Supporting 132 Local Energy Projects

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) just made a lot of business people happy, as they announced that over 130 energy schemes will benefit from a share of the 46 million pounds, as they are trying to help reduce fuel poverty, increase energy efficiency and to help boost collective switching.

Both the local communities and third party organizations had been invited to bid for funding under three separate energy schemes. The first project will try to address the fuel poverty issue, by helping the local communities  to build and install more effective central heating systems and also help them insulate the households of the most vulnerable local residents.

The second scheme will try to improve the  energy efficiency for all the residents, not just the most vulnerable ones, with the help of the local authorities, with money drawn to finance the Green Deal project, which will help to identify where the energy savings are to be made. The Department for Energy and Climate Change received some criticism regarding the initial cost of the Green Deal will discourage many of its potential clients.

 In the end, the competition aimed to help encourage local authorities and local businesses, among with the third sector organizations to initiate collective groups to buy energy in their local areas, the whole concept of collective switching is to help clients to negotiate better deals and tariffs from the energy producers and suppliers.

 The total sum allocated to these projects is in amount of  £46 million and it will be split as it follows:  £31million will help reduce the fuel poverty for the must vulnerable households, £10 million will be used to help boost the Green Deal and £5 million will be used to set up collective switching schemes.

 An ample comment regarding the issue was made by Mr. Ed Davey, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary:


“We need to find new ways to help people with their energy bills, working with communities and councils across the country.
“The projects we are funding will help people save energy and save money: helping the most vulnerable to heat their homes, getting the Green Deal market up and running and encouraging people to switch energy suppliers to get their bills down.
“This £46million will help local councils across England upgrade inefficient heating kit as well as creating demand for and installing insulation under the Green Deal in homes across their local areas. 
“Funding will also be used to drive forward collective purchasing and switching initiatives at a local level, helping consumers get a better deal on their energy bills.  I am delighted so many organisations want to run new co-operative schemes to help people, especially the fuel poor, to get the best deals in the market."

For more information and news about solar energies in the UK, you may visit here anytime:  

http://www.solar-energy.co.uk/

Countdown to Green Deal launch by the UK Government

Everyone is expecting for the £125 million cash back plan of action  by the United Kingdom's Government, which is expected to restart the investors and the public's interest in the Green Deal energy efficiency programme.

Even if the details of the scheme are not to be announced until next week,  the Energy and Climate Change Minister,  Mr. Greg Barker stated that he hopes for this measure to be the first step towards instituting the "sea change", as he sees the Green Deal to engender in the United Kingdom's energy efficiency standards.

 The Green Deal will officially begin in 28 January, when the investors, both homeowners and companies will begin signing the deals under the new scheme.

 There will be over 45 property improvements for the customers to choose from, all of them designed with energy efficiency in mind. Under the Green Deal project, solar energy and thermal are among the technologies which are qualified  to be implemented and subsidized by the Government.

To make sure that the public is aware by the benefits and opportunities of the new Green Deal project, the United Kingdom's Government hired a specialized PR company, Freud Communications, in order to make waves in the media about the project and raise the awareness of the general public.

 This move is due to a report from last year, the report revealed that the public has limited knowledge about green projects and there are very few potential customers showing an interest in using the Green Deal opportunities for making their properties more energy efficient.

 There were announcements made by the Department for Communities and Local Government, about relaxing the legislation for those who want to install solid wall insulation, making their task easier.

 Before that, there were issues and doubts about such home improvements, as they would require or not planning permission from local authorities, as the wall insulation alters the outside of buildings.

 We will see in the near future how the Green Deal will work in real life starting from next month, including how businesses can become accredited Green Deal installers  and also how can you make/save money with this new project and also protect the environment.

 Also, there are expected from the Department of Energy and Climate Change the latest feed-in-tariff rates, as Mr. Barker will start the roadshows at Sandown Park Racecourse on 7 February, in Surrey, so stay tuned.


For more information and news about solar energies in the UK, you may visit here anytime: 

http://www.solar-energy.co.uk/

 

 

Good news for 7 cities in UK, 12 million for Green Deal

For 7 major cities in UK its Hanukkah already, they are about to receive f £12 million for their Green Deal project, we are talking here about Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.
DECC selected them because of their bold plan, called Green Deal, promises to cut down carbon emissions.
Mr. Edward Davey, energy secretary, said, and I quote:

“These cities have really ambitious plans to lower their emissions, reduce energy use and help people save money on their bills. I’ve been really impressed by their plans to start testing the Green Deal and transforming our homes and buildings.
“This funding will help them get up and running, and I look forward to seeing a number of properties across whole communities get the energy efficient improvements they need.”

For DECC, this deal is a test for the Green Deal framework, kind of a beta version before its official launch in October, the 7 cities are expected to undertake around 2500 retrofits and every each one of the cities who will receive the money must contribute to an equal amount from their local budgets.

 For more information and news about solar energies in the UK, you may visit here anytime:

http://www.solar-energy.co.uk/