UK energy efficiency scheme 'Green Deal' launches today | 1st Oct 2012
The Green Deal, the Government scheme enabling householders and businesses to sign up for energy efficiency works at no upfront cost (paid for via a levy on energy bills), launches today but gets a mixed reception.
WSP's David Symons discussed the Green Deal with Business Green, commenting: "We are seeing clients who are interested in taking up Green Deal services and there will be a lot of interest in the launch. There's more focus on the residential sector, but there are companies that are looking at it closely, particularly property companies that have mixed developments with residential and commercial property."
We need the Green Deal to demonstrate that the interest rates on offer are attractive enough to drive uptake. The promised incentives and marketing from the government needs to be well structured to ensure strong early adoption of the scheme.
However, we need a longer term view on this, early critics of the scheme should be careful about rushing to judgment, the real test is not whether there is enormous uptake in the first few months, but whether in two to three years' time it is helping to deliver a fundamental transformation in the UK's building stock. If it can overcome any teething problems then businesses are definitely going to see it as an option... there'd be crazy not to look at it."
You can read the full article on Business Green here.
