?Please note: On 23 July 2015 the government announced that it has ceased funding for the Green Deal. There may be other schemes available in your area – please visit our guide to Boiler, Central Heating & Insulation Grants 2018 for more information.
Yesterday the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published its latest official Green Deal statistics. July was the biggest month for the Green Deal so far, with more than 37,000 homes having a Green Deal Assessment, taking the total number of assessments to over 300,000. The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund also closed its door after just less than six weeks.
Looking at the published figures, Green Deal Assessments have never been so popular. In July 37,194 households had a Green Deal Assessment. It was by far the most popular month in the scheme’s history, with more and more people arranging to have their homes’ energy efficiency assessed. At the end of a Green Deal Assessment, the homeowner is provided with a report which recommends a range of energy saving measures they can apply for through Green Deal Finance.
As of the end of July, there were 3,898 Green Deal plans in place, which includes new, pending and live plans. This was up from 3,234 the previous month. Currently there are 1,815 live Green Deal plans where the measures have been installed.
Most notable, the statistics include figures for the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. Launched on 9th June, the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund was a cashback scheme introduced by the Government to encourage households to install a range of energy efficient improvements. As of the end of July, 543 measures were installed. However this figure will grow as households carry out their improvements and get cash back for the work they have done. The statistics have also revealed that of all the eligible measures, solid wall insulation has been the most popular, accounting for around two thirds (68%) of all measures carried out to date.
GDHIF has been the subject of much interest and speculation in recent weeks, following the Government’s shock decision to suddenly close the GDHIF just six weeks after it was put live, citing “overwhelming popular demand” as the reason for pulling the plug. The move was met with anger by industry and public alike. As DECC continues to monitor voucher payments, rumour has it that the Government may relaunch at a later date should more funds become available.
To date £2.3 million of GDHIF payments have been made. But it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the £115 million worth of work the industry will be carrying out in the months to come.
By the end of July two thirds of GDHIF applications had been issued with vouchers.
