The number of homes installing cavity wall insulation has reduced dramatically since the introduction of the Green Deal.
The government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme was implemented to boost insulation installations, and reduce energy bills. Recent figures have shown a sharp decline since the scheme was introduced in at the beginning of this year.
The number of homes installing cavity wall insulation has reduced by 97 per cent in April 2013 when compared with the same month last year.
Figures released by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) show that just 1,138 installations took place during April 2013, down from 49,650 in April 2012.
Gerry Miller, chief executive of CIGA said: "CIGA is cautious about forecasting activity levels at this stage as not all the figures are in but early indications are that activity in Quarter 1 2013 was at least 60 per cent down on the prior year, which is very concerning for our members and our industry."
A spokesperson from DECC commented: "The Government’s ambition for the Green Deal goes further than the old system of loft lagging and cavity wall insulation paid for by levies on everybody’s bills. In tough economic times it simply doesn’t seem right that the Government should promote indiscriminate subsidy for easy to do measures that pay for themselves when there are bigger, tougher challenges where subsidy is needed more."