The government's flagship Green Deal initiative came under the spotlight in Bristol yesterday as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey, asked 15 pioneering local companies about their experiences in a meeting arranged by Regen SW.
After an introduction reiterating the opportunities for local businesses associated with Green Deal, the Secretary of State spent over an hour listening to views from companies operating on the ground as to how best to make the Green Deal work. The lively discussion identified the following four key points:
Consumer understanding and confidence: The government needs to focus its messages to build consumer confidence and understanding to make the Green Deal a sustainable, long-term initiative.
Trust: Long-term markets are built on trust. Local companies, community groups and local authorities are a vital part of gaining consumer acceptance in looking at 'doing energy a different way'. Bristol and the south west are taking a lead in this.
Pricing: Green Deal assessments currently provide a very wide range of costs for measures which is undermining customer confidence.
Demand: Many construction companies are 'Green Deal ready' but demand for Green Deal plans needs to increase to justify the investment companies are making.
Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen SW said "This seminar was a great opportunity for south west companies to engage directly with the Secretary of State on how to make the Green Deal work. The message from businesses was that this is a huge opportunity for the construction sector, but is dependent on getting the details of the scheme right."
The session was hosted by leading lawyer Osborne Clarke. Attendees included installers of technologies such as solid wall insulation, heating controls, solar photovoltaics and other renewables, Green Deal Providers, Green Deal assessor organisations and representatives from social housing landlords, Bristol City Council and Regen SW.
Regen SW is working with the Energy Saving Trust and other key partners in a part European-funded initiative 'Ready for Retrofit' to help kick-start the massive eco-refurbishment task ahead, by investing approximately £6 million in energy efficiency and micro-generation measures for social housing. The programme also supports the development of over 400 south west businesses in the sector, with the aim of generating a supply chain capable of delivering at scale and quality.
Success of government initiatives such as the Green Deal is an essential element to achieving a potential 34,000 low carbon sector jobs in the region by 2020, as highlighted in Regen SW's recent report "Potential Energy - Potential Jobs: building a low carbon economy in south west England."