The Government’s announcement of a new communications plan for the Green Deal and update on the progress of the flagship scheme has been welcomed.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been granted an exemption to the Government marketing freeze for a campaign that will build understanding and trust of the Green Deal. An initial £2.9 million is available to cover digital and traditional channels.
Further Green Deal progress confirmed includes plans to develop a national Open Homes network, making it easy for people to find and see homes that have been improved by energy saving retrofits.
The online Green Deal Cashback Portal, where Green Deal Providers, charities and Community Interest Companies wishing to take part in the Cashback Scheme must register, will also be opened.
Brian Andreas, sustainability leader for Saint-Gobain in the UK and Ireland, said: “It is particularly encouraging that an initial £2.9million has been set aside for a new communications campaign designed to build understanding and trust in the Green Deal. This will support the scheme’s latest developments, helping to generate awareness ahead of the first deals theoretically being available on 28 January 2013.
“However, we remain concerned about the gap between the ending of the existing cavity wall, solid wall and loft insulation subsidy schemes and the Green Deal and ECO becoming fully functional and would like to see a suitable solution implemented to address this.
“For the Green Deal to truly deliver it is also vital that the industry works together with Government to promote the benefits of energy saving measures and the role these can play in tackling rising fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions. We are keen to play our part in ensuring the success of the Green Deal. Our position as an established designer, manufacturer and distributor of building materials means we are ideally placed to do so, with our businesses providing the products, solutions and training required to support the effective working of the supply chain.
“Ensuring the success of the Green Deal is in the interest of Government, industry and society as a whole as this will mark a strategic shift in how energy is used within buildings, providing better places to live and work and helping to protect our environment for future generations. Strong commitment from both Government and industry will be essential, and we look forward to working with professionals across the supply chain to make this future vision a reality.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has said the Government are making “excellent progress” on the Green Deal.
DECC will invest an initial £2.9 million up to April 2013 to promote the Green Deal, supported by the Energy Saving Advice Service, the new Green Deal pages on gov.uk/greendeal and the Green Deal Cashback Scheme. It has also been confirmed that the Cashback Scheme will be administered by Capita.
