The Green Deal home improvements proposals, which were only announced days ago, have been scrapped by Prime Minister David Cameron after a backlash.
The plans, which were still under consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government, would have forced property owners to invest in further energy efficiency measures when making Green Deal home improvements.
So, when someone wanted to install an A-rated efficiency boiler, they’d have to add double glazing or loft lagging to their expenses too.
This withdrawal is a blow for the Liberal Democrats, who’d been campaigning the changes to combat home energy inefficiency. Local Government minister Andrew Stunell said homes wanting to add a conservatory should combat the extra energy use by upgrading boilers or improving insulation, as a Green Deal home improvements clause.
Under the proposals, which haven’t been green lighted, property owners would have to spend an extra 10% on energy efficiency. This would be carried out by local contractors and repaid through the Green Deal home improvements scheme.
A Government source said: “The idea that people are going to be forced to improve their energy efficiency or install a new boiler because they want to extend their garage or make their house better is not going to happen. It is not policy now.
“It is out for consultation, but the prime minister is opposed to it, and it will not become policy. It is not fair to ordinary people trying to improve their homes.”
The same source did point out that the Government was not opposed to the Green Deal home improvements scheme, as long as it remained voluntary.
But the compulsory aspect which has been removed will be a blow to the home improvements industry, who won’t have as much work as they previously thought.
When the proposals first came into being in January, the department had been extremely keen, suggesting that homes would be able to save £150 a year on energy bills. And Stunell also said that “a quarter of the carbon emissions produced each year come from our homes, so it is vital we get to grips with energy efficiency to tackle this problem”.
In the UK, around 45% of carbon emissions are from heating and lighting. The compulsory part of the Green Deal home improvements scheme would have been able to cut these emissions by making properties even more energy efficient.
Double glazing, loft lagging and wall cavity insulation all reduce heat loss, meaning boilers don’t have to be turned up to keep homes warm. New A-rated boilers will also slash heating bills by warming homes efficiently and preventing heat loss.
