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The government has released details of its plans to ensure consumers wanting to take advantage of its Green Deal scheme are protected.
The Green Deal is the government’s flagship energy saving plan to transform the country’s homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run. From next year, people will be able to access up to £10,000 upfront to pay for energy efficiency work, repaying the costs through savings on energy bills.
Climate change Minister Greg Barker said: “The Green Deal will be the biggest home improvement programme since the Second World War shifting our outdated draughty homes from the past into the future, so it’s vital people can trust it. I have heard too many cases of shoddy workmanship or dodgy technology from Government schemes in the past so from day one there will be strict rules about standards, information will be readily available and there will be a proper route for complaints.
“We’ve already started putting in place the foundations for this and I am pleased the United Kingdom Accreditation Service has been formally appointed to ensure that installers and assessors will meet the necessary standards when the Green Deal starts next year.”
DECC plans to set up a new Green Deal Code – to protect customers at every stage of the Green Deal from initial assessment to installation as well as an advice line to provide impartial advice and referral to accredited Green Deal assessors, installers and providers as well as a route for any complaints.
