Prime minister, David Cameron intends to rescue the Green Deal by commissioning the Cabinet Office for an urgent briefing on how to rescue this flagship energy efficiency scheme so as to avoid a collapse in insulation installations
The intervention came about just weeks after the success of the flagship energy efficiency policy was put at risk by the prime minister’s announcement to block the so-called ‘conservatory tax’ that was promoted by ministers as the primary driving force behind the adoption of the Green Deal.
Furthermore, the rescue bid came about after Number 10 moved to block changes to building regulations which would have forced people to make energy efficiency upgrades when extending their homes, a policy which was advertised as strengthening the Green Deal’s take-up.
Following Cameron’s announcement for an intervention, construction firms suggested that the scheme now appeared to be less attractive prospect for investment. The government’s impact assessment for the Green Deal shows that loft insulation and cavity wall insulation will reduce by 93% and 70 % respectively under the scheme. The industry has displayed an increasing concern about the government’s proposed ‘soft launch’ for the scheme in the autumn, which has prompted fears of limited take up.
According to the minister of Shadow climate change, Lucina Berger, “As it stands the Green Deal leaves the public exposed to miss-selling, hidden charges and high interest rates, while giving them few incentives to take out a package in the first place.”
