Green Deal

HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned to make sure they get a good deal when they consider taking up the offer of a Green Deal for their home.

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Service is urging householders to take care to ensure they get the best deal available.

Green Deal is a new way for owners and tenants to pay for energy improvements in their homes. It has been introduced by the UK Government but operates in the private market.

There may be many Green Deal Providers across the UK and the scheme may be branded under different names.

The Green Deal finance mechanism lets you pay for some or all of the improvements over time through your electricity bill.

It is important to consider the total price of the measures, the time taken to ‘pay back’ this cost, and any interest rates – as they may vary between different companies.

The Green Deal process works as follows:

1. Assessment

A Green Deal Assessor will come to your home, talk to you about your energy use and see if you could benefit from making energy efficiency improvements to your home.

2. Recommendations

Your Assessor will recommend improvements that are appropriate for your property and indicate whether they are expected to pay for themselves through reduced energy bills. This is called the ‘Golden Rule’.

3. Quotes

Green Deal Providers will discuss with you whether a Green Deal Plan is right for you and quote for the recommended improvements. You can get as many quotes as you like and choose the recommendations you want. Once you have chosen your Provider they will write up a plan, setting out the work to be done, the repayments and interest rates.

4. Installation

Once you’ve agreed to a Green Deal Plan, your Provider will arrange for the improvements to be made to your home by a Green Deal Installer.

5. Benefits

You should also be given general energy advice to maximise the energy savings from the measures installed to your home. Your Green Deal repayments will be automatically added to the electricity bill for your home.

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Residents may be approached by energy companies and/or installers who are offering to provide energy efficiency measures for their home. Some private companies are charging householders for Green Deal assessments, which they are allowed to do, however the charges can vary and there has been some concern as some householders in other counties have paid for surveys that have never been carried out.

“Before proceeding, it is important to check that companies are registered and are Green Deal Approved.”

For an information and advice leaflet on the Green Deal, contact the council’s energy officer on 01554 899271.

The same companies may be involved in the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). This is funding from the energy suppliers for lower income households or homes in certain locations or properties without cavity walls or difficult to fill cavity walls.

Companies are able to access this funding and may be able to offer energy efficiency measures at a ‘free’ or ‘discounted price to private households, subject to circumstances or types and locations of homes.

It is important to check the rate of funding with a company before saying yes to any works. Any shortfall in funding will need to either be paid in full by the householder or the company may offer a ‘Green Deal’ repayment scheme.

Caption: Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standard Officer Vivienne Jones and council energy efficiency advisor Graham Harries with Green Deal advice leaflets.

Pic Jeff Connell