Green Deal Upfront Costs Spook UK Homeowners

 The Costs of Taking On the Green Deal

Upfront charges on an average of £100 may hinder the uptake of the governments green deal scheme, which officially is launched in January 2013. Although homeowners seem hardly aware of the plan, the Government is set to launch a publicity campaign to increase public awareness of improving the energy efficiency of their homes through the installation of upgraded boilers and insulation.

Domestic energy assessors will carry out assessments, however it is important to know your rights under the plan to prevent cold callers coming to your door.

As usual the UK press and media are having a field day over the poor publicity surrounding one of the coalition government's flagship ideas to bring to the nation.

January 2013 marks the official launch

For the record here are some of the energy efficiency improvements that can be obtained through the scheme provided you meet the assessor's "golden rule" for eligibility as part of the grant.
The figures provided below indicate the cash back given for each energy saving product that is provided:

Loft insulation (incl.top up) £100
Cavity Wall insulation £250
Solid Wall Insulation £650
Flat roof insulation £390
Room in roof insulation £220
Floor Insulation £150
Hot water cylinder insulation (top up) £10
Draught Proofing £50
Heating controls (roomstat and/or programmer & time/temperature zone controls) £70
Condensing oil boiler from non-condensing oil heating or other £310
Energy Efficient Gas Boilers Upgrade boiler to condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other. £270
Flue Gas heat recovery (condensing combi boiler) only alongside replacement boiler £90
New or replacement storage heaters £150
Replacement warm-air unit £60
Waste water heat recovery systems £60
Double Glazing Double/Triple Glazing (old single to A) £20 per m2 up to a maximum of £320
Secondary glazing £15 per m2 up to a maximum of £230
Insulated Doors High performance replacement doors £40

Find out more about the Green Deal For Homes in the UK

Time To Get A Replacement Oil,LPG or Gas Boiler

 Get a New Gas Boiler With The Green Deal

With the introduction of the green deal many members of the public are unaware of their entitlement to a replacement new gas, oil or LPG boiler under the scheme.

Many homes in Britain are still using older less efficient boilers in their home. Such boilers include the "back boiler" which is essentially a gas fire with a boiler built in to the rear of the fire surround. The flue gases usually exit the house via the chimney stack.

A typical back boiler looks like this:

A typical back boiler

The controls are hidden by a flap at the base of the gas fire. This type of heating appliance is often found in older property. Some of these boilers only have a 60% efficiency rating. This would achieve a "G" rating for an energy certificate. These types of boilers often need a higher level of maintenance and repair. In some cases spare parts are difficult to get and the costs can be high for service and repairs.

On the other hand, a modern condensing combi-boiler like the shown below can achieve a 90% efficiency rating. In addition you can get rid of your hot water cylinder as this type of boiler provides your hot water on demand so there is no waste by heating water you may not use. This type of boiler is "A" rated.

A typical Gas Combination Boiler installed in the loft area

Gas, Oil or LPG condensing boilers are available in a variety of models, most are wall mounted but some may be mounted on the floor to suit the available space in your home.

An energy assessor, gas fitter or green deal adviser can offer advice about the best type of boiler for your needs including Biomass Boilers.

If your home is fitted with a back boiler there is every likelihood that you can qualify for a grant under the scheme. You can scrap your old model for a brand new condensing combi-boiler. Stop wasting fuel and save money on utility bills by getting a new Energy Efficient Gas Boiler.

Right now (starting January 2013) you can get a replacement boiler cash-back for registering under the green deal plan for the a grant for a replacement boiler. Many homeowners still don't know of the Governments "green deal" plan which had a low key launch last year, if your heating boiler is rated as Band G on the energy performance certificate rating then you may be entitled to upgrade your back boiler for a high efficiency model whether it fired by gas, oil or LPG fuel.

Gas Boiler Installers - Upgrade your existing boiler to a condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other with £270 cashback.

To qualify make sure your gas fitter or certified plumber is "Gas Safe" or a Green Deal  approved installer. You can find out more about the plan in the Green Deal Blog.

In rural locations consider using biomass boilers, they are just as efficient as conventional boilers as use wood fuel, they also have low carbon emissions and the wood can be obtained from sustainable sources.

Local qualified installation teams who can provide quotes for a replacement boiler: Refer to High Efficiency Gas Boilers.

Find out more about the green deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com

Why You Must Get An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) For Your Home

Many homeowners throughout the UK do not realise the importance of getting an energy certificate for their house particularly with the Green Deal plan coming into effect in January 2013. Now more than ever is the time to obtain an EPC www.epcforepcs.co.uk as you could miss out on some free energy saving home improvements which even include solar panels for free electricity from the sun, which will help you cut your energy bill. Don't have an energy certificate? It is needed as part of a green deal assessment to determine what improvement measures can be applied to a property, so it is important to get a survey done and and a certificate issued.

A typical Energy Performance Certificate

If you saw £10,000 lying outside your front door would you pick it up? Well we think in most cases that most people would, however that is what is on offer for owners of homes, landlords and registered social landlords. The grant allows all these groups to benefit from the free supply and installation of a range of measures which includes insulation, new heating boilers, and renewable energy systems which can be installed in your home. To date the take-up for the grant has been slow, largely due to poor public awareness of the scheme. This post aims to improve awareness so that the general public can take advantage of free home improvements.

Listed below are the Cash Back Schemes available:

• Loft Insulation (incl.top up) £100
• Cavity Wall insulation £250
• Solid Wall Insulation £650
• Flat roof insulation £390
• Room in roof insulation £220
• Floor Insulation £150
• Hot water cylinder insulation (top up) £10
• Draught Proofing £50
• Heating controls (roomstat and/or programmer & time/temperature zone controls) £70
• Condensing oil boiler from non-condensing oil heating or other £310
• Energy Efficient Gas Boilers Upgrade boiler to condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other. £270
• Flue Gas heat recovery (condensing combi boiler) only alongside replacement boiler £90
• New or replacement storage heaters £150
• Replacement warm-air unit £60
• Waste water heat recovery systems £60
• Double Glazing Double/Triple Glazing (old single glazing to A rated) £20 per m2 up to a maximum of £320
• Secondary glazing £15 per m2 up to a maximum of £230
• Insulated Doors High performance replacement doors £40
Some terms and conditions apply. Check with your local green deal provider for advice.

A Typical Domestic Air Source Heat Pump

If that's not enough you can also benefit from the installation of renewable energy technologies such as:

Air Source Heat Pumps which are used for space heating and cooling.

Ground Source Heat Pumps which are used to provide domestic hot water.

Solar Panels or PV which is used to produce electricity for your home.

Some terms and conditions apply. Keep up to date with the latest events and stories by free subscription to Green Deal News. Check with your local green deal provider for advice. So don't miss out contact an assessor today.
Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com.

Green Deal Assessment Knowing Your Rights

Green Deal Assessment

There are many frequently asked questions that arise when an assessor arrives for a home survey, so its best to know your rights with regard to the green deal plan for energy efficiency home improvement measures

Many questions have been raised about assessments so here is a checklist that provides details of what will happen when you get a visit from a Green Deal assessor to your home or business premises.

Know your rights

Before your visit

If you get an unsolicited call this is what happens:
An assessor must provide a minimum of at least 24 hours if they are cold calling and making an assessment on your property. If you make the request then they can call the same day. You should check their identification, a registered person has the the Green Deal Quality Mark.
Make sure that you have a copy of all your energy bills for at least a year, the assessor will need these to determine if you qualify under the "golden rule" criteria, you will also need a copy of your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). The assessor must disclose what other companies they are representing for the provision of energy saving measures such as insulation or energy efficient boiler.
Remember that you can get more than one quote for your Green Deal plan for your property, you can apply to any registered installation company for quotes based on the assessment.

During the visit

A Green Deal advice report will be provided, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property energy efficiency scale from A to G, and in addition, the assessor will provide an Occupancy Assessment, this is important as this report is used to assess how you use energy in the property. The representative must provide impartial advice about your home. They will offer a quote and finance for the installation costs for your home. Remember that you can obtain other quotes from registered companies. The assessor will ask questions about your home, such as what insulation is installed and also the occupancy of the home.

After the visit

It is important to note that you are not obliged to accept the terms of any quote provided, seek advice or request another assessor to carry out a survey if you wish to do so. As with any salesman, be wary of any offers made that are too good to be true. Shop around and get another quote, and get a detailed explanation of the terms of financing the improvements in writing and do not sign up for a contract if you are not satisfied with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com
 

Green Deal Heat Pumps Installation For Domestic Use

 Air & Ground Source Heat Pump Installation

We aim to reveal more facts about the green deal plan in the near future that the general public may be unaware of as part of their home energy saving improvements, however here are some examples of what you can get under the scheme.

Some home owners may be aware that home insulation is a key aspect of improving your home's energy efficiency but there is also the prospect of having solar powered equipment installed as part of the package of measures which also includes Air Source and Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps.

A heat pump is a clever way to extract heat from its ambient temperature surroundings, for example a ground source heating pump can extract warmth from underground and this can be circulated through ground collectors back to your domestic hot water supply.

A typical controller looks like this:

This can be a wall or floor mounted cabinet that can be installed outside or inside your home. This in turn can be connected to the domestic hot water supply to help save on your energy bills.

The advantage of a GSHP is that it can produce heated water all year round - day or night.

Another type of pump is an air source pump (ASHP) this works generally as a heat recovery unit using air as a medium.Energy is derived from the difference in air temperature between the outside, and the inside of your home.

An airsource heat pump has greatest efficiency when installed close to the external wall of the property, this reduces transmission losses. An advantage of this system is that the operation is reversible, so when it is hot in summer you can use it as an air cooler, and in winter it helps to supply additional heating in the home environment.

A typical unit is shown below:

They look similar to an air conditioning unit but this equipment benefits from higher efficiency ratings.

Both types of heat pump make useful additions for home heating, they are also eco-friendly. Either unit can be fitted by a registered green deal installer provided that the "golden rule" criteria is met.

A green deal adviser can provide you with advice about both of these solar energy products.


To find out more about these and other solar power equipment refer to the Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com website

Green Deal frequently asked questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers under the plan.

 

Green Deal For Home Owners

How do you know if a home has a Green Deal?

 
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in England and Wales, or in
Scotland, the Recommendations Report attached to the EPC will show if there is a Green Deal on a home. If there is, the certificate or report will show the improvements made, the repayment amounts and how long repayments need to be made for.

The owner or landlord must provide you with a copy of the relevant document. They may do this via their estate agent or letting agent. If you don’t receive a copy, you should ask for it. If you have more questions about the Green Deal repayments you should ask to see a copy of the
Green Deal Plan.

What happens when switching energy providers with a Green Deal?

You can still change electricity supplier when you choose. The Green Deal repayments will automatically be charged by your new electricity supplier.

Can I use a home improvements installer of my choice?

Yes - You can choose any installer including local independent contractors from your area provided they are registered under the green deal scheme.

Green Deal www.greendealadvisersuk.com

Green Deal Cash-Back Scheme | Free Home Improvements

Cash Back for Home Improvements

A Green Deal cash back scheme will be launched in early 2013. It will reward households that take early action to improve the energy efficiency of their property through the Green Deal, with direct cash rewards from the Government. A first-come, first-served offer is available to householders who can claim cashback from Government on energy saving improvements such as loft, cavity wall insulation, front doors, double glazed windows and energy efficient boilers. Packages could be worth over £1000 - the more you do, the more you get. It is available from 28 January 2013 for households in England and Wales. Community groups will be able to register with the scheme, enabling customers to donate their cash-back to the group or charity of their choice. This money can then be used to support other projects that will benefit the community.

Cashback is a limited offer while funds last. The Cashback is open to any householder making energy saving improvements under the Green Deal, after 28th January 2013. This includes owner-occupiers, those renting privately or in social housing. Landlords, both private and social, are also eligible where they pay installation costs, up to certain limits. In all cases, Cashback will be capped at 50% of the householder’s contribution to costs.

Insulated external doors are just one energy saving benefit when applying for the green deal plan as part of your home improvement.

Here are some of the energy saving measures available with a cash back grant in £

Loft insulation (incl.top up) £100

Cavity Wall insulation £250

Solid Wall Insulation £650

Flat roof insulation £390

Room in roof insulation £220

Floor Insulation £150

Hot water cylinder insulation (top up) £10

Draught Proofing £50

Heating controls (roomstat and/or programmer & time/temperature zone controls) £70

Condensing oil boiler from non-condensing oil heating or other £310

Energy Efficient Gas Boilers Upgrade boiler to condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other. £270

Flue Gas heat recovery (condensing combi boiler) only alongside replacement boiler £90

New or replacement storage heaters £150

Replacement warm-air unit £60

Waste water heat recovery systems £60

Double Glazing Double/Triple Glazing (old single to A) £20 per m2 up to a maximum of £320

Secondary glazing £15 per m2 up to a maximum of £230

Insulated Doors High performance replacement doors £40

Some terms and conditions apply. Check with your local green deal provider for advice.Householders will need to apply for a voucher which they use to claim the Cashback when work is completed.
To qualify for the Cashback householders must:

have a Green Deal assessment carried out on the property

get and agree quotes from a Green Deal Provider (this could be directly with a national brand or through a local tradesperson linked with a Provider)

apply for Cashback voucher online or by phone. To make things easier some Providers will be able to apply on behalf of their customers

receive voucher confirming the Cashback

complete works within specified period

redeem voucher, along with evidence of works completed, for Cashback.

Householders can fund improvements through a Green Deal Plan, or however they wish, and get the Cashback but they must use a Green Deal Provider to arrange the work. The more improvements a householder makes, the bigger the Cashback. The homeowner must use an authorised green deal installer to benefit from these energy saving measures for the home.

Media and Press Releases

Green Deal Marketing and Strategy http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2013/1/prweb10365407.htm

UK Biodiesel sales and trends http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10463144.htm

Forums

Energy assessment of domestic and commercial buildings forum http://energyassessorsforums.co.uk/