Greg Barker's Webchat on GreenDeal Highlights

Greg Barker Webchat on the Green Deal 

Monday November 19, 2012

11:35 I would like to ask the Minister, why, after having been ‘launched’ over 6 weeks ago, are participating companies and householders still unable to undertake energy assessments (the pre-requisite for securing Green Deal Loans)? Surely this should have been sorted out months ago?

11:39 Greg Barker: 

Lets be clear. The Green Deal wasnt "launched" six weeks ago.The frame work went live on October 1st to allow companies to begin getting registered as Green Deal Assessors, the real "launch" as such will be 28 January when the first consumer finance plans can go live.However as more Assessors gain creditation and Green Dealm Providers begin marketing their services we 

expect the number of Assessments to rise.

11:41 

1.Do we have any firm ideas of the GD interest rate yet? 

2.Do we know how many providers & assessors have registered yet? 

3.Are there any targets for the end of the first month? 

4.Sky News indicated this weekend that there had been no uptake on the cashback scheme. Do you have any comments on this?

11:44 Greg Barker: 

Hi Sarah, the interest rate is really important but it is not the only driver nof good value. We are working to deliver the lowest interest rate possible, much lower than typical consumer credit, and are working closely with the Green Investment Bank; but the actual rate will partly depend on the market.

11:49 When will GD Finance be available?

11:50 Greg Barker: That is an easy one. 28 January!

11:50 How long is the Green Deal likely to last? Would a change in government affect it?

11:52 Greg Barker: Hi David, Good question. 

This is a transformational new market for Energy Efficiency. We reckon that the huge challenge of retrofit plus the exciting growth of new cost effective measures and technologies means that the market will run at scale to at least 2030

11:56 I have not read or heard much in the Press etc about the Green Deal, what plans are there to communicate this initiative to the public?

11:58Greg Barker: 

For Chris's question, we have a major PR plan for 2013 but the biggest push will come from the diverse range of Green Deal providerts themselves. 

12:00 Do you have a total number of qualified GD assessors and GDAS / GDAO's to date and how many you would considered are needed?

12:03 Greg Barker: 

New Assessors are just starting to come through now, we have paid for training for the first 1000 assessors and 1000 installers, The first 247 installers have now been accredited but many, many more in the pipe line. 

12:04 Is there any guidance or regulation regarding this cost of a Green Deal Assessment and Report?

12:06 Greg Barker: 

This is clearly very important and we are going to be watching this very carefully but until the scheme really gets going, we wont have a good feel as it is for the market to set the most competitive rates. 

Any charges though will have to be declared upfront, and many GreenDeal providers are indicating they may offer them for free.

12:09 How many companies have registered as Green Deal providers so far?

12:11 Greg Barker: 

Hi Teresa, Only just starting to clear the process which i opened on October 1st but there are 12 companies through now with many, many more in the pipeline, expected through before Christ,mas. 

We published new GD Provider guidance on the DECC Website today, so do have a look at that too.

12:14 Greg Barker: Lots of people asking me about the Green Deal Assessor Software, including on Twitter over the weekend. 

It is being vaildated by the BRE as we speak and we are pressing them for this asap, as we know that a lot of you need it soon as possible, We should have it by the end of the month if not sooner

12:16 How will the industry be regulated to ensure consumers are not over charged for equipment, installation and interest rates? Is it down to the individual providers to set there own prices?

12:18 Greg Barker: 

Hi Paul, we have created a dedicated Oversight and Registration Body to govern and police the GreenDeal. But individual companies and providers will set their own prices and offers. Lots of healthy competition for the consumers business will be key to the market.

12:19 when does the Non_domestic green deal become available?

12:21 Greg Barker: Hello Paul, 

Non Domestic Green Deal for businesses, will spring to life on 28 January too, But this is a more complex market so we expect it to develop over the year. 

However I am really excited about thelong term potential for the Green Deal for Business to help overhaul our inefficient commercial, retail and industrial buildings

12:21 As mentioned in one of your previous answers "we have paid for training for the first 1000 assessors and 1000 installers". Who do we contact to get the benefit of this paid training?

12:24 Greg Barker: Hi Jay 

Fotr details of the Assessor Training please contact www.AssetSkills.org 

For Installer Training for solid wall installers please contact www.cskills.org

12:24 Hi Greg, Is it possible for a GD provider, assessor and installer to operate under one business entity?

12:26 Greg Barker: 

Hey Sam, Yes is the answer, it can be all under the same roof but lots of different providers will offer a variety of services, some in conjunction or in partnerships with other groups or companies.

12:31

Greg Barker: Lots of people asking about ECO, our new measure focussed on the fuel poor and hard to treat homes 

Energy Compnies can already start delivering against their ECO targets already but we want to open the market up further and will be consulting shortly on the ECO Brokerage

12:35 How will Govt ensure smaller builders/plumbers & builders merchants not squeezed out by big retailers & energy cos?

12:38 Greg Barker: Hello Arnold, 

SME's are key to delivering the nGreen Deal. They are by far the most trusted compoanies that people want to work in their home, especially for the bigger jobs when they are going to e left alone in the peoperty to get on with it. 

There are several different ways in which SMEs can particiapate but i think becoming a trusted partner of the Local Authority will be a big advantage.,

12:41 You mentioned that energy suppliers can already start delivering on their ECO targets, but without the necessary guidance from OFGEM to ensure compliance, the reality is that this is not happening yet. Do you know when we can expect this from OFGEM?

12:44 Greg Barker: Hi Helen 

The ECO guidance is due very shortly but OFGEM actually wrote directly to the Big Six last week spelling out the principles of how the ECO will work and you can view it on their website now.

Heat Conference 2012: Keynote speech by Edward Davey

The Department of Energy & Climate Change, UK Government has issued the following press release:
The Coalition Government is working to transform Britain’s energy landscape.
This month I will introduce the Energy Bill, which proposes the biggest reforms to Britain’s power sector since privatisation, aimed at bringing on around £110 billion of investment in new infrastructure by the end of the decade.
This transformation will be good for the economy, and will boost a sector that has excellent potential for growth both in the short term and well into the future.
It will be good for consumers, who will be better insulated from high and volatile fossil fuel prices.
And it will help us meet our carbon reduction targets as we deliver on our ambitious plans to decarbonise the economy.
I don’t apologize for focusing on electricity in the Energy Bill. In the hackneyed phrase, it keeps the lights on. And the challenges we face in electricity generation are crucial ones.
But I am not for a moment losing sight of the fact that almost half of the final energy consumed in the UK is used to provide heat.
Around three quarters of this is for heating buildings; the rest is in manufacturing processes.
Most heat currently comes from burning natural gas. And generating heat causes around a third of UK greenhouse gas emissions.
We do not hear enough about this part of the carbon equation. I intend to change that, so I am very pleased that the Energy Institute and the CHPA have organised this event.
We cannot meet our emissions reduction targets, or indeed our renewables targets, without tackling heat.
To meet our long-term climate goals, carbon emissions from buildings must eventually be near zero, and emissions from industry will need to be around a third of what they are now. That means changing the way we generate, distribute, and use heat.
Heat strategy
So in March, we published a Strategic Framework for Heat. This is a sensible plan, focussed on building a market for low-carbon heat, supporting economic growth and protecting consumers by taking cost-effective measures.
It considers how we will manage demand, change the way we heat buildings, set up heat networks, and realise the potential for efficient, low-carbon industrial heat. We will follow up this framework up with practical proposals to make it a reality – with a document we will publish early next year.
Our approach – starting with energy efficiency, encouraging low-carbon networks in urban areas and renewable heating in rural off-grid areas, and moving more slowly in the on-grid suburban areas – met with overwhelming support.
Energy efficiency
Starting with energy efficiency, as we do for all kinds of energy, is no more than common sense. As the US Energy Secretary Stephen Chu has said, “energy efficiency is not just low-hanging fruit, it is fruit lying on the ground.”
We have launched the Green Deal, a radical new scheme which allows households and businesses to pay for energy efficiency measures such as insulation through savings on their energy bills.
I want the Green Deal to drive a new £10 billion market in energy efficiency, and to make a lasting difference to energy demand.
And on Monday, we launched the UK’s comprehensive Energy Efficiency Strategy, which sets out a path to radical improvements in energy efficiency.
By 2020 the UK could be saving 196 Terawatt-Hours of energy, mostly from more efficient heating and transport.
Consumers have a pivotal role to play. Relatively minor changes in the management and use of heat can significantly reduce bills. When multiplied across communities, cities and regions, the impact on our energy systems can be huge.
So in policy terms, I put demand first. But let me turn to heat supply.
Buildings
We need to use low-carbon and renewable heat for our buildings.
Levels of renewable heating at present are incredibly low. We need to prime the renewable heat market, so that the supply chain builds up.
That’s why we have introduced the world’s first Renewable Heat Incentive for non-domestic heat, and the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme. We are currently consulting on RHI for homes.
Responses to our heat strategy included some helpful challenges on heat for buildings.
There were concerns about the reliance on electricity decarbonisation to achieve our heat targets, about the future of the gas grid, and on meeting peak winter heat demand.
My officials are currently working through these issues with industry, including many of those here today. I know that a number of the DECC heat team are here to participate in the rest of the day’s events, and these very questions are the ones that you will all be grappling with together.
We were also encouraged to do more on consumer behaviour, and of course we are very concerned about protecting the most vulnerable. We have commissioned social research in this area, and of course we are learning from our work on RHI, the RHPP scheme and the Green Deal.
On 1 November we announced the winners of the third and final strand of this year’s RHPP social landlords competition. We are now providing over £9m support, to a total of 132 projects.
This will result in nearly 5,000 renewable heating installations going into social housing over the coming months, helping tenants to stay warm, helping keep their bills down, and providing support to industry.
Heat networks
Heat is a local issue. Low-Carbon Heat networks, providing heat to dense urban areas, will be an important part of Britain’s energy future.
Up to half of the heat demand in England is in areas with high enough heat density to make heat networks feasible. But that doesn’t mean they will all be practical, or profitable.
We need to know more about the commercial realities and the barriers. Again, that is one of the purposes of today’s event.
As a long-standing proponent of localism, I believe this is one of the most exciting proposals in our strategy, and I look forward to announcing more on this in the spring.
I know that a great deal is happening already. I’m not only thinking of the potential district heating project in my own constituency.
Through our City Deals programme, we already helping cities to develop their plans for district heating.
Central government is not going to build their networks for them, clearly. But we know from the experience in London and from the ‘Big Offer’ that a small amount of help in the initial phase of a project can go long way.
It can help to move projects to the point of commercialisation – where the Green Investment Bank and commercial lenders can take up the reins, investing in heat network projects with profit-making potential.
And I can today announce that my Department will shortly be providing around £1 million to at least four cities – Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Sheffield – to undertake feasibility studies on exciting new district heating projects within their cities.
We hope to be able to extend this to other cities soon, as the Big Offer proposes. And we are also working with the Green Investment Bank to ensure that the projects can be taken to the next stage in the process.
London contains an example of the potential. The Greater London Authority is supporting 25 heat network projects. These have the capacity to leverage over £230 million of investment.
I’m grateful to the CHPA and its members for its engagement in this area and for the Big Offer proposals which have been published today.
This is a comprehensive range of measures, including some bold, no-regrets proposals. Such steps are needed to build confidence among consumers, to build capacity in the supply chain, and to build local capability.
I have asked my officials to work with the CHPA and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this work in March.
I am very positive about this programme. But I must mention the UK District Energy Association. When I want to speak to the big energy supply companies I can talk to a single body – Energy UK. But I cannot speak to a single body about district heating.
Many of the good ideas in the Big Offer – such as standardised documents, consumer codes and self regulation – would be much more powerful if they clearly had the backing of the whole industry. That is my challenge to you.
CHP
I’d like to turn to Combined Heat and Power. CHP capacity has already delivered significant energy and emissions savings, and provides around 7% of the electricity currently on the grid.
Decarbonisation of the grid will eventually cancel out the emissions-saving potential of natural gas fired CHP, but I am keen to try to find ways to bring forward new natural-gas-fired CHP capacity for as long it continues to deliver lifetime CO2 savings.
I am as keen as you are to bring clarity to policy in this area. That is why I have commissioned detailed costing and modelling work to understand the extent of the time window for fossil fuelled CHP, and to consider what would give the most benefit for least cost. This work will inform the March heat policy proposals.
In the meantime, the Energy Efficiency Strategy confirms the importance of CHP as an industrial energy efficiency measure, and indicates that natural-gas-fired CHP projects will be eligible for consideration for Green Investment Bank funding as a non-domestic energy efficiency measure.
CHP is also identified in the Energy Efficiency Strategy as one of the technologies that can further contribute to a more energy efficient society at both the micro and the macro level.
Renewable CHP of course has a longer-term future. We currently give CHP an up-lift through the Renewable Obligation mechanism, and our consultation on expanding the non-domestic RHI includes a CHP-specific tariff.
Industrial heat
Finally, I’d like to say a little about industrial heat.
Considerable progress has already been made in reducing the carbon intensity of UK industry. While industry has averaged growth of around 1% per year since 1990, emissions have reduced by 46%, which shows that carbon emissions and economic growth can be decoupled.
That transformation must continue. I want British industry to thrive and increase its international competitiveness, not despite the need to be greener, but because of it.
Going low-carbon can provide efficiency benefits and can drive innovation – and by developing new skills and engineering knowledge, UK industries can position themselves to seize business opportunities in the global low-carbon economy of the future.
The opportunity for innovation spans a range goods, services and forms of production. A strong UK industry helps us rebalance our economy away from the public and services sectors and back to manufacturing.
I don’t need to tell this audience that heat is used in a diverse range of industrial processes, over a wide range of temperatures.
We recognise that the demands for heat vary a great deal between different industries. And it follows that the potential for making carbon reductions and efficiency savings is also highly sector-specific. So we need to address the challenge and seek out the opportunities on a sector-by-sector basis.
In the new year, therefore, we will be working with industry and academics to understand and articulate routes to decarbonise each of the key industry sectors.
We need you to engage with us if we are going to make this credible. Can I use this platform to urge you all to contribute.
Conclusion
Heat poses some big policy challenges, but it also presents us with opportunities – opportunities to diversify our energy supply and hence improve our energy security, opportunities to drive growth and new investment, opportunities to innovate and create the low-carbon economy that will prosper in the future.
Government works best when it partners with industry, and I encourage you to keep in close contact with my officials as this work is progressed.
And I look forward to setting out our policy proposals in March.

GREEN DEAL CASHBACK FOR HOUSEHOLDERS

The Green Deal Cashback Scheme is a first-come, first-served offer where householders can claim cashback from Government on energy saving improvements like insulation, front doors, windows and 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.

The Cashback will only be available to householders who get a Green Deal  assessment, have work arranged through a Green Deal Provider (this could be directly with a national brand or through a local tradesperson linked with a Provider) and make a contribution to costs. 

The Government Cashback is a limited offer while funds last. Green Deal Participants can encourage their customers to get Green Deal assessments early so, when the scheme opens, customers are ready to apply and get approval, for their Cashback voucher before improvement work begins. A new quick guide on the Cashback scheme is available.[filetype:pdf filesize: 838.38Kb]

Government has guaranteed that £40m will be available at the rates listed in this guide. After this, Cashback amounts may reduce.

Full details of the Green Deal Cashback scheme (including how to apply) will be available later. If you would like to be notified when this becomes available, please call the Energy Savings Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.

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CASHBACK ELIGIBILITY

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.

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.

Work must be done within a specified period - 6 months for Solid Wall Insulation, 3 months for other improvements and in all cases before 31 March 2014 to claim the 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.

Householders can only make one claim for the Cashback, but it may cover a package of improvements recommended by the Green Deal assessment. The Government Cashback is separate and additional to any similar offers that may be made by Green Deal Providers.

Householders can also choose to donate some or all of their Cashback to a charity or community interest company of their choice signed up with the scheme administrator.

GREEN DEAL CASHBACK SCHEME: ELIGIBLE MEASURES AND CASH BACK AMOUNTS

These rates are guaranteed for the first £40m after which the rates are likely to reduce. Act early to get the best rates. Up to £125m has been earmarked for the scheme as a whole.

Loft insulation (including top up) and insulating cavity walls (where appropriate) are important, basic energy saving measures.  So where a Green Deal assessment recommends these alongside other improvements, householders will only be able to get the Cashback if they do those too.

ENERGY SAVING MEASURE	CASHBACK LEVEL
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
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/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
High performance replacement doors	£40

FURTHER CONDITIONS OF CASH BACK

* A minimum of 50% of external walls must be insulated to qualify for a Cashback.

** Cannot be claimed at same time as boiler replacement (as this is a regulatory requirement).

***householders should consider their renewable heat options, as they could get a higher payment under RHPP now, for certain measures.

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FAQS

When will people be able to apply to the scheme?

The scheme will open for applications at the end of January 2013 at the same time as the Green Deal becomes available.

Can I have measures installed now then claim for the Cashback subsequently?

No, the Cashback is only available for installations that take place after the scheme launches – but you can have your assessment done and get quotes for work before then.

Why are you capping Cashback amounts at a percentage of the applicant’s costs?

Some households will benefit from energy efficiency measures being installed for free, or at a significantly subsidised cost – primarily as a result of subsidy from the Energy Company Obligation. We want to avoid over-rewarding people who are already benefiting in this way.

What does this have to do with the £150 that Green Deal providers can offer customers?

The Cashback scheme will be separate and in addition to any other ‘incentives’ offered by providers. For example, the Energy Bill allows for up to £150 to be ‘forwarded’ to the customer as an incentive and then repaid as part of the Green Deal plan. Providers may choose to offer this, or incentives funded by other means, in addition to the Government Cashback. Providers will be required to make any such distinctions clear to customers.

I’m getting my energy-saving improvements for free – can I qualify for Cashback?

No.

Practical Green Deal Solutions Explained – Biomass and Business

The business arm of the Green Deal initiative is intended to help businesses get financing for implementing more eco-friendly ways to generate heat and power in their properties. Like the Deal itself, some of the technologies under discussion have been clouded with hearsay. So we thought we’d knock down a few myths for you. This month – biomass.

Biomass is used to generate heat in a biomass boiler – which, some sceptics have claimed, is no different to generating heat using oil or coal. After all, biomass boilers tend to used wood as their basic fuel, which generates carbon dioxide when it burns.

In reality, biomass is considered to have a neutral carbon footprint – for two reasons. First, trees are planted to replace the ones being burned, which means they use up an equal amount of carbon dioxide (roughly) as is created when the biomass is incinerated. And second, biomass itself is created from offcuts and compressed sawdust. In other words – it is reclaimed from processes using trees that have already been cut down – so it uses material that may otherwise have been consigned to the dustbin.

One major concern about the biomass boiler is that it is hard to install and keep running. This is only true where installation is done improperly. A biomass boiler requires a flue, which may either be fitted to the existing chimney system in a property, or drilled out through a wall in the same way that domestic wood burning systems are fitted.

If the latter case is true, you will need to get planning permission before you can start work on retro fitting a biomass boiler to your heating system. All new flues must be granted planning before installation – and must be inspected and signed off by the relevant buildings officials once installation is complete.

Using the Renewable Heat Initiative, businesses may expect to see a return on the investment cost of installing a biomass boiler in 5-10 years. As with other Green Deal financing options, this cost is spread through energy bills. 

Government’s Green Deal Stimulation Paying Off?

The Government recently announced that anyone wishing to become accredited as a Green Deal Assessor; Green Deal installer; or Green Deal provider; will not have to pay any fees for their registration for the next two years. The move came as a result of talks designed to develop initiatives making the Scheme attractive to the service providers who are to be the bedrock of its success.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (normally you’ll see them referred to as DECC) is also bearing all running costs for the Green Deal Oversight Body – a regulatory service set up to ensure that consumers receive the highest possible quality of service under the Green Deal Scheme.

The actual running of the body has been contracted to Gemserv and REAL, who won the contract in a bidding competition, and who will be directly responsible for ensuring that Green Deal Assessors; Green Deal installers; and Green Deal providers are all delivering provably excellent services to the end users of the scheme.

The official launch date for the Green Deal Scheme is still October 1 2012 – and to this end the DECC has announced that the Green Deal Oversight Body will be in operation from early August, giving the assessors, installers and providers time to register and get ready to begin delivering their services.

It is not yet clear whether the Green Deal financing structure’s delay (the loan system is currently believed to be falling into place in January 2013) will halt provision of services from Green Deal Assessors; Green Deal installers; and Green Deal providers. Currently, statements released by Ed Davey (the Energy Secretary) suggest that Green Deal assessments will go ahead throughout the autumn and winter of 2012; but that actual Green Deal financed work will not begin until the start of next year.

The October 1 launch is now planned as a “soft launch”, which will see the assessors, installers and suppliers delivering the start of Green Deal services, without presenting the full package until early 2013. In particular, the Green Deal providers will be able to use the period between October 1 and January 28 2013 to test their systems, ensuring everything is working properly for the delayed switch-on date.

August Newsletter

Details Released on Green Deal Scheme

The Government has released more details on the architecture of the Green Deal scheme – including information on the energy efficiency measures that will be covered by the scheme (as many as 45 different installations or processes); and the consumer protection measures that will be put in place to ensure that Green Deal installers and providers deliver the right service to the right people.

Included in the energy efficiency measures ratified by the Green Deal are:

·         Radiant heating (for example heated skirting boards, or other low-energy constant sources of heat)

·         HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)

·         Energy efficient taps and showers

·         Rooflights.

The policymakers have been particularly careful to introduce measures reinforcing the originally stated Green Deal aims of impartial advice and best practice. Regulations require Green Deal Assessors to declare if they have any affiliation to, or are receiving commission from, Green Deal installers or Green Deal providers. Additionally, the regulation restricts cold calling to protect consumers from pressure.

DECC also published a Green Deal Impact Assessment, which states that – on average – energy bolls for consumers who take up the Green Deal should run to an overall lesser figure than in properties where the owners do nothing. That said, there is a caveat in place specifying that the Green Deal Golden Rule does not absolutely guarantee that the projected cost savings of an installation will exceed the amount of Green Deal finance taken out. DECC’s response is that the “significant protections” built into the Golden Rule – which calculates the amount of finance a property owner should be eligible for to make energy saving improvements – make the calculation robust.

DECC has also noted that the Green Deal for business will launch on October 1, at the same time as the Green Deal for residential properties. There had been some speculation as to whether the two parts of the Green Deal Scheme would be able to roll out at the same time – as the commercial and business construction and property markets are best by complexities not present in domestic ownership.

The Green Deal and the EPC Survey – What the Energy Performance Certificate Means to You

The Green Deal EPC survey is the first step taken by your Green Deal Assessor to determining how suitable your property is for investment from the Green Deal Scheme. The EPC, or Energy Performance Certificate, shows the current typical energy use of your home – with graded scores shown in colours and numbers similar to the scoring system you’ll have seen on fridges and freezers over the last few years.

The modern Energy Performance Certificate shows two colour graphics – one arranged on a colour scale from Red (bad) to Green (excellent); and the other ranging between Grey (again bad) and pale Blue (good). The first scale on the Green Deal EPC survey is your energy efficiency rating – Red equates to very low scores, and is extremely poor; while Green equates to very high scores and is extremely good.

The second scale is your CO2 or Environmental Impact rating – again, low scores are poor and high scores are good.

In both cases the document produced during the Green Deal EPC survey should show your current score and the estimated potential score for the property. It is this second column, the estimated potential, which is important for your financing eligibility.

If your Green Deal Assessor finds that the property is already functioning at maximal or near maximal energy efficiency, then he or she is unlikely to recommend that Green Deal financing be approved in your case. Because there are, in these cases, no improvements that can be done to cost effectively raise the energy efficiency and CO2 efficiency of the building.

The efficiency ratings in your Green Deal EPC Survey are also given alphabetical scores from A (good) to G (bad). These ratings fall basically in line with the energy ratings of your fridge; freezer; washing machine; tumble dryer; and microwave. In other words, the more “A”s you score the lower the amount of energy you use to run the property’s heating and lighting services.

The Green Deal EPC Survey must always be carried out by a qualified Green Deal Assessor. He or she may recommend specific works to be done to the property, for which Green Deal financing may be approved.