DECC - Introductory quick guide to the Green Deal

The Green Deal A new way for owners and tenants to pay for home improvements Loft insuLAtion Heat rises and it may be leaking into your loft. Insulating your loft, or topping up your existing insulation, will keep heat inside your living spaces for longer. DrAught proofing Gaps around doors, windows, loft hatches, fittings and pipework are common sources of draughts. Sealing up the gaps will stop heat escaping your home. BoiLers Older boilers tend to lose a lot of heat so they use a lot of energy. High efficiency condensing boilers and air or ground source heat pumps recover a lot of heat so they use less energy. externAL AnD internAL soLiD wALL insuLAtion Older homes usually have solid walls. Installing insulation on the inside or outside of the wall can dramatically reduce the heat that escapes your home. CAvity wALL insuLAtion Some homes have walls with a hollow space in the middle. Putting insulation in this space is quick and makes no mess because the work can be done from outside your home. CreAte your own energy Technologies like wind turbines and solar panels can capture energy and turn it into electricity or heat for your home. some ways you could improve your home This scheme lets you pay for some or all of the improvements over time through your electricity bill. Repayments will be no more than what a typical household should save in energy costs. winDows Homes leak heat through their windows. By replacing your windows with double or triple glazed windows, or installing secondary glazing to your existing windows, you’ll keep your home warmer and reduce outside noise. get a green  Deal from  January 2013.  start now with  an assessment.

how to get a green Deal how to pay for a green Deal Most Green Deal improvements are expected to reduce your heating bill because you will be using less electricity, gas or oil. Repayments are made through your electricity bill – because everyone has one of those. Your Green Deal Provider will help calculate the repayments, including interest, that you will need to make. While the repayments should be no more than what a typical billpayer should save, the actual savings will depend on how much energy you use and the future costs of energy. If you move, the new occupier will benefit from the improvements, so they will take on the repayments. where to start To start, you’ll need a Green Deal Assessment. Many different organisations – including energy companies, DIY stores, and local tradespeople – are authorised to do this. For help finding a Green Deal Assessor,  call the Energy Saving Advice Service (England and Wales) on 0300 123 1234 or visit  www.Direct.gov.uk/Greendeal When you book an assessment you may be asked if there are any accessibility issues, like access to your loft, and whether you can provide bills showing your recent energy use. Keep in mind that some Green Deal Assessors may charge for their service – it’s best to check when you make an appointment. Look for the green Deal Approved quality mark Only Green Deal Assessors, Providers and Installers can use it. This shows they meet Green Deal standards and are authorised to operate under the Green Deal. The mark says what they are authorised to do – e.g. to be an Assessor. Additional financial assistance Many householders in older properties, and those on benefits or low incomes may qualify for extra financial assistance. Ask your Green Deal Assessor or contact the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 to see if you’re eligible. 5 Benefits You can now start to enjoy a more energy efficient home. Your Green Deal repayments will be automatically added to the electricity bill for the home. Assessment 1 Recommendations 2 Quotes 3 Installation 4 Benefits 5 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. Assessment 1 Recommendations 2 Quotes 3 Installation 4 Benefits 5 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 you don’t have  to choose all of the recommendations made to you.Once you’ve chosen a Green Deal Provider, they will write up a Green Deal Plan. The plan is a contract between you and the Provider – it sets out the work that will be done and the repayments, including the fixed interest rate. Assessment 1 Recommendations 2 Quotes 3 Installation 4 Benefits 5 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. Assessment 1 Recommendations 2 Quotes 3 Installation 4 Benefits 5 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. Assessment 1 Recommendations 2 Quotes 3 Installation 4 Benefits 5 Free and impartial advice about the Green Deal is available. Call the Energy Saving Advice  Service (England, Scotland and Wales) on 0300 123 1234 or visit www.Direct.gov.uk/Greendeal GeT  help