19.11.13
Green Deal take-up reaches 1,173 households
Over 1,000 households have signed up to the Green Deal, official figures show.
DECC reported that 1,173 households had signed up by the end of last month. In March 2013, the government announced it expected to have 10,000 participants by the end of the year, but the scheme has been much less successful than expected in attracting interest.
The Green Deal was launched in January for England and Wales and in February for Scotland. It offers homeowners the chance to implement energy efficiency improvements to their home, with the government covering the upfront costs of installment. People then pay the loan back gradually, through savings in their energy bills.
Energy and climate change minister Greg Barker MP said: “Over 100,000 Green Deal assessments have now taken place, and over 80% of the households assessed said they intend to install at least one energy saving measure.”
But Caroline Abrahams, charity director for Age UK, said: “The government's flagship Green Deal is clearly failing to deliver what it set out to achieve. With one in five older people saying they would benefit from energy efficiency measures, despite more than two-thirds saying they wouldn't consider taking up the scheme, the government has a big task ahead to insulate Britain against the relentless energy price hikes and cold weather.”
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