OFTEC and The Green Deal Fund Extension

The Green Deal initiative is a scheme backed by the UK Government which is designed to help homeowners and businesses cut down on their emissions and save money on their energy bills. Applicable to any home and business premise in England, Scotland and Wales that is fitted with an electricity meter, the scheme works by giving homeowners and business owners the opportunity to have any efficiency improvements required carried out, but with only a small percentage of the installation costs paid upfront.

OFTEC General Director Jeremy Hawksley said: “It’s excellent news that DECC is to extend the scheme but in order for the GDHIF to benefit those who need it most, the scheme needs to be all inclusive. “And simply improving insulation is not enough. Homes also need help to install more efficient heating as there are still thousands of old, outdated boilers running in UK homes in urgent need of replacement.

“Installing a modern condensing oil boiler can save up to 20% on fuel bills and also reduce carbon emissions, providing a greatly beneficial, yet affordable first step towards energy efficiency.”

The scheme has now been awarded another £100m of funding, which will be available from the end of November. The extension of funding means that more homes and businesses can benefit from the scheme, after OFTEC called for some adjustments to the existing guidelines which they felt excluded the two million rural homes off the grid. The new funding means that these homes, in areas where poverty is quite prominent will have access to the same energy saving measures and efficiency improvements as those who were in receipt of the original scheme.

The savings that recipients of the Green Deal make on their energy bills after improvements have taken place are then used to cover the costs of said improvements, meaning that home and business owners do not have to worry about finding the extra cash to pay for their new systems. In order to qualify for The Green Deal, your property must first undergo an assessment, carried out by an assessor who will then provide a Green Deal Advice Report, detailing any improvements that are needed and the costs of doing so. The assessment usually costs a fee, but can go a long way to saving you a considerable amount on your energy bills.

Here at A&D Plumbing Services, we are proud to offer the highest standard of services to all our customers, including the installation of superb energy efficient boilers. Our engineers will work efficiently and professionally to ensure that you can start reaping the energy benefits from your new system the moment it is installed in your home or business.