GGF Sceptical About Green Deal Optimism

At the meeting at Carlton House Terrace, London, guest speaker Greg Barker MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change announced the latest government figures on Green Deal and ECO.These included the following:

• Over 129,842 Green Deal Assessments have been carried out since the scheme’s launch up until December 2013.




• A provisional 471,766 measures were installed in around 403,000 properties through ECO, Cashback and Green Deal to the end of November 2013




• Green Deal Plans – 1,612 households had Green Deal Plans in progress at the end of December, compared to 1,478 at the end of November. Of these, 493 were ‘new’ (quote accepted), another 493 had moved to ‘pending’ (Plan signed) and 626 were ‘live’ (all measures installed), (39 % of all Plans of which the large majority have started from June 2013 onwards.

On windows specifically the report showed:

• Only one window installation had taken place using Green Deal finance up to December 2013.




• 24 double glazing measures were installed with Cashback, up to end of December 2013, in England and Wales only.




• The number of window installations using ECO funding included:

1. 232 via the Carbon Saving Target element of ECO




2. 4 via the Carbon Saving Community element of ECO




3. 1 via the Affordable Warmth element of ECO




4. These represent 0.1% of the measures installed via ECO funding

Greg Barker MP

Mr Barker commented “As I look back on the Green Deal’s first year, despite the critics, the programme has seen an encouraging start. The Green Deal is a world-first and long-term initiative designed to upgrade the energy efficiency of Britain’s homes.  The most ambitious home improvement Programme since the Second World War. But it is exactly that, a home improvement programme, not just a programme to shift finance plans.”

Giles Willson, GGF Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Technical Affairs commented on the latest figures, “Green Deal has failed to enthuse homeowners and has had no significant impact on the industry. The latest Government statistics clearly show a very poor uptake and this is mainly because the scheme is overly complicated, unattractive and has not been promoted to homeowners effectively. To have such a low quantity of window installations under both Green Deal and ECO sharply underlines why the scheme is simply not working for the replacement window industry and changes have to be made.”

At the event, the GGF posed the question to the Minister, “With up to 20% of heat potentially escaping from inefficient windows, aren’t you concerned that only one window installation has happened under Green Deal?”

Mr Barker’s response was that he is keen to listen to new ideas and suggestions to do more for windows, stating that “windows are an important part of Green Deal and energy efficiency”.

The GGF will continue its lobbying campaign to “Cut the VAT” on energy efficient windows and home improvements, repair and maintenance work. The Federation will also continue to work closely with Government officials to make Green Deal and ECO more advantageous for GGF Members and the wider glass and glazing industry.

To read Greg Barker’s full speech at “Towards Green Deal 2.0” please click here

To read the latest Green Deal and ECO statistics please click here