Energy efficiency minister will submit new suite of policies to the Treasury for autumn spending review, after industry reacts furiously to axing of Green Deal
The government has told industry leaders it is aiming to get a new framework of energy efficiency policies in place as soon as the autumn, following a furious reaction to last week鈥檚 decision to axe government support for the Green Deal without consultation.
Energy efficiency minister Lord Bourne is understood to have told industry figures the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will submit a new suite of policies to be considered by the Treasury in time for the comprehensive spending review in the autumn.
The coalition government introduced the Green Deal in 2013 as its flagship policy to support the installation of energy efficiency measures in existing homes, but take-up had been disappointing.
In a meeting with industry bodies, Lord Bourne invited industry organisations to come up with ideas for a new policy framework, as well as short-term action to cover the current hiatus in work due to the government鈥檚 decision to stop Green Deal funding.
National Insulation Association chief executive Neil Marshall, who was at the meeting, told 好色先生TV Lord Bourne said the government is looking to 鈥渇irm up a proposed way forward鈥� for its energy efficiency policies, and is keen to create a genuine market place for energy efficiency and insulation products.
The DECC is looking at ways to encourage and incentivise consumers who can afford energy efficiency products to get measures installed, 鈥渨ithout relying on huge, unsustainable subsidies鈥�, Marshall added.
It comes after Amber Rudd attacked policies which have a 鈥減ermanent reliance on subsidy鈥� in her first major speech as energy secretary.
Marshall said he spelt out industry concerns at the meeting over the impact the hiatus will have on the industry.
He said there is 鈥渞eally no clarity on what is going to happen to the supply chain behind Green Deal鈥� and that 鈥渢he fact Green Deal and the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund have disappeared is bound to have serious implications鈥� for the industry.
Government figures show that more than 2,000 firms have qualified as Green Deal installers, with more than 4,000 individuals qualifying as Green Deal assessors, and 179 Green Deal providers. Marshall said that without short-term action to cover the lack of energy efficiency policies, 鈥渢here could be a significant hiatus in the marketplace and significant job losses.鈥�
Last week the department axed funding for the Green Deal Finance Company, which gave householders loans to pay for energy efficiency measures, with the government citing low take-up and concerns over industry standards. The government also stopped all future funding for the 拢171m Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, which allowed homeowners to claim money back for solid wall insulation and up to two other energy efficiency measures.
Both decisions took effect from the time of the announcement last Thursday
However, figures from DECC released on the same day as the announcement revealed that measures installed under Green Deal finance plans were at their highest ever point.
The figures show 1,295 retrofit measures were installed under a Green Deal Finance plan in May, the biggest number ever installed in a single month.
Losing the Green Deal: Industry figures react to the government cuts
Joanne Wade,
director at the Association for the Conservation of Energy
鈥淎t the moment all we鈥檝e had is what鈥檚 ending. Whilst we support the government taking a step back, we are very concerned about the lack of current policy.
鈥淭he focus on affordability does seem to be about cutting back on taxpayer money being spent rather than making energy efficiency more affordable. It鈥檚 a very short-term view.鈥�
Jeremy Blackburn,
head of UK policy at RICS
鈥淭hough well-intentioned and ambitious, the Green Deal policy was never that green nor really a deal. The link to other related policies, like minimum energy performance standards, was tenuous and never lived up to expectations. Alternative policy solutions, such as the Energy Company Obligations, have been far more effective at improving energy efficiency in buildingsand these can serve as a blueprint.鈥�
Richard Twinn,
policy adviser at the UK Green 好色先生TV Council
鈥淚t鈥檚 hugely disappointing. There seems to be a general trend of the government cutting anything green they can find.
鈥淭he Green Deal was starting to show growth. The DECC鈥檚 decision seems out of step with the way the market was going.鈥�
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