Green Deal 'Nudge Unit' could be coming to you.

Ahead of the launch of the eagerly awaited Green Deal next Autumn (2012), a trial team known as the "Nudge Unit' are working a number of local trials with High St names to gain valuable behavioural insights into likely homeowners for the scheme, before its launch.

Whilst Ministers are enthusiastic about the benefits the Green Deal will bring to thousands of homes across the UK, they concede that there are many barriers to getting the co-operation of the public.

Energy Minister Chris Huhne said "the Green Deal is a fantastic way for people to upgrade their draughty and energy wasting homes" but reckons the "cost, the hassle and the lack of trust in people who'll instal the kit" could be a major obstacle to uptake of the Deal.

To try and gauge exactly what will encourage people, a number of trials in association with High St names like B&Q and Homebase will see trials including:

A subsidised loft clearance service which will test the 'hassle' factor of having to empty a loft before insulation can be fitted. Unwanted contents will be donated to local charity shops.

Other trials include testing the impact of rewards - residents in one local authority will receive council tax 'holidays' or vouchers in return for purchasing energy efficiency measures.

Another trial will focus on which channels of communication work most effectively to motivate consumers to save energy.

The trials will be starting in September so keep an eye out for any of these or similar schemes running in your local authority area.

This story first appeared in our regular weekly homeowner newsletter, dated 11th July 2011. Click here to read the full newsletter.

photo credit: ryan mcfarland

Green Deal moves a step closer

The Government's replacement for the warm-front home energy efficiency scheme - the Green Deal - could be worth up to £10,000 of energy efficiency measures for your home.

Ministers are already drawing up plans for the new scheme to be vigorously protected from shoddy workmanship, with strict rules on the accreditation levels home improvement companies will have to attain, to be able to carry out work.

The Green Deal will help homeowners install energy efficiency improvements without having to pay up front for the installation costs. Instead, the cost savings a homeowner would have made on their energy bills will be used to pay back the installation costs.

There's no details yet of which home improvements will qualify or homes for that matter, however, the Government is already considering plans to help vulnerable people and homes that may be hard to treat with the Green Deal.

A new 'Green Deal Code' has been proposed to help protect homeowners throughout the process - from initial assessment to final installation. There's also plans for a Green Deal advice helpline, to assist homeowners with impartial advice and referral to accredited installers, as well as dealing with any complaints.

Whilst the double glazing industry hopes replacement windows will be one of the efficiency measures announced, it's more likely that the scheme will still be restricted to predominately loft and wall insulation, although replacement energy efficient heating boilers may be included - depending on the overall cost savings such an installation will provide, compared against the cost of initial installation.

Renewables and micro-generation companies are also waiting to see if their products will be included in the list of 'approved' measures.

The 'up-front' money for the improvements is going to be provided my a mix of Government and private investment, including, it's rumoured, some familiar high street names.

UPDATE: Since this story was first written, it's been suggested by spokespersons at the DECC that the £10,000 cap may not be correct and that in fact, providing the energy saving / efficiency method proposed can re-coup its initial installation cost within a given time-frame, then there may be no cap at all.

Energy efficiency is the first step to lower fuel bills.

In the second part of this weeks look at saving money on your energy bills, we explore what part energy efficiency plays in that process, particularly if you're thinking of installing solar panels on your home...

Getting a cheaper energy supplier is only half the story in the homeowners battle with rising energy prices. If you're not careful, any savings you make can soon be wiped out needlessly due to poor insulation or heating management.

If you're getting a solar panel installation, then an energy survey (which some solar panel companies offer free as part of their discounts) will help pinpoint the areas in your daily life where energy usage savings are possible.

Why is this important? If you're thinking of generating meaningful amounts of energy to supply all your needs, then the less you have to generate, the cheaper the overall installation will be as you won't be paying for generating capacity you don't need. This can mean a saving of several thousands on a solar panel system.

In addition to the everyday energy saving methods - plugging draughts, switching off lights, fitting energy saving lightbulbs, insulating lofts and water tanks, by carefully re-evaluating your lifestyle and energy usage, it may be possible to make a real difference to your typical energy bills.

For example, we know turning down the heating thermostat by 1 degree can make a difference but why stop there? Turning it down by 2 degrees and wearing a light sweater around the home will make twice the difference. Consider using a shower more and your bath less. And if you're on an Economy 7 type tariff (where you pay less for night time electricity but more for daytime) then think about timing washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and immersion tank heaters to only come on during cheap rate hours.

Green Deal

Many homeowners are now keen to hear exactly how the Government's new Green Deal system will work - the idea is that private businesses will pay into a 'green fund' which will pay for energy saving home improvements like wall and loft insulation etc. The premise that's been outlined so far is that the 'improvement' must pay for itself in expected energy savings. Whilst the homeowner will have a more comfortable and energy efficient home, their energy bills won't reduce. The savings they would have made go back to the private investors but the installation work is effectively free for the qualifying homeowner.

There is hope the measures will include certain double glazing aspects, but it will probably ultimately depend on whether the installation costs can be repaid with energy savings within the scheme's a specified time frame.

*This article first appeared in our weekly homeowner newsletter dated 7th March 2011. Click here to read the full newsletter.

VAT may have increased but you'd never know

The back end of last year was pretty poor for home improvement offers and good finance deals were hard to come by, however, the January VAT increase has galvanised the home improvement industry into action.

The January 'sales' are well and truly on as window, kitchen and paving companies etc all vie for your money and if you've been thinking of getting a quote, then there will probably not be a better time than right now.

Here's just some of the offers and deals we've seen being promoted by our network of approved home improvement companies.

From reductions of between 30% and 60% off windows, conservatories and kitchens to cash back and VAT freezing prices.

'free extras'

Some are offering free extras, like in the case of one home extension company offering to pay all your design, planning and drawing costs. And if you've already got them, then reimbursing you what you've spent.

You'll also find there's a great choice of 'like for like' deals which include free upgrades - many window companies in particular are offering a-rated glass for c-rated prices or glass roofs on your conservatory at no extra cost.

These are massive savings and in the case of the window glazing being uprated free, means you can make your home even more energy efficient without laying out anymore money.

And if all thats not enough, then many companies are offering buy now, pay later and 0% interest deals to tempt you to part with your money. One Orangery company were offering 3 years interest free.

Unlike the car industry which has seen sales slump since the end of the Government scrappage scheme last year, home improvement companies are seeing something of a resurgence in interest in big home improvements as homeowners decide to improve what they have already rather than move to newer properties.

And Government schemes could play a big part in home improvements during 2011 as the solar panel industry looks to increase on the number of installations carried out in 2010, where homeowners were able to use feed-in tariffs to earn money for the energy they created. 2011 will see the arrival of the eagerly anticipated Renewable Heat Incentives - similar to the feed-in tariffs but focusing on water and room heating via solar panels and ground source heat pumps etc.

'Green Deal'

The Green Deal will also stimulate insulation and property upgrading for many, where homeowners will be able to enjoy the benefits of insulation and new windows etc, without having to pay any installation costs up front. The upfront costs being met by industry who will 'claim' the money back via normal household fuel bills.

Whatever home improvement you're planning or whatever offer you're most attracted to, your first step should always be to get a range of quotations so you can compare, first hand, the companies operating in your area.

The Quoter family of websites can help relieve the stress and time wasting by giving you the opportunity to enter your own location and improvement project details before giving you instant online price guides there and then. No salesman calling round and all available online at a time to suit you.

photo credit: dave and leslie

Government says no to Double Glazing Scrappage Scheme - make do with Green Deal

The Government has responded to a double glazing scrappage scheme petition.

Despite individual window companies offering customers 'scrappage scheme' discounts on double glazing, there's been no official Government campaign like the motor trade scheme the window companies have, and continue to copy.

However, after being petitioned by the glazing industry, the Government has finally responded.

Whilst it says it won't entertain an outright national scrappage scheme for replacement windows, even though it admits the cost of a full house installation could be on a par with purchasing a new car, it expects "double glazing will be one of the measures that can be installed under the Green Deal".

The Green Deal is a scheme where energy companies and high street stores will be required to finance insulation and other energy efficiency measures in homes upfront. The costs will then be paid back by the homeowner through their energy bills based on the energy savings they make. Effectively, the homeowner doesn't benefit from cheaper energy bills, but does get the value of the improvements.

Key properties that will be targeted are those that are difficult or expensive to heat - properties without cavity wall insulation and residential areas of fuel poverty.

Local authorities are helping the Government identify those homes and areas that will benefit most from a Green Deal.

It's not all bad news for homeowners then (or the double glazing industry which was hoping for a welcome boost to sales on the back of a nationally recognised scheme) but in the meantime, there will always be window companies offering superb individual money saving offers including their own scrappage schemes and finance options.

If you're interested in offers, keep a close eye out for VAT free offers. There are quite a few about now but expect the number to increase the nearer to December we get, ahead of the VAT increase to 20% in January.

Visit WindowQuoter and get your own online double glazing quote before seeing which double glazing offers are currently available where you live.