Article date:19 January 2012
Written by:Rob Knight
Sustain has submitted a number of comments and answers in response to DECC formal consultation on the 23rd November 2011. The full document covers the risks, challenges and suggestions for the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation. They are summarised as follows:
- We support what now appears to be industry consensus that Green Deal risks having a very slow start without additional incentives and demand drivers
- Green Deal needs to be positioned as a long term framework that address a number of energy related challenges over the next ten years - it's unlikely to be a "big bang"
- There is less funding but an ever growing fuel poverty issue. Targeting of the ECO and using an areas based rather individual criteria will be critical
- Green Deal will succeed where providers join up a complete offering including behavioural, energy efficiency and renewable solutions
- The proposed policy doesn't sufficiently address the current realities in the private rented sector. It risks failure unless the detailed issues are addressed
- The role of social landlords in the Green Deal is unclear and ECO is limited to just solid wall insulation, yet there is a rising fuel poverty issue in the sector
- The weight of infrastructure proposed to support the Green Deal risks severely watering down the economic benefits to both households and providers
- The proposed ECO brokerage is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist and risks adding to complexity and eliminating small innovative providers from the market
- There is a risk of losing substantial capacity in the energy efficiency industry and we propose a stepped approach to transition from current (CERT/CESP) programmes
- We welcome the proposals to support product innovation with a much needed clear process
- Local authorities are likely to be key to driving the new market, we need to share the best practice from current schemes and ensure strong partnerships under the ECO
Download the full response here
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