The Green Deal, are you prepared?

What is the Green Deal?

Put simply, the Government is establishing a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill.

At the heart of the Government’s proposals is the “Green Deal plan”, an innovative financing mechanism which allows consumers to pay back through their energy bills. This means consumers can see the Green Deal charge alongside the reductions in energy use which generate savings on their bill. It also means that if they move out and cease to be the bill-payer at that property, the financial obligation doesn’t move with them but moves to the next bill payer: the charge is only paid whilst the benefits are enjoyed.

Repayments on the installation of an energy efficiency measure must be less than expected savings on the energy bill. This is known as the Golden Rule.
Savings on Energy Bill – Cost of Repayments = Total Savings
(Must be positive to meet Golden Rule)

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1010-green-deal-summary-proposals.pdf          

How can I become involved?

The assessment of a property for suitability for a Green Deal and the installation of an energy efficiency measure must be undertaken by a Green Deal certified organisation.  These are two areas in which you can become part of the Green Deal.

Green Deal Advisors:
The Green Deal Advisor plays a vital role in the Green Deal. The Advisor undertakes assessments on properties to identify which energy efficiency measures are appropriate and meet the Gold Rule.

Green Deal Advisors, depending on their expertise, may undertake assessments on domestic and commercial properties.
Green Deal Advisors must be certified by a UKAS Accredited certification body. Green Deal Advisors will be centrally registered with the Green Deal Oversight Body. 

Green Deal Installers:
Green Deal Installers deliver the energy efficiency measures for the consumer. Installers may specialise in one measure or have capabilities across all twenty four.
Green Deal Installers work closely with Green Deal Providers. They receive work specifications from the Provider. Installer details will be centrally recorded and made available by the Green Deal Oversight Body. To gain access to this register, the Installer must be certified to the standard PAS 2030, which provides direction on how to operate in the Green Deal.

Installer Measures
Energy efficiency measures included in Green Deal:

What are DCET Training doing?

Having already established ourselves as a leading training provider of solar photovoltaic courses to the industry in the southwest, DCET Training feel we are well placed to offer training in other Green deal measures.

In early 2012 we added the following courses to our range:

· Domestic ventilation, including heat recovery systems.
This course will enable installers to join a competent installer scheme and certify that their ventilation systems have been installed and tested to comply with Part F of the Building Regulations.

· Green Deal Advisors (formerly Domestic Energy Assessors)
The successful completion of this course will enable individuals to assess a buildings suitability for Green Deal measures, compile Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) and make recommendations to the customer on energy efficiency measures.

In 2013 we are now able to offer the just launched:

· NEW Level 3 Apprenticeship in Energy Assessment and Advice

Later in 2013 we will be looking at adding these further courses:

· Energy efficient lighting & lighting controls.

· Basic Training on heat pumps.

DCET will not, however, go rushing into areas of training unless there is a clear picture of an integrated plan.  Any training that is offered in the short-term will be valuable in its own right.