Just 626 homes have completed the installation of energy efficiency measures under the Government’s flagship Green Deal programme since it started a year ago, official figures have revealed.
Some 1,612 households had Green Deal plans in progress up to the end of December, with 626 of those having completed the installation of measures such as new, more efficient boilers, solar electricity panels or insulation.
Almost 130,000 homes had been assessed since last January with a view to signing up to the scheme, in which providers meet the upfront costs of installing efficiency measures and householders pay the money back from savings they make on their energy bills.
The figures, coming almost a year after the Green Deal launch at the end of January 2013, have prompted warnings that the scheme is not delivering in its current form.
The number of assessments carried out each month peaked in October and fell month on month in November and December.
The figures also show that, up to November, almost 400,000 homes had benefited from measures such as new boilers and cavity and loft insulation under the “ECO” scheme which requires energy companies to provide energy efficiency measures to low-income and vulnerable customers and those in “hard to treat“ homes.
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), said: “This latest set of figures, coming a year since the policy launched, should come as a wake-up call to Government that the Green Deal is not delivering in its current form.
“Government must recognise energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority and be prepared to delve into its purse to make its flagship policy more appealing through stronger incentives and more attractive finance options.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “129,842 Green Deal assessments have now taken place with 81% of people consistently telling us that they are taking action following their assessment.
“Thanks to the Green Deal and ECO, over 400,000 households have already been helped to keep warm this winter, demonstrating the potential to transform Britain’s housing stock.”
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