Trade body endorses Green Deal Home Improvement Fund

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) has welcomed the launch of the government’s Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF).

This new fund is an incentive scheme to help homeowners, tenants, and in particular homebuyers improve the energy efficiency of their homes, save money and reduce carbon emissions. Householders could be eligible for grants of up to £7,600 towards the cost of energy savings improvements in their properties.

To access the grant funding, the householder must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Green Deal Advice Report (GDAR) that is less than two years old. The GDHIF is available to pay for improvements that are recommended in the EPC or GDAR providing they are on a list of eligible measures that have been published by the government.

Stephen O’Hara, chairman of PEPA, said: “We are delighted that the government has decided to make available direct grant funding for householders to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The value of EPCs and in particular GDARs will soon become apparent as householders take advantage of this funding and see their fuel and electricity bills start to drop.

“We hope that this proves to be a catalyst for government to further promote the value of energy efficiency information more generally to householders as a vital tool in helping to reduce energy bills.

“PEPA wholeheartedly endorses this new scheme and hopes that it will become a long-term part of the fabric of promoting energy efficiency in homes.”