Green Deal – What part does an electrician play?

The launch of the Green Deal yesterday (28th January 2013) was met with much interest from anyone involved with the construction industry. The Green Deal is the long awaited coalition government plan to make Britain’s homes and businesses more energy efficient.

Currently, households in Britain are amongst the least energy efficient in the world, and the plan is to give everyone the opportunity to make their homes warm, more energy efficient and to save money on their energy bills.

Householders who are interested in Green Deal will book an initial Green Deal Assessment to determine where savings can be made and how to make their home more energy efficient. A plan will be drawn up to include the cost of the installations, and if the householder goes ahead, they will sign a Green Deal Contract.

All installations will be carried out by Green Deal Approved Installers so householders will have peace of mind that the work will be carried out to the required standards.

So what kind of work would an electrician be carrying out in your home as part of the Green Deal?

Well, as far as electricians are concerned, there is no huge change. At Fulcher Edwards we advice people on a daily basis how to make their homes more energy efficient and one of the main aspects of our work is installing energy saving efficient products and renewables. We would not consider our job complete if we were not saving our customers money once their new electrical installation was in place.

At the moment, energy efficiency is hot news, all the homes and businesses we serve in and around London are rightfully interested in saving money and installing the latest products, however we thought we should point out some main reactions to Green Deal that have hit the headlines this morning. Whilst of course the final decision rests with the householder, we believe that the decision should be made based on knowledge and not solely on what Green Deal is saying.

* Look out for 'hidden fees' Green Deal is not a free scheme. You may be required to pay up to £150 for your initial energy assessment. Most electricians do not charge for quotations which naturally include free advice on what the best electrical solution for your home would be.

* If you decide to go ahead with a Green Deal loan, the interest rate will be set at around 7% with possible set up fees and annual operating charges on top of that. The final cost should be less than the savings you will make by having the work carried out, however this is not guaranteed.

* The Green Deal loan will be attached to your property and as yet there is uncertainty as to whether this will affect the future saleability of the property. If you move, the responsibility for repaying the loan rests with the new buyer.

Whether you decide to use the Green Deal scheme or decide on more flexible funding options, you can be sure that the advice and service you receive from Fulcher Edwards London electricians will be of the highest standard.