Category Archives: Grants & Incentives
Changes to Feed in Tariff Rates for Solar Panels
The feed in tariff (FIT) was introduced on 1s April 2010 by the Labour Government to encourage us to install equipment in our homes and businesses which generates electricity using low or zero carbon producing “fuels” such as wind, sun or water. People who install energy generating equipment such as solar panels or wind turbines […]
Are Incentives Vital For Green Deal Success?
Most people are sheep. And sheep, it seems, are suckers for getting something for nothing. These are two facts that should be at the forefront of the thinking of anyone looking to sell anything new to the public. Businesses do it all the time of course, with BOGOF deals in supermarkets and banks offering high […]
The Fuel Poverty Epidemic, What Now ?
There is a new epidemic which is spreading through Britain. At first it affected only the very poor and vulnerable members of society but its grip is expanding. It is not contagious and cannot be treated by doctors or with medicines. It is not a physical or mental illness, but it can and does cause […]
Solar Rent a Roof Scheme May Trap Thousands in Expensive Mortgages
These days it’s normal to remortgage every two or three years. You take a good deal on a fixed interest rate and once the fixed rate expires you switch to whichever lender is offering the best deal at the time. Provided you have sufficient equity in your property and a decent credit rating and your […]
Greenest Government Ever? Sorry Mr Cameron but do we look Green?!
Anyone remember, 3 days after coalition took power, David Cameron making his promise to lead the “greenest Government ever”? I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t, it’s hardly up there with the Kennedy assassination or the Moon landing, but nonetheless it was an important pledge at an important time for environmental policy and if you’re […]
How feed-in tariff changes will affect homeowners
Homeowners and businesses have been striving to complete their installations of solar panels before the deadline of March 3rd, after which the feed-in-tariff incentive fell from 43p per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 21p. Installations completed after this date will receive the original 43p rate only until April 1st, and figures released by the Department for […]
People are the Greatest Green Deal Threat
Inevitably we are all talking about Green Deal these days, and we have been doing it for quite a while, but there are a couple of things that don’t seem to be getting mentioned in the current debate, though before we go any further let me make clear that I am pro Green Deal. It […]
DECC Announces Feed In Tariff changes – the good and bad news
After some deliberation the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced that having had “Green Deal measures” installed in a property will not be a prerequisite for claiming the Feed in Tariff (FIT). The Green Deal is this Government’s flagship environmental policy (the FIT being a Labour initiative) and is due to launch […]
FIT Rate Cuts, Is Now Still a Good Time to Buy Solar PV
Following a review of the feed in tariff rates paid for electricity generated from small scale solar panel installations, the Government recently announced that from 12 December this year the feed in tariff rate would be cut from 41.3p per kilowatt hour to 21p. This has caused alarm among the solar sector and sparked fears […]
Energy Efficiency to Increase Property Prices
Energy efficient homes are better. They are better for the environment, which is an increasingly important consideration for many people and they are better for the homeowners’ pockets which has always been an important consideration and always will be. So it stands to reason then that a highly efficient property, fitted with lots of energy […]
Green Deal – Opportunities and challenges
When one looks into the future for energy assessors under the Green Deal, am not at all sure it’s looking good.One thing seems certain from the information coming out about the Green Deal – over the next 18 months everyone in the energy assessment industry is going to have to raise their game just to […]
Conveyancing and the Green Deal Scheme
The Energy Bill is currently passing through Parliament and is expected to receive Royal Assent later this year. Amongst other provisions, it sets out the legal framework for the Green Deal, the Government’s new flagship environmental policy under which it is hoped that up to 14 million home owners will be encouraged to install energy […]
Sweetening the Green Deal Scheme
The Green Deal is the coalition Government’s flagship environmental project. It is aimed at making up to 14 million homes more efficient by 2020, through insulation, draught proofing, double glazing and other measures designed to reduce energy usage. The improvements are paid for by home owners through special loans which attach to the property rather […]
Premium Payment Scheme Grants for Renewable Heating
Greg Barker, minister for climate change, has revealed a new scheme, the “Premium Payment Scheme”, to provide grants to home owners to install renewable heat technologies. The grants will be available in respect of four technologies, biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps and solar thermal hot water panels. The scheme has […]
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