Why the time is right for the Government's Green Deal
This year will see the Government’s Green Deal programme gather momentum. Through the deal, homeowners will be able to install green, energy saving systems onto their properties with no up front costs. Here John Mayes, Managing Director at Bristol-based insulated brick cladding specialists Eurobrick, explains the long-term benefits of the scheme.
The cost of heating a home in Britain is constantly on the rise, and with winters seeming to get longer and colder, the thought of the gas bill arriving through the letterbox can be a real worry. The Green Deal will assist in alleviating some of these pressures by helping homeowners to install energy efficiency measures with the costs being recovered from the subsequent savings in their energy bills.
The widespread installation of green systems, such as wind generators, wall insulation, draught proofing and solar water heating, will not only reduce the amount of money that people are spending on their bills, but they will also help to lower the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Improving the green credentials of properties across the UK should be seen as a long-term investment for the country. The change in attitude towards energy saving in new builds has been greeted with tremendous support, but there are still millions of inefficient older buildings that fall far short of modern standards.
The UK needs to lower its carbon footprint and everybody can take action and make alterations to their lifestyle to help achieve this goal. The Green Deal will give people the opportunity to ‘do their bit’, without having to initially pay for the work.
The Green Deal can also be seen as a vehicle for educating people on the different methods and systems that can be employed to improve the energy efficiency of a property. Technology such as our own insulated brick cladding does not always grab the public’s attention in the same way as solar panels or wind generators, but its energy saving credentials are undeniably impressive. When working to improve the energy efficiency of old buildings, our insulated system, X-Clad, can significantly reduce energy consumption, at the same time as improving internal comfort conditions and rejuvenating the exterior look of a property.
Turning a blind eye to our country’s carbon footprint cannot continue. The Government has an enormous task ahead, but everyone has a part to play. The Green Deal gives individuals an opportunity for an affordable plan of action for improving their own property’s energy efficiency. These changes will have to be made at some point, so what better time than now?
