Smaller installer left behind

On 17 May 2012, CIBSE Certification was approved as a certification body for Green Deal organisations and their advisors, enabling it to offer training and certification to professionals wanting to offer advice under the Green Deal.

The Green Deal is a government policy to enable building owners and operators to install energy efficiency improvements to buildings at no upfront cost to the owner or operator. Green Deal Advisors will identify areas within buildings where improvements can be made, and these will then be installed by certified Green Deal Installers.

The improvements will reduce the building operators’ energy bills, and the costs of the installation are added to the electricity bill. The estimated savings on the total energy bills will always equal or exceed the cost of the work, otherwise the improvements will not qualify for Green Deal finance. Under the Green Deal, the liability for the payments remains with the building, and does not follow the owner or occupier after they leave the building.

The Green Deal is expected to be launched in the UK in October 2012. Companies already signed up include Anglian Home Improvements, British Gas, Carillion and E.On.

Whilst the principal of Green Deal is sound, and it will obviously create work as well as reducing emissions, has DECC handed control to the 'big boys'?  Does the small, qualified and skilled installer really stand a chance?