Funding overview
Our expertise not only improves the day-to-day living conditions for residents, but also enables clients to benefit from funding initiatives, which contribute to the government’s ambition to address climate change through an 80% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050. We can assist in accessing funding where upgrades will boost energy efficiency, for more information please contact us.
Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
Scheme Term: April 2008 to Dec 2012
Aim: To reduce CO2 emissions in homes
Overview: CERT is a statutory obligation on energy suppliers to deliver carbon savings through the promotion of energy efficiency measures in the domestic sector. Delivery is often achieved through partnerships with energy suppliers and local authorities and housing associations to access households in the private and social sectors.
Target group: CERT is split into two delivery groups:
Priority Group – anyone aged over 70 or in receipt of a qualifying income or disability benefit. These customers are generally eligible to receive measures free of charge. At least 40% of carbon savings must be delivered through the Priority Group
Non priority group – applies to anyone not in the above group. Measures are delivered with a subsidy but the customer contributes to the cost of the work.
Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP)
Scheme Term: Oct 2009-Dec 2012
Aim: To improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel bills in areas of low income
Overview: The Government introduced CESP to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate fuel poverty within the residential market. It represents £350m of funding and is a statutory obligation on energy generators and suppliers. This means it is set in law and failure could result in a fine of up to 10% of global turnover. Obligated parties will fund energy efficiency improvements in low income households to help residents’ reduce fuel bills. CESP promotes a ‘whole house’ approach, promoting measures that offer households the biggest fuel savings.
Target group: Properties ranked in the lowest 10% in England or 15% in Wales and Scotland in the Income Domain of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. A list of these pre-defined areas can be found on the DECC website and are referred to as a Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) in England & Wales and Data Zones in Scotland. Funding is accessed through community groups, local authorities and housing associations.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
Scheme term: Due to launch late 2012
Aim: To tackle fuel poverty and meet the needs of low income and vulnerable customers through energy efficiency measures.
Overview: The Government is introducing a new energy company obligation (ECO) as part of the Green Deal. This will take over from CERT and focus on providing energy efficiency measures to low income and vulnerable consumers and those living in hard to treat properties. The ECO should fully fund solid wall or external wall insulation for low income consumers. A combined package of the Green Deal finance package and ECO should fund SWI/EWI for ‘able to pay’ consumers.
Target Group: low income and vulnerable customers
Green Deal
Scheme term: Due to launch Oct 2012
Aim: To offer private home owners energy efficiency improvements at no upfront cost.
Overview: The Government is establishing a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and to recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill. The Charge on the bill should not exceed expected savings. Green Deal providers will make a finance offer based on estimated energy savings and likely cost for install. For certain measures, such as EWI, extra upfront subsidy can be sought through ECO. The DECC is in the final stages of refining the details of the policy and the secondary legislation for consultation at the end of October. Updates to follow.
Target group: Private owners
Green Deal Timetable
Autumn 2011 – Formal consultation on secondary legislation
Early 2012 – Secondary legislation laid before Parliament
Spring 2012 – Detailed industry guidance prepared
Autumn 2012 – First Green Deals appear
Source: www.decc.gov.uk
