Energy efficiency specialist, Green Heat Ltd., has announced that it is to ‘uncouple’ from the Green Deal as a Green Deal Heating Installer, the second anniversary of the initiative.

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In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Green Heat’s founder and Managing Director, Peter Thom, explains that contrary to the Government’s promises and a commitment to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, the scheme’s changing qualification criteria and prohibitive costs have left customers and installers frustrated, confused, out of pocket and ultimately, misled.

“I have been one of the greatest supporters of this flagship initiative,” said Peter. “We have tried very hard to make it work over the past two years, but despite regularly raising our concerns, there is still too much red tape that prevents smaller installers like us from delivering the improvements our customers can benefit from.

“Green Heat has been providing Green Home Energy surveys and installing condensing boilers for 25 years. This is also my 50^th year in the industry and together we have a proven track record in helping our customers make huge savings on energy consumption, so we have a natural affinity with the Green Deal.

“The scheme was meant to be easily accessible to all, but a seemingly endless round of further training, assessments, inspections and surveillances of boiler installations have not only been a cost to my business which cannot be passed on, they take time away from making the all-important improvements to make our customers’ homes more energy efficient.

“When it came to securing boiler grants for our customers, the smaller installer companies lost out to the big energy suppliers. Then consumers were let down further when they could only qualify for a Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) grant if they installed a second efficiency improvement measure – which most did not need.

“The Green Deal could be a real boost to local economies, but despite a commitment to use local installers and assessors, we discovered that over £133,000 of Green Deal assessments have been undertaken on homes in Cambridgeshire by companies from outside the county. For many local businesses who have made substantial investment in training and accreditation for these schemes, this leaves them without any return.

“Sadly, the input into the consultation from industry appears to have been ignored and the help promised for consumers, stripped away.

“Fuel poverty is still a major problem in this country, but the constant readjusting of qualification criteria and funding is failing to deliver the support to those the scheme set out to help.

“Removing all the red tape and added costs so small installers can engage with the Green Deal fully, is key to making this work – for everyone. Then and only then, will the true value of the Green Deal be realised by those who should benefit from it most, the customer and of course, the environment.”

For further information on Green Heat Ltd, please visit: www.greenheat.uk.com