In his regular column for Installer, Tim Pollard takes a look at the “horror story” behind the recently axed Green Homes Grant.
The announcement of the closure of the Green Homes Grant scheme after a mere six months is a further chapter in the horror story of failed attempts to prompt an uptake in retro-fitting energy efficiency measures into existing homes.
The timing of the announcement on a Saturday probably indicates the abject failure of the scheme and an admission that it can’t easily be put right.
It is even more sad when you realise that this is not the first botched attempt to stimulate demand for energy efficiency measures. I still bear the deep and painful scars of the Green Deal scheme which started as a great concept and ended up as a nightmare in complexity, cost and efficacy. I was involved in the development of the Green Deal scheme and every meeting I attended (there were plenty) included a new facet guaranteed to make it less accessible to all concerned. By the time the scheme was launched it bore very little resemblance to the simple core concept and was destined to fail.
These are not victimless failures. Those installers who make substantial investments to become qualified to deliver the programmes, and the Green Homes Grant was particularly onerous on those seeking to install heat pumps, are destined to have a little or no returns. But the one thing of which I am certain is that unless there is a consistent demand for products then installers will not pay sizeable amounts for accreditations and qualifications.
Why would they? And if there are aren’t enough installers then the scheme will fail.
What an appalling legacy of failure particularly in the year when the UK hosts COP26 and is desperate to demonstrate a successful strategy for addressing climate change. I am not pretending this is an easy task and as I always point out friends and colleagues the fact is, that the vast majority of consumers don’t want to invest in energy efficiency unless someone can show them a measurable and valuable benefit. Most householders don’t care what device is installed as long as their homes are warm and cosy and the bills aren’t too high. There will be some people who will be seeking low carbon alternatives, I am hugely encouraged by the uptake of electric cars, but most will be ambivalent.
Perhaps we can look at tax relief on improvements; green funding at competitive rates; assistance with training; a powerful educational campaign or, my own favourite, simply mandating standards by regulation. We could call it the Code for Sustainable Homes?
So government, the ball is back in your court. How are you going to inspire a sea change in demand for low carbon devices and measures? Whatever the answer is we need a policy and strategy which is long term, even across governments. We need a programme which engages the whole supply chain and not just something designed in a room in Whitehall. We need some inspiration and creativity and some decision making that might initially uncomfortable but with massive long term benefits.
And we need it now!
