Green Deal Branded a Failure

The government’s much-vaunted green deal has been branded a failure by critics after it emerged that fewer than ten UK households have taken out the loans offered by the scheme to improve their energy efficiency.  More than 20,000 households have been assessed by green deal representatives since the scheme kicked off in January, but the number who have finalised loans for boilers, insulation and other energy-saving measures so far is thought to be as low as three.  According to the Government 200 households have agreed but not finalised loans and have yet to come out of the obligatory 14-day “cooling off” period, when they must decide whether to proceed or pull out.  However, even if all 200 finalise their preliminary arrangement, the take-up of green deal loans would be less than 1 per cent of those who have had assessments – typically at a cost to the customer of between £100 and £150. Read more on the Independent website.