NICEIC and ELECSA have issued updated guidance to registered contractors following confirmation from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) that all home energy saving improvements carried out under the government’s new Green Homes Grant scheme, must be completed by a TrustMark Registered contractor.
In a move designed to uphold standards and provide householders with quality assurance, the scheme also requires contractors to be certified on technology-specific schemes such as MCS for renewable technologies and PAS2030 for insulation.
When discussing the incentive, Energy Secretary, Alok Sharma, said:
“Green home improvements will save people money on their energy bills, help to cut carbon emissions, and create new work for many thousands of builders, plumbers and other tradespeople.
“Our TrustMark scheme will guarantee that building work is completed to a high standard by accredited tradespeople, ensuring consumers are fully protected.”
NICEIC’s and ELECSA’s Technical Services Manager, Paul Collins, commented:
“This is an excellent opportunity for our registered contractors, some of whom are already certified to install renewable and low carbon technologies such as air and ground source heat pumps and solar thermal systems.
“Our MCS scheme is well established, and we are seeing more and more applicants wishing to start working in this area every day. The Green Grant Home Scheme is a great incentive for continued growth in this area, and we would encourage all contractors to consider the benefits of broadening their business to include these services.
“The NICEIC is committed to delivering technical excellence, and we will continue to work with the government and all parties to maximise the potential of this incentive ensuring standards are upheld, and customer satisfaction is assured.”
Coming into effect on 1 September 2020, the Green Home Grant Scheme will see households in England gaining access to grants to support a range of green home improvements, including the provision of insulation and low carbon heating.
Under the scheme, homeowners will be able to apply for up to £5,000 towards these improvements, with the grant covering up to 65% of the total cost. For low income households, the allocation increases to £10,000, which can cover 100% of the costs.
More details are expected in the coming weeks, but to date, it has been confirmed the following improvements will be covered:
Primary improvements:
Vouchers can be used to undertake one or more of the following enhancements:
- Solid wall, underfloor, cavity wall or roof insulation
- Installation of air source or ground source heat pump
- Installation of solar thermal systems
Once a primary improvement application has been approved, the consumer can also apply to use their voucher allocation to undertake additional energy saving measures. These include:
Secondary improvements:
- Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing
- Upgrading to energy efficient doors
- Heating controls
