Saying Goodbye to the Green Homes Grant

The Green Homes Grant...

A scheme created by the Government in order to encourage more homeowners to ‘Go Greener’. It started out well with a lot of interest and seemed like a promising first-step for the industry. Those who had considered greener energy in the past now had a reason to make the leap as they were essentially getting ‘free money’ from the Government upfront to pay for the cost of the equipment and installation. It also enticed those who had never considered green energy before, as the marketing behind it had been first class, much better than any other Government scheme that came before it.

Sadly though it was not set to last and it seems their budgets were wasted on marketing tools and resources rather than ensuring it’s smooth running. Very little to no training was provided and communication with the installers was poor; therefore mistakes were made and a lot of our industries installers were unfortunately left out of pocket.

Although some applications are still being processed and vouchers issued, the Green Homes Grant officially closed to any new applications on the 31^st March 2021.

Fortunately though it is not all doom and gloom for the future of sustainable energy as the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scheme is still running until March 2022. It is a shame that this has not had the publicity and marketing behind it like the Green Homes Grant did, as it has worked relatively smoothly since it’s conception in November 2011 and with a bit more of a push this could encourage many more people to make the switch to green energy.

It is important that the Government get their heads together with the industry professionals and find a solution that works to replace the RHI scheme next year and ultimately encourage more installs. Although Air Source Heat Pumps are not the cheapest method of becoming more sustainable, they are essential to the future of our planet and reducing the use of fossil fuels. With the 2025 deadline looming, being unable to install gas boilers into new build properties, this is definitely something that needs to be considered further. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

To find out more about the RHI scheme click here.

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