Why do we need the Green Deal Scheme?

On a national level:

Government policy objectives:
Ageing housing stock -74% of UK properties were built before 1975. Homes produce 27% of UK greenhouse gas emissions*


Climate Change Act 2008:
Set carbon emission reduction targets 34% by 2020 80% by 2050


Average annual household energy bill:
Currently £1,124 could rise by 33% by 2030

At a local level, the Green Deal will enable many households and businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their properties without consuming so much energy and wasting so much money. At a national level, the UK needs to become more energy efficient to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions which risk dangerous climate change.

The Climate Change Act 2008 legislated for a reduction in our carbon emissions, compared to 1990, of 34% by 2020 and on our way to 80% by 2050. It set legally-binding carbon budgets for the UK for the next 12 years across all sectors of the economy - including our homes, communities and workplaces.

Reducing demand for energy through eliminating waste cost effectively is one of the best ways to reduce emissions. Three quarters of the energy we use in our homes is for heating our rooms and water, most of which comes from gas-fired boilers. Together this accounts for 13% of the UK’s CO2e emissions while our workplaces are responsible for 20%.

To help meet the carbon budgets it’s necessary to cut emissions in the homes and communities by 29% and by 13% in the workplace by 2022 . To do this then homes, communities and workplaces require to be more energy efficient.

The Green Deal will deliver energy saving packages to millions of homes and businesses across the country. Consequently the scheme provides opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour; from assessment to installation, manufacturing to supply, over the length and breadth of Britain, for many years to come.


Next:  How Green Deal Works