Cashback for green deal households
Households could receive up to £1,000 cashback if they sign up to a Government initiative to make their homes more energy efficient, it was announced.
Thousands of the first applicants to the "green deal" scheme, which covers the upfront costs of improvements such as insulation and new boilers and allows homeowners to pay the money back through savings on bills, will benefit from £125 million funding.
The Energy Department said households could qualify for hundreds of pounds in a lump sum if they signed up to getting work done under the green deal, with those who undertake more improvements getting more money up to a maximum £1,000.
Households which secure cashback under the first £40 million tranche of funding will get £270 back for upgrading their gas boiler from non-condensing to condensing, £100 for loft insulation and £250 for cavity wall insulation.
Other measures including solid wall insulation, double and secondary glazing and draught proofing will also qualify for cashback.
To receive funding, which is being handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, people need to get a green deal assessment carried out on their property and then install some or all of the improvements recommended.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "The green deal will provide an unprecedented choice for consumers wanting to improve their homes and make them more energy efficient.
"This cashback offer will help get the green deal off to a flying start. It really is a great offer - the more work households have done, the more energy they stand to save and the more cash they receive."
Mr Davey also urged businesses to take advantage of the green deal and get into what the Government hopes will be a growing market in energy efficiency provision.
The Energy Department also announced a £40 million competition to drive local energy efficiency initiatives, including £25 million for councils to help those in fuel poverty, and £10 million for local authorities to boost the green deal.
