To get consumers excited about the Green Deal we need to have the right incentives in place

There have been numerous reports recently on the Green Deal and the importance of turning a good idea into a 鈥済reen movement鈥�.

The government is to be congratulated for its commitment to developing a more coherent policy approach to improving energy efficiency. However one policy initiative will not be enough to encourage greater use of demand-reduction technologies, to change how consumers use energy and to get more companies to become Green Deal providers who will deliver lower costs to consumers.

However, despite this challenge, the Green Deal is a long way from being a failure and many householders have already shown early signs of support. The previous CERT insulation scheme has seen 3.8 million homes gaining loft insulation and many social housing groups have led refurbishment programmes to improve energy efficiency and 鈥済reen鈥� their properties.

To get the rest of us to follow their lead via the Green Deal it is crucial to have the right incentives and drivers in place to 鈥渘udge鈥� consumers into action, and I would like to see a number of initiatives explored including giving stamp duty and council tax rebates to the homes achieving EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) ratings A to C.

I believe this type of incentive would give greater public impetus to achieve the government鈥檚 aims of creating the 鈥渂iggest home improvement programme since the Second World War鈥� and giving us a green energy future to be proud of.

Paula Bateman, Corporate Affairs Director, Rockwool

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