Homeowners are to be offered cash back on measures installed under the Government’s flagship home energy efficiency scheme.

The Green Deal has struggled to get off the ground since it was launched more than a year ago, with the majority of householders seemingly unwilling to make energy-saving improvements to their properties.

Ministers have therefore introduced the Green Deal home improvement fund in the hope that cash incentives will improve uptake.

As much as £7,600 can be claimed back under the new version of the fund, whereas under the previous version, which is due to expire on June 30, the maximum that could be claimed back was £4,420.

Alexander Creed, of Strutt & Parker’s Resources and Energy team, said: “We welcome the revised scheme as a simplification of the previous Green Deal and hope it will encourage householders to consider energy efficiency works for their property.”

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey is hopeful that the new incentive scheme will encourage more homeowners to go green.

“The best way for households to take control of their energy bills is to use less energy,” he said.

“Faulty boilers, draughty windows and insufficient insulation all cause properties to leak hundreds of pounds every year. But advice and support through the Green Deal can help put a stop to this.

“By installing energy-saving improvements, families across the country can enjoy the benefits of warmer, more energy-efficient homes and lower bills.”

The latest figures show that just 2,000 households nationwide had taken a green deal plan forward by February this year, while only 995 of these have actually completed the process of installing efficiency measures.

Householders will be able to get up to £1,000 for installing two measures such as secondary glazing, a condensing boiler, flat-roof insulation, replacement doors or double glazing under the new version of the fund.

They can also qualify for up to £6,000 for solid-wall insulation, while £100 refunds will be handed out for initial green deal assessments carried out prior to the instalment of any home energy efficiency measures.

It is estimated that as many as 70,000 homes could benefit from the £120 million made available to cover the higher incentives. 

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