Train4TradeSkills News: Old homes go green with pilot Green Deal scheme

For the government’s Green Deal scheme to work, older homes are going to need to be made energy-efficient, not just new homes. But the only way this is going to be successful is by keeping the costs down. That’s why the government is sponsoring a new initiative to make 40-year old homes eco-friendly.

Construction News reports that Wilmott Dixon will lead the pilot for the first older homes to be made energy-efficient under the Green Deal. In a group consisting of South Cambridgeshire Council, PRP Architects, ACCE Solutions and Cambridge University, 13 homes will be retrofitted to see how much energy they can save

All of the homes involved in the pilot scheme are over 40 years old, built between 1956 and 1970. £320,000 worth of energy-saving measures will be installed in the homes, which included better insulation, boilers and solar panels.

ACCE Solutions will then monitor the homes over the next two years to see how much money is saved in fuel costs.

If this proves to be successful, then the government can use this model and roll it out to the masses when the Green Deal launches next year, albeit a cheaper version, as no one is going to pay over £300k from their own pocket to make their home energy efficient.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships managing director Mick Williamson has said: “This project will give us important data in what measures have a real impact on energy use.”

“Buildings account for more than 40 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions and almost three quarters of the buildings standing today will still be in use in 2050, so the government’s Green Deal is targeting reducing existing homes’ emissions.”

What do you think – will this work? Let us know and comment below…

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