Green Deal Upped to £10,000, Will Include Double Glazing

The government is expected to announce later today that its planned Green Deal scheme will allow homeowners and tenants to apply for up to £10,000 in interest-free loans for energy efficient home improvements – a substantial rise from the initial figure of £6,500.

In addition, double glazing is likely to be included in the list of available energy saving measures in a move that could transform the glazing sector as a whole, creating thousands of jobs and revitalising a number of struggling companies.

The Green Deal is due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons today as part of the government's new Energy Bill. Under the proposals, any purchases will be paid back from savings in energy bills, with the loans to be attached to a property rather than an individual – meaning that homeowners can safely move without having to continue to make repayments.

Originally, double glazing was excluded from the energy saving options, which lead to lobbying from industry bodies such as the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF). However, it now looks like the government has reversed this decision, potentially allowing millions of homes across the UK to have new windows fitted.

“We are raising the Green Deal allowance for improvements to each home that can be funded through savings on the electricity bill, from £6,500 promised at the election to £10,000,” environment minister Greg Barker said in an interview with the Daily Mail.

“The coalition is aiming to complete energy improvements to 14 million homes by 2020, driving down the cost of family energy bills, protecting consumers against future price rises and making British homes not only greener but warmer and cosier too.”

Previously, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has said that up to 100,000 jobs could be created by 2015 as part of the Green Deal.

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