The government has released figures suggesting that the number of loft insulations being carried out in UK homes will significantly drop once the new Green Deal comes into effect in October.


The new information suggests that, under the deal, the number of lofts being lagged will drop to around 70,000 a year. This will have a huge impact on glass mineral wool manufacturers, who are estimated to have lagged over a million lofts in recent years thanks to current loft insulation subsidy schemes.

Under current proposals, the Green Deal and ECO will provide no subsidies or incentives to households needing insulation upgrades, even though figures suggest this could represent more than nine million lofts and three million cavities in need of lagging.

Knauf Insulation MD John Sinfield said: "While installations of solid wall insulation are expected to rise considerably under the scheme, loft and cavity wall installations will significantly drop to a fraction of the level needed to hit wider carbon reduction targets set by the Committee of Climate Change.

"Predicted reductions in the number of homes being helped under the Green Deal have been put down to low projected uptake of the scheme, with current initiatives such as CERT, which subsidise loft and cavity wall insulation set to finish by the end of this year."

It is thought that the lack of focus on lofts and cavities in funds earmarked for the residential refurbishment market will mean fewer households will have the means to lower their carbon emissions and reduce energy use.

In light of the news, Knauf Insulation is calling on the government to make sure the Green Deal is successful in making the UK's homes more energy efficient through other means to ensure interest. Its suggestions include stamp duty concessions, council tax rebates and VAT changes.

Mr Sinfield added: "Knauf Insulation fully back the recommendations put forward by the Commision for Climate Change that the Government re-thinks current proposals and scales up the ambition of the Green Deal to ensure ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction targets are met."

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