The other day, @eurocellplc asked me what I would have done differently in order to turn the Green Deal around. What a question to ask, so I gave them my answers. So this post is about those ideas and expanding them a little bit.
They asked me what I would do to improve the Green Deal to make it more financially attractive. My reply to that question was to not have launched a scheme which adds extra debt to a property in the first place. After the credit crunch people are trying to reduce the amount of debt held against them or on their property. The last thing people are going to want to do is add to that pile. So I’d scrap it altogether.
I would attack this issue on two fronts. Firstly, I would drop VAT for energy efficient windows and doors to 5%. You will have seen that I am trying stir interest in this idea again. A drop in VAT for windows and doors I believe would produce and tangible and successful boost for the industry, far more than the Green Deal, and the extra business created would more than cover the loss in taxes.
On top of that, I would change the way council tax is worked out to reflect the energy efficiency of a property. The more efficient homes are, the less council tax that person would pay. The more inefficient that property is, the more they would pay. I believe that this would encourage people to have energy efficient measures like windows and doors, as well as new boilers and insulation, to be fitted. It would encourage them to use the traditional purchasing methods which in turn would generate genuine extra business for the companies doing the work.
In my opinion they have gone about trying to boost green technologies in completely the wrong way. People are not wanting to add to their debts, but to reduce them. When the traditional buying methods are working as well as they ever have done, the Government should have worked to improve on them and work around an existing blue print that is successful. The two ideas I have suggested I really do think will hit home with the general public – rather than a poorly thought out, poorly implemented and poorly marketed flimsy Government flagship policy.
I fully endorse your points. As usual the government who are totally detached from reality, have dreamt up an over complicated, un attractive, ridiculous scheme, I guess without consulting with ‘real’ experts in the various industries for their opinion.
You have what I see proposed a few simple, logical, low cost steps that would have achieved real results – instantly!
Amazing isn’t it that everyday folk can put the world to rights every day given the chance.
DGB for PM. You get my vote!
Hi Nigel
Thanks for your comment…and your vote ;-)
The idea of council tax being based on the energy efficiency of the home isn’t a new idea, but I do believe it’s a simple way to encourage others to get works done, and in return be rewarded with lower council tax. Therefore a tangible, credible way of reducing carbon emissions.
DGB
I agree, a simple way that would benefit the whole industry including wood and aluminium which is pretty much excluded from the Green Deal due to the value of the products! Keep going with the campaign.
Thanks for your comment Martin. You are right, the Green Deal has done absolutely nothing for the timber and ali industries, which is an injustice given the comeback both materials are having.
DGB
Dropping VAT to 5% is a great idea!