New Ideas and Approaches to Replace Green Deal Aug 25, 2015

Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of BRE (the Building Research Establishment) has been commissioned by the Government to review current energy efficiency policy and provide recommendations for a new scheme to follow on from the scrapped Green Deal.

BRE is a world leading organisation with a mission to improve buildings through research and knowledge generation.

Climate Change Secretary, Amber Rudd and Communities Secretary, Greg Clark selected Bonfield to carry out the investigation and provide recommendations for a sustainable low carbon economy.

The ‘Bonfield Review’ will look at standards, consumer protection and enforcement of energy efficiency schemes and ensure that the system properly supports and protects consumers.

Bonfield explained that his proposals would “put the consumer first.”

He said: “What I’m looking at first is what you can do to your home to improve energy efficiency, and what technologies can you use to bring down energy bills. I’m going from the outside in - let’s think about the consumer first.”

Bonfield aims to create a system that householders will buy into and a supply chain that centres on quality, professionalism and transparency. He explained that we wanted a new system “so people can trust the people who install these measures.”

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have announced that the review will continue until March 2016.

However, critics have warned that a seven month wait for a change in policy could have a damaging impact on the industry. With several environmental policies scaled back or removed since the General Election, many are questioning the Government’s commitment to the green agenda.

The National Insulation Association recently wrote a letter to energy efficiency minister, Lord Bourne highlighting a possible programme of short-term action to help installers recover from the decimation of Green Deal.

However, Bonfield has defended the Government and explained: “[They’re] really open and serious on this, and they really care about the consumer.”

He said that he hopes a pilot energy efficiency scheme could be launched within “two or three months”.

There is a growing sense of confusion to what support will be available for the energy efficiency industry. With Government departments facing 40% budget cuts, a quick fix solution is highly unlikely.

However, the Bonfield review could lay the foundations for a new process that at least gives installers some degree of clarity of what the future may entail.

Anyone interest in contributing to the Bonfield review can contact: info@bonfieldreview.com

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