How green was…

It is an unfortunate coincidence that that a Government initiative called ‘Green’ should have the plug pulled on it by someone called ‘Amber’ especially as the Green Deal never really managed to pull away from the lights in the first place.

Of course, few will miss the Green Deal – unless you count the 223 households in the entire country that benefited from glazing improvements through it – and Ms Rudd’s announcement that the Government is to switch off its life support comes as no surprise but the question now being asked is what is likely to follow it in the way of support for greener homes. First, naturally, we can expect a few politicians’ statements peppered with the word ‘commitment’ but, after that..? Perhaps a German-style interest-free loan initiative, as the FMB has suggested (read story) or any one of a number of other worthwhile ideas. We can at least be sure that the GGF will speaking up for the industry in discussions over any future plans (read story) and we only hope the Government will pay more attention than it did last time.

Also, in letters, we have a detailed insight into the Green Deal from Emplas’s Ryan Johnson (read story).

Still with Government matters, we see the Lords want to hear our views on what is to be done about the country’s desperate shortage of housing and where planning can be improved (read story).

…and, on a far more enjoyable note, may we remind you all that there are just a few days left to the final deadline on Friday (31st) for your entries for the G-15 Awards.

Do enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

GGF pledges to work with DECC on new plan after Green Deal

The Glass & Glazing Federation says it will work with the Government in seeking a new strategy on energy efficiency in the country’s homes following what amounts to the collapse of the Green Deal, as announced by Energy and Climate Change secretary Amber Rudd.

Today, GGF Group Chief executive Nigel Rees said the announcement came as no surprise, and reiterated that the Federation had consistently warned that the initiative would not work for the replacement window industry. He continued:

Read the Rest Here...

What next after the Green Deal? – FMB

The Government has been urged to replace the Green Deal with interest free loans for householders to make their homes more energy efficient.

The call came from Federation of Master Builders Chief Executive Brian Berry, who said the Government must set out a clear vision for what will replace the Green Deal following an announcement that the scheme has effectively been scrapped.

Read the Rest Here...

Don't ignore the builders, says Insight Data.

Glazing industry suppliers have been warned not to miss out on the growing market potential of targeting local builders.

The warning, from Insight Data, echoes its Industry report last month which showed that ‘builder-installers’ now outnumber traditional window installers by almost two to one, and trade counters – one of their biggest sources of windows and doors – grew by 44 outlets to 816 last year.

Read the Rest Here...

BRE invites input on new house quality badge

BRE is seeking the views of the industry as well as the public on the new Home Quality Mark (HQM), a national quality rating scheme due to go live in October.

The Home Quality Mark is an impartial, 5-star quality rating scheme for new-build homes. It has been designed to give householders the information they need to make the choices when buying or renting homes.

Read the Rest Here...

Lords Committee invites evidence on ‘acute housing shortages’

The new House of Lords Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment has today issued its call for written evidence.

Issues around housing and the built environment are a pressing concern in England, according to the Committee, with parts of the country facing acute housing shortages and an affordability crisis, while the legacy of poorly planned and designed developments can blight communities.

Read the Rest Here...

Search is on for ‘Best Glazing Home Improvement’

The Glass & Glazing Federation is inviting entries for its Best Home Improvement Glazing Project award as part of the National Home Improvement Council Awards 2015.

The GGF invites entries from across the spectrum of glazing modernisation projects including windows, doors, facades, structural glazing, and conservatories. 

Read the Rest Here...

We Have Email

From:
Ryan Johnson,
Managing Director,
Emplas

That the Government has scrapped the Green Deal shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone and it will be missed by few.

With an aim of improving the energy efficiency of more than 14 million homes by 2020, the Green Deal was launched by the Government in October 2012 but it started to stumble and stutter almost immediately. Too much complexity meant that industry and consumers simply never got to grips with it.

read email here

From:
Roy Frost,
Managing Director,
Deceuninck

There’s always a rush to comment on a Budget, but rushed reactions often see the downsides first – what the Budget got wrong and opportunities missed. Maybe waiting two weeks makes the difference, but on balance it seems to be a positive, relevant Budget for the industry. Focussing on the positives…

Deregulation and relaxing planning permissions to encourage building could be the spark that moves the industry up a gear.

read email here