Green Deal MSE Guide Discussion

John_Pierpoint

The guarantee on your Velux was almost certainly 10 years, did you just miss it?

There is a lot to be said for having windows where you can replace the sealed units yourself - the units direct from the supplier are pretty cheap - it is the BS that ups the price.

Without some sort of double glazing in a modern centrally heated home the windows will stream with condensation.

johnnyhardcore

Thanks a lot for the clarifying replies - I think I understand a bit more now. Is the 'Golden Rule' part of the GD requirements or is that really just a guideline? I was also interested in the fact that there are apparently no credit checks for the financing (problems with recent employment history - made redundant twice and now doing contract work rather than permanent job means difficult to explain income). I guess we were planning on doing the windows and doors anyway so I perceived GD as a way of getting funding with a cashback and the energy cost reduction (however small) without having to take out a 'traditional loan' style finance package from a bank or whatever. Any thoughts? Maybe we're better off just doing the worst ones first and costing it out gradually....

Coulsdon_Town

johnnyhardcore wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the clarifying replies - I think I understand a bit more now. Is the 'Golden Rule' part of the GD requirements or is that really just a guideline? I was also interested in the fact that there are apparently no credit checks for the financing (problems with recent employment history - made redundant twice and now doing contract work rather than permanent job means difficult to explain income). I guess we were planning on doing the windows and doors anyway so I perceived GD as a way of getting funding with a cashback and the energy cost reduction (however small) without having to take out a 'traditional loan' style finance package from a bank or whatever. Any thoughts? Maybe we're better off just doing the worst ones first and costing it out gradually....

The 'golden rule' is a solid requirement - if you want a Green Deal Loan (from Green Deal Finance) to pay for your work. The idea was that after you have the green deal assessment you are hopefully presented with a GD Report and then a finance plan, which make going ahead a 'no-brainer' : you only get offered GD Finance if the 'golden rule' has said that your repayments plus new, lower bills will be less than your old bills were.
There are complications though : for example if you were underheating your home then on the face of it there is less scope to reduce your main heating (usually gas) by having work done. Further, after such work most such people are unlikely to want to be just as cold as before in order to ensure that they are better off even after making the loan repayments. So in that scenario there is a chance that your energy consumption doesn't go down by as much as the GD software predicted.
I think it's true that the credit checks aren't as stringent as 'traditional' loans - some say this is to enable 'poorer' people to participate, but some on here say it is meant to 'trap' such people into debt. I'm inclined to think the former, but there are definitely pitfalls for the unwary in green deal. I don't think your work history would be a stopper.
I don't know that much about D Glazing so can others comment? One or two have suggested DIY internal shutters made of 'kingspan' or 'celotex'for night-time use - maybe as a temporary measure?

west_wales_idiot

Does anybody know what the status of the green deal scheme is ?
I have an assessment done which recommends solid wall insulation but do not know what to do next, the company who done the assessment informs me that there is still funding issues with the green deal and can not process me any further ! Any help or advice would be appreciated.

lstar337

Next step?

Sit and wait while the government faff's about with the details of the funding. If you're lucky, they might be done by around this time next year.

Remember they are very busy robbing the poor to pay the rich at the moment.

danababy6

As far as I am aware the GD will be "live" in early June.

Assessments are continuing to take place and reports are still being made. These reports should ideally be completed on the day of the assessment, the assessor should then discuss with you any recommendations suggested by the software and should also be giving behaviour advice.

Every assessor is required to let you know if they are contracted to a specific GD Provider and that even if you have the assessment you are under no obligation to have your loan through that Provider.

One thing I did notice in the GD Mythbuster was the credit scoring. Everyone is entitled to the GD as long as the GD Principle (we are no longer allowed to call it "The Golden Rule") is met.

Happy to answer any questions if I can

D

Richie-from-the-Boro

I have noticed, not only the fact that all 'promoters' or salesman are not only first time posters, but have pre- existing / redundant / dormant accounts waiting to be re-opened.

>monstereyebrows <

#211 - I am am an Energy Assessor and trainee Green Deal Advisor. Sadly I fear that many will experience being let down by the Green Deal assessment like the poster above. If you are having any issues with the Green Deal please PM with the details and I may be able to give some useful advice.

David_Camero

I got a fresh EPC when I bought my flat in February which said I could save money by installing a modern boiler under the Green Deal. The Green Deal help line said this was no good and I would have to get a fresh assessment.
My 'nearest' assessor according to them is 120 miles away. They want £150 in advance to come out and tell me I need a new boiler. This is madness! What is green about having the same survey done twice.

John_Pierpoint

The Green Deal is all about improving your property towards low carbon standards, not getting you access to low(ish) cost finance, sticking the repayments onto the electricity bill and moving on in 12 months time.
To give an extreme example, the EPC for this property would probably suggest that replacing the night storage heaters, with a nice new gas boiler, would reduce heating bills, but in reality and in carbon saving terms, the sensible thing to do would be knock it down and rebuild.


This is the delux model incorporating 25mm of corrugated cardboard as insulation:

danababy6

David_Camero wrote: »

I got a fresh EPC when I bought my flat in February which said I could save money by installing a modern boiler under the Green Deal. The Green Deal help line said this was no good and I would have to get a fresh assessment.
My 'nearest' assessor according to them is 120 miles away. They want £150 in advance to come out and tell me I need a new boiler. This is madness! What is green about having the same survey done twice.

The EPC will be carried out by the GD Assessor at the same time as the GD Assessment. The reason it is done this way is to basically check the DEAs inspection.

You can find an assessor for the EPC on the epcregister which is free, you only need to input your postcode.

HTH