Green Deal MSE Guide Discussion

captainhindsight_2

Phil_OAFC wrote: »

Just after a few opinions if anything not had time to fully read into all this just yet...

We moved into our 3 bed semi Oct 2013

All double glazed, loft insulated, unsure if cavity wall has been done, its a 1970 built property, I have drilled out in once place near the front door fitting an alarm and I noticed some polystyrene beads in the walls, I'm guessing this is it? Yep sounds like it is, look for spots on the wall where it looks like holes have been filled in this is usually a good sign that it has been insulated but balls falling out is pretty much positive it is insulated.

Anyway, we don't use much gas/elec, bills are a reasonable £100ish a month - though it has been mild!

Our boiler is 23 year old, I fear its uneconomical, we have no thermostats, no digital timer and no way of flicking just the water on, or just the heating on, though like I say, bills haven't been bad.

I am quite eco conscious, and I would like to get thermostats and a new boiler, but only if it adds value to the house and if it saves me a bit of money, and makes things easier, for example being able to have a shower without having to physically flick a switch for a few hours beforehand!

As we moved in less than a year ago, am I right in thinking we would get £500 + £270 cashback for a new boiler?


You are mixing Green Deal Cashback and the Home improvement fund here, it would be £370 for Green Deal cashback for boiler and heating controls. OR if you can fit two of the measure eligible for the home improvements fund you would receive £1000 + £500 for moving in within the last 12 months and + £100 for the assessment.

A few people have said to me, if it isn't broke and its not costing me a bomb, to leave it, but its not ideal and it is old, so I'm thinking with cashback this could be a decent deal for us?

Can anyone recommend what they would do? This will be our life home so any improvements will benefit us over the next 25 years or so.

Cheers guys

See above +

Seeing as you have only recently moved into your house, you should have an epc if you can list the recommendations made on the EPC I could give some better advice, type your postcode in here (https://www.epcregister.com/reportSearchAddressByPostcode.html) and you should be able to pull it up.

Phil_OAFC

Appreciate your response!
Just checked the epc...

Current rating is a mid D with potential of a B/C
Our top 3 'to do' on the epc is Heating, hot water and lighting, saving potentially £750 over three years, apparently.

It highly recommends floor insulation, and thermostatic heating controls.
In the summary I'm surprised it says the main heating (boiler and rads) is 4/5 stars!

The lowest ratings are the hot water with 2/5 stars as its from the main system with no cylinder thermostat, followed by the thermostat & programmer with 3/5 stars.

Another low score is lighting, but I've replaced most of the 6 x 60w bulb shades with a single energy saving bulb.

Reckons a new condensing boiler could save £80 a year.

That's about all it tells me - Thanks!

P.s - Slightly worried about that home fund £1000 for two or more things done now, sounds great but I already have cavity wall, loft, so not sure what else could be done at reasonable cost.

aggypanthus

Cptn, clarify a bit from your previous posts, where you said that if a gas supply is in place, and the house has only electric heating, they might get a new gas boiler fitted.
My research showed that there was No way to get a new one fitted under any scheme UNLESS its replacing an old one.

captainhindsight_2

Phil_OAFC wrote: »

Appreciate your response!
Just checked the epc...

Current rating is a mid D with potential of a B/C
Our top 3 'to do' on the epc is Heating, hot water and lighting, saving potentially £750 over three years, apparently.

It highly recommends floor insulation, and thermostatic heating controls.
In the summary I'm surprised it says the main heating (boiler and rads) is 4/5 stars!

The lowest ratings are the hot water with 2/5 stars as its from the main system with no cylinder thermostat, followed by the thermostat & programmer with 3/5 stars.

Another low score is lighting, but I've replaced most of the 6 x 60w bulb shades with a single energy saving bulb.

Reckons a new condensing boiler could save £80 a year.

That's about all it tells me - Thanks!

P.s - Slightly worried about that home fund £1000 for two or more things done now, sounds great but I already have cavity wall, loft, so not sure what else could be done at reasonable cost.

Looks like all you could claim would be the £370 for new boiler and heating controls which after paying for a green deal assessment and cashback admin will probably only leave £170.

It's worth getting some quotes off green deal installers and normal gas installers and then choose which route to take as with you only being able to claim Cashback on a single measure it may not be worthwhile perusing the Cashback depending on how the quotes come in.

captainhindsight_2

aggypanthus wrote: »

Cptn, clarify a bit from your previous posts, where you said that if a gas supply is in place, and the house has only electric heating, they might get a new gas boiler fitted.
My research showed that there was No way to get a new one fitted under any scheme UNLESS its replacing an old one.

In that post I was talking about a property with old electric storage heating and I was saying that if there is gas supply to the property (which there may be and it's just not being used) the EPC/GDAR should show a recommendation to switch to a gas condensing boiler.

This can be done, I have installed plenty of gas boilers through ECO where previously there was only electric heaters.

Where is your info from?

The key to all of this is the EPC, if this shows a recommendation for a gas boiler it can be done through the green deal or ECO regardless of the previous heating system.

aggypanthus

captainhindsight wrote: »

In that post I was talking about a property with old electric storage heating and I was saying that if there is gas supply to the property (which there may be and it's just not being used) the EPC/GDAR should show a recommendation to switch to a gas condensing boiler.

This can be done, I have installed plenty of gas boilers through ECO where previously there was only electric heaters.

Where is your info from?

The key to all of this is the EPC, if this shows a recommendation for a gas boiler it can be done through the green deal or ECO regardless of the previous heating system.

I think I read it on SGN site , and/or ESTrust.
We have qualified for a new gas connection foc, as our tenant gets benefits, but was resigned to self funding the boiler system. The, flat currently has only got old storage heaters.
Can you link me to where I clksn read this, and next steps?

captainhindsight_2

aggypanthus wrote: »

I think I read it on SGN site , and/or ESTrust.
We have qualified for a new gas connection foc, as our tenant gets benefits, but was resigned to self funding the boiler system. The, flat currently has only got old storage heaters.
Can you link me to where I clksn read this, and next steps?

aggypanthus wrote: »

I think I read it on SGN site , and/or ESTrust.
We have qualified for a new gas connection foc, as our tenant gets benefits, but was resigned to self funding the boiler system. The, flat currently has only got old storage heaters.
Can you link me to where I clksn read this, and next steps?

Yes ok see the two links below the first one on point 7.7 states a qualifying heating measure would include: the installation of a measure that will result in a heat saving

Then further on in that document measures must be identified/calculated using rdsap (this is an EPC)

Then on the second link page 11 shows a full list of eligible measures for ECO and the different parts of ECO and includes gas condensing boiler

First there will need to be a gas supply with meter to the property before the EPC is carried out this is not covered by ECO don't know about any other scheme.

Then the EPC should show a recommendation for an upgrade to a gas condensing boiler and upgrade heating controls.

Then with the EPC and the tenants proof of eligibility this will be able to proceed.

Just be aware that the grant only pays for the installation of a new boiler and heating controls not a whole heating system with radiators etc so expect to have to pay for that part of the job.

You next step should be to find a local green deal installer, you can do this by going to the green deal participants register and entering your postcode to show companies who I operate in your area.

Don't go to any of the big six it will just take forever to get anything done.

Explain to then the situation and they should be able to carry out the whole job from start to finish and make sure it fits within the eligibility of the scheme.

Also worth checking the EPC against the list of eligible measure to see what else you can get for free

And finally don't expect any work to happen until after mid July, there is new guidance coming regarding how this scheme is paid for which has pretty much stopped funding until this is released but worth getting your name on the list with an installer.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87527/energycompaniesobligationecoguidanceforsuppliersversion11a.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/48406/5504-which-energy-efficiency-improvements-qualify-for-g.pdf

aggypanthus

Thanks again Cptn.

whats the average cost of supply and fit boiler system only from one of these reg installers? Is that what you do.?
I am thinking maybe any grant and addition costs to us as you outlined, will still total more than our current plan ie. To buy boiler trade price which will be fitted by a corgi reg pal, then OH can fit rads and pipweork himself.
to sum up, is it financially better to apply for funding and install through a large reg company?

captainhindsight_2

aggypanthus wrote: »

Thanks again Cptn.

whats the average cost of supply and fit boiler system only from one of these reg installers? Is that what you do.?
I am thinking maybe any grant and addition costs to us as you outlined, will still total more than our current plan ie. To buy boiler trade price which will be fitted by a corgi reg pal, then OH can fit rads and pipweork himself.
to sum up, is it financially better to apply for funding and install through a large reg company?

Yea my company does this.

Your cheapest option would probally be for your OH to fit radiators and pipe work essentially everything apart from the boiler and heating controls and run all necessary pipe work to where you want the boiler to be located.

A certified installer can then come and fit the boiler and heating controls for free.

You will have to pay a gas engineer to run the gas supply this can either be you pal or whoever is fitting the boiler.

This would save you the cost of the boiler, the heating controls and one days labour for a gas engineer from your current plan.

Also many companies including mine would allow your gas registered friend to do the work through there certification for a nominal fee.

This would mean your friend who you trust and know is doing the work and it's not costing you a penny for the boiler, heating controls and the one day labour.

londonlydia

captainhindsight wrote: »

1. Im really wary about being forced to change energy provider. I'm with Co-Op energy and really like them, and I would need to pay to leave the fixed deal early. Is it only the big 6 that do it?it does not matter who your energy supplier is, the scheme is open to anybody and everybody regardless of who there energy supplier is or income etc.

!

I thought the energy supplier had to have signed up to Green Deal scheme? On Martin's article on it he says that's the case and the big 6 definitely are...but I cant find a list of those who have signed up who arent the big 6?