The UK Green Deal, enabled by the Energy Act 2011, is a new mechanism to overcome some of the barriers to low-energy refurbishment of buildings. The Build with CaRe report,“The ‘Green Deal’ Appraised”, describes the Green Deal, what it hopes to achieve and some challenges that will be faced during implemention and operation.

Release of Build with CaRe report, “The ‘Green Deal’ Appraised”
by Martin Ingham, Low Carbon Innovation Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

Energy supply must be decarbonised if there is to be any chance of tackling climate change.  The necessary investment is great.  A satisfactory outcome can only be achieved if large reductions in energy demand are simultaneously realised.  Energy efficiency must show a dramatic improvement across all economies.

By far the largest user of energy is the building stock.  Three-quarters of the homes that will exist across the EU in 2050 have already been built.  Nearly 27 million homes in the UK are responsible for over a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, and non-domestic buildings for a further 18%.  The existing building stock is where big savings can be found if buildings are refurbished to achieve large reductions in energy use.

Build with CaRe is a multinational project with the ambition of mainstreaming low-carbon construction.  There are many barriers preventing beneficial change happening that enhance energy efficiency.  In particular, refurbishment of existing homes and buildings must happen much more rapidly and more comprehensively than at present if carbon reduction targets are to be met.

We hope “The ‘Green Deal’ Appraised” will help those who are devising the detail of the scheme, consumers who are considering an energy-efficient refurbishment, and also those who will be involved in assessment and installation, identify and avoid any potential pitfalls and problems.

While the Green Deal, as proposed, is unlikely to bring about change itself on the scale required, it should raise the profile of building refurbishment for energy efficiency and hence lay the groundwork for future schemes.

An accompanying paper, ‘Refurbishing Europe’, outlines strategic options for stimulating the innovation in both energy efficiency and energy supply that may be necessary if the EU building stock is to be transformed by refurbishment, as must happen if climate change targets are to be met.  This paper will be released very shortly.

Find the report here.