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Huhne unveils Green Deal quality mark to protect consumers
09/12/10
Edited by Bob Witham.The Green Deal will include an accreditation scheme, insurance-backed warranties and a specific quality mark to ensure it is not exploited by rogue builders, energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne has announced.
Launching the energy bill, which includes proposals for the home improvement programme, the minister said the measures will ensure there is "no place for cowboys to get a foothold" in the retrofitting market.
The assurance process is designed to ensure advice and installation work is delivered by qualified, professional builders.
Furthermore, tradesmen involved in the scheme will have to achieve a special Green Deal quality mark.
Insurance-backed warranties will provide a safety net for households by covering the cost of correcting any faults.
"Trust is important when it comes to having work done in our homes. Consumer protection will be built into the Green Deal from the word go," Mr. Huhne commented.
He added that the initiative could see the number of tradesmen working in insulation alone climb from 27,000 to 250,000 over the next ten years.
Consumer Focus welcomed the minister's announcement, adding that residential property owners must have "complete faith" in the Green Deal.
