PEPA urges ‘staged implementation’ of Green Deal

The Property and Energy Professional Association, an industry body representing leading organisations in the provision of energy information and advice, is ‘urging’ the government to re-think its plans for the full introduction of the Green Deal later this year.

While PEPA and its members feel confident that the government’s plans for domestic buildings under the Green Deal are well advanced, it is concerned that there are still a number of unanswered questions and unresolved issues with respect to implementing the Green Deal for non-domestic buildings.

Rather than delay or jeopardise the entire introduction of this new framework, it is urging the government to introduce ‘a staged implementation model’, which will see the framework for domestic buildings introduced as scheduled, followed by an introduction for non-domestic buildings at a later date, when any potential issues have been addressed.

PEPA chairman Stephen O’Hara said: “We are strongly behind the Green Deal and the significant improvements that it could make to the energy efficiency of the UK’s buildings. With such a pivotal new framework, however, it is imperative that the government gets it right from the offset.”

O’Hara suggested that it was evident from the recent consultation process that while plans for domestic properties are well advanced, there was still a number of unanswered questions relating to non-domestic properties.

“As such,” he said, “we feel that more time needs to be spent to address these concerns and to make any necessary revisions.”

PEPA is a trade body representing business that is engaged in the provision of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs).

More information: www.pepassociation.org