What is it?

The Green Deal is a long term loan (10 to 25-years) to undertake specific energy saving measures in homes. The key difference between this loan and a traditional loan is that it is repaid via the electricity bill and the responsibility for repayment is passed on with the house to anyone who buys it in the future. As with any financial product, whether the Green Deal is a good deal will depend upon your personal and financial circumstances.

Why should I sign up?

The Green Deal allows you to make energy saving improvements to your home with little or no capital outlay and theoretically allows you to benefit from an immediate reduction in energy bill costs while you are living in the property. As soon as you sell that property you are no longer responsible for paying back the loan.

What's the process?

1. Get an assessment of your property to see what improvements you can make and how much you could save on your energy bills.
2. Choose a Green Deal provider to carry out the work. You discuss with them what work you want done and whether the Green Deal is right for you.
3. If you go ahead with the improvements you must sign your Green Deal Plan - this is a contract between you and the provider stating what work will be done and how much it will cost. The provider will then arrange for a Green Deal installer to do the work.
4. Once the work is done, you'll pay off the money in instalments through your electricity bill. The savings you make on your utility bills should pay for the improvements.

Green Deal - Deal or no Deal

A table listing possible advantages and disadvantages of the Green Deal

Useful links

What is it and how does it work?

Government promotional leaflets:

https://www.gov.uk/promoting-the-green-deal

Government quick guides:

https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures

Energy Saving Trust quick guide:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Take-action/Find-a-grant/Green-Deal-and-ECO

PlanLoCal Green Deal page, in particular the Films, Downloads and Links on the right side of the page:

http://www.planlocal.org.uk/pages/energy-efficiency-and-the-green-deal/the-green-deal-and-eco-explained

Which? Green Deal loans reviewed: The Green Deal explained:

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/the-green-deal-explained/what-is-the-green-deal/

Is it right for me?

Blog from Centre of Alternative Technology listing 5 upsides and 5 downsides to the scheme.

http://blog.cat.org.uk/2013/02/06/the-green-deal-what-you-need-to-know/

In this guide, Which? go through some points you should consider before taking on a Green Deal loan.

http://www.which.co.uk/campaigns/energy-and-environment/the-green-deal/what-to-look-out-for/

In this article, Which? Consider alternatives to the Green Deal loan.

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/reviews-ns/green-deal-loans-reviewed/green-deal-loans-alternative-ways-to-borrow/

This article highlights that the Green Deal is not a good deal for all homeowners.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/nov/24/green-deal-is-not-a-good-deal

This article considers why the Green Deal could make your home a hard sell.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jan/27/green-deal-home-hard-sell

Comment and analysis blog discussing the Green Deal, including a roundup of the reactions in response to the launch of the green deal in January.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2013/jan/28/green-deal-homes-energy-efficient?

The energy saving cooperative offer an alternative to the Green Deal, although it is currently not operating in the Devon area.

http://www.energysaving.coop/a-fair-green-deal-with-the-ecology-building-society/