Budget good on grants for household renewables

IPHE has begun work on drawing up a minimum competence standard in the area of solar heating and will follow this with standards for other green energy areas.

The budget brought good news to consumers wanting to cut CO2 emissions by increasing the grants for household renewables by GBP6m, bringing the total funds committed to over GBP18m.

However, Blane Judd, chief executive of The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) gives the following warning.

"The Chancellor makes specific claims in his budget paper regarding the need to take care of the natural environment and resources; he specifically highlights the concerns shared by many in the industry regarding water shortage and quality.

He also raises the issue of cost considerations and lack of information as areas where Government intervention can help to encourage behavioural change.

"However, without properly trained and qualified professionals assisting to deliver this change process, we are at risk of creating a free for all where unqualified people offer 'eco-friendly' solutions to householders.

Consumers who are attempting to 'go green' will be encouraged to buy products and services that contribute little or nothing to the reduction of their carbon footprint.

"We already know of cases where consumers have been encouraged to purchase energy efficient appliances only to find that the product being replaced was more energy efficient.

The creation of the enviro-rogue has begun and we need to prevent their growth before they take a hold in the market place.

"The IPHE has begun the work of drawing up a minimum competence standard in the area of solar heating and will follow this with standards for other green energy areas.

The next task is to ensure that consumers understand that they need to carefully select the professionals who they employ, so they can assist them to buy the right product.

There is no doubt that we need to embrace the opportunities that this government offers through tax breaks to start the process of change which will protect the environment, the challenge is to engage the right people in the process to prevent the unqualified or unscrupulous from benefiting at the cost of our planet.".

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