Green Deal – Learning Lessons for2012

Matt Roberts – Salix Homes

Background to Salix Homes

• ALMO (Arms Length Management Company)responsible for 10,500 properties in central Salford• Over a third solid wall / system build• 25% fuel poverty• Asked to be part of the process ‘Trailblazing’The Green Deal.• Is there a role for Housing Providers?

Approach to retrofit

Retrofit measures

Measuring change

Social return onInvestment

Testing the Key Areas of theGreen Deal• Marketing and Engagement• Assessment and Advice• Installation• Payback

The benefits of External WallInsulation

Reduced bills

Improved appearance

Increased comfort

Or dis-benefits“It is of our opinion that as a result of thiswork, our properties have been de-valued byat least £20,000 each, therefore it is ourintention to seek legal advice on thepossibility of suing the council for £20,000per household as compensation”.

Marketing and Engagement

• Need to overcome natural inertia• Need to change behaviour and energy use• Recognise benefits (or disbenefits)

Changed Supplier in Last 5 Years

28%

72%

Yes

No

Before

But maybe…..

After

• Reduce the hassle• Mixed approach

Marketing and Engagement

Mixed approach

• Face to face• Internet• Social Media• Leaflets /

Newsletters• Social networks /

community groups

• There is a tendency for people to adoptthe opinions, judgements and behaviourof others

For example, people are more likely to install anenergy efficiency measures if one of their family orpeers have done so.

Recent research suggests that engaging individualsas members of a community, rather than only asconsumers of energy, is an important strategy forchanging energy-related behaviours

Assessment

• Qualified assessors– what ever that is?

• Know the properties– public and private

• Experience of retrofit• Independent• Serious about

behaviour change

Gas Consumption

Electricity Consumption

Installers

• Frameworks delivering retrofit• Experience of working in peoples’ homes• Success in achieving training and

apprenticeships• Mechanisms for performance monitoring• Quality assurance / management – PAS

2030• What about SMEs

There is an appetite!

Would you be prepared to pay towards energy efficiency measures if you made a bigger saving as a

result?

61%26%

13%

Yes

No

Blank

Pay Back – The Pitch!

• No immediate upfront costs and long-term benefits.

• By deferring the costs of installation, theGreen Deal is designed to make theuptake of these measures moreappealing to individuals.

There is a risk that the Green Deal could in fact makefuel poverty worse unless:

• There is an accurate assessment of a home, itsoccupants and their behaviour in order to make thecorrect diagnosis and the economics of paying forthem.

• We recognise that different customers need differentapproaches.

• We build trust in Green Deal among the fuel-poor, andovercome the mistrust that many people on lowincomes feel towards official initiatives.

Word of warning – Green Dealmust address the fuel poor

There is a role forHousing Providers