It has been revealed that more than 1,000 businesses in the UK have signed up to the Green Homes Grant unveiled by the government in July.
The revelation comes as Business Secretary Alok Sharma urges tradespeople across England to sign up to offer services through the new Green Homes Grants scheme.
Sharma said: “Today I’m urging businesses to sign up and get TrustMark accredited so they can crack on and offer their services to households across the country when the scheme opens.
“The Green Homes Grant scheme will not only cut emissions and make a serious dent in people’s energy bills, but will create new work for many thousands of talented builders, plumbers, and other tradespeople right across the UK.”
The £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme will see the government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements up to £10,000, with the aim of making more than 600,000 homes across the country more energy efficient.
The scheme will cover green home improvements such as wall, floor, and roof insulation, to the installation of double or triple glazing when replacing single glazing.
The scheme will also cover low-carbon heating like heat pumps and solar thermal – measures that could see households save up to £600 a year on their energy bills.
It is expected that the scheme will support more than 100,000 jobs in green construction, cutting carbon emissions, and helping people save money on their energy bills.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “In a world where anyone can set themselves up as a builder, I welcome the government’s emphasis on accreditation for tradespeople and quality assurance as part of the Green Homes Grants scheme.
“This will help ensure that only high quality work is carried out, and consumers are protected.
“The FMB is a provider of TrustMark, and I believe that a recognisable scheme such as this will give homeowners the confidence they need to carry out building works and help boost jobs in the industry.”
Simon Ayers, chief executive of TrustMark, said: “The £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme is the best kickstart we could have hoped for, 24 million homes require improvements to enable us to meet the government’s 2050 net zero carbon target.
“As we undertake this journey, the construction and energy industries will play a vital role in the delivery of low carbon homes, providing healthier and more comfortable living conditions.
“TrustMark is working hard with their Scheme Providers to increase the numbers of TrustMark registered businesses so we can meet the demand of the Green Homes Grant scheme.
“Businesses can join and select a scheme provider that can support their application.”
Read more on sustainability in housing:
- Modular housebuilder Etopia claims carbon neutral crown
- National Grid plans to test hydrogen heating in homes
- Homes England backs new ‘healthy housing’ toolkit
Green Homes Grant registration
To take part and offer their services through the scheme, tradespeople must register with TrustMark.
Where tradespeople are installing energy efficiency measures, they must also be certified to installation standards.
To install low-carbon heat measures, tradespeople must be TrustMark registered and certified through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for the relevant heating technology.
Anyone wishing to get involved with the Green Homes Grant scheme can do so by registering with TrustMark.
Accreditation may take longer for those who do not have membership of a recognised trade body.
Read next: Green Homes Grant scheme must ensure quality home insulation, say campaigners