TrustMark Ensure Quality Standards

The home energy saving improvements which are carried out under the Government’s new Green Homes Grant scheme are to be completed by a TrustMark Registered Business, giving households quality assurance.

Later this month, under the Green Homes Grant scheme, homeowners in England will be able to apply for vouchers worth up to two thirds of the cost of hiring a tradesperson in order to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home – with the maximum contribution being £5,000, while for those on lower incomes, a 100% grant of £10,000 will be available for certain types of work.

The vouchers, which are to be issued from the end of September 2020, will help pay for energy efficiency improvements which will help cut energy bills and potentially save families hundreds of pounds a year. A statement from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said consumers will be able to use a Trustmark Registered business from their local area to carry out the work they need done in and around their homes.

They can use the vouchers to install one of the following:

• Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation
• Air source or ground source heat pump
• Solar thermal

In addition to this, households can use their voucher for further energy saving measures, including:

• Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing
• Upgrading to energy efficient doors
• Hot water tank/appliance tank thermostats/heating controls

The grant scheme is available until the end of March 2021.

Simon Ayers, CEO of TrustMark, welcomed the opportunity to work with the industry sectors to support the delivery of quality work and ensure that consumers receive the high standard of work they should expect. The home improvements carried out under the scheme will have greater levels of technical standards and commented that the Green Homes Grant scheme is the “kickstart” the construction and energy sector need to help recover from the coronavirus pandemic and help the UK reach the target of being carbon neutral by 2050.  He said:

“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.

“The Green Homes Grant scheme is an important step in creating new jobs, protecting the existing and delivering low carbon housing.  As an industry, we need to collaborate to support the initiative, ensure businesses are supported and consumers can rely on the tradespeople that carry out work in and around their homes making them fit for the future. The vouchers will help prime the market and allow eligible property owners to make energy efficiency improvements and save on their energy bills.”

The Green Homes Grant scheme, which Chancellor Rishi Sunak launched in his summer statement, will see £2bn invested in improving the energy efficiency of the nation’s homes.

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