Strong ECO scheme must be retained!

With reports today that up to 30,000 jobs could be lost in the insulation and construction industry if ECO is rolled back in the review of green levies and the latest DECC Green Deal/ECO statistics showing that ECO is responsible for delivering 98% of measures but that insulation measures are currently some 50% below Government expectations, Neil Marshall, CEO of the National Insulation Association is calling for the ECO to be maintained and for a significant increase and acceleration in activity levels.

The cost on domestic energy bills of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which provides free and subsidised energy efficiency measures, is £47 a year. However, the NIA commented: “The savings available to householders through installing energy efficiency measures can far outweigh this cost with cavity wall and loft insulation saving around £320* per year and solid wall and loft Insulation around £670* per year according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Marshall said, “The ECO is the only Government policy specifically designed to reduce energy bills by improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock and therefore it is vital that it is retained and not rolled back or cut as part of the Governments review of green levies – if anything it should be strengthened and we would welcome the opportunity to work with Government and energy suppliers in increasing its effectiveness!

“He went on to say that In addition to reducing energy bills and tackling the cost of living, there are other benefits to be derived from the scheme including; tackling climate change, reducing cold related excess winter deaths, security of energy supply and job creation. It is vital that rather than simply talking about the costs of green schemes, the public are made fully aware of the savings and benefits the ECO can provide.”

 

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Source: NIA
For more information contact Duncan Murray at the NIA press office on 01327 227 010 or email Duncan@evolution-pr.co.uk