The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has revealed
it is set to fund a further £3.5 million to help train energy
assessors and installers to work as part of the impending Green
Deal.

The Green Deal is the flagship environmental policy rolled out
by the Coalition Government aimed at revitalising the nation's
commercial property stock by improving the sustainability and
energy efficiency of thousands of used and vacant office space nationwide.

It is said a quarter of the country's entire carbon output is a
direct result of commercial energy consumption and the Green Deal
is likely to create 65,000 new jobs by 2015 as the Government seeks
to drastically reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption.

Edward Davey, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, was enthused
by this latest investment to ensure the success of the project.

"This money will help hundreds of people gear up for the Green
Deal and ensure this scheme is a real success on the ground," he
said.

"We have worked hand in hand with industry to get this right and
are targeting funding at the areas where there is an urgent need as
well as a clear demand.

"We hope this will encourage businesses across the country to
fully prepare their staff for the launch of the Green Deal later
this year."

The DECC has also announced it is to fund a new commercial
energy efficiency competition said to be worth £10 million. The
competition will be driven by the Technology Strategy Board and is
designed to offer grants to innovative energy efficiency
technologies that can improve the sustainability of UK commercial
property.

Brian Smithers, business development director at Rexel UK, hopes
the fresh investment from the DECC will improve the industry's
understanding of green technologies.

"Training will make or break the Green Deal. In a complex and
sometimes confusing market, it's crucial that the industry has the
skills to help consumers make informed energy decisions," he
said.

"There is still a widespread lack of understanding of how green
technologies can help people improve the energy efficiency of their
homes and reduce bills."

Image: luvablelou

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