Why it has now become easier for Gas Safe Registered heating engineers to become approved to install Green Deal-financed systems.

The ‘soft launch’ of the scheme means that the first installations are unlikely to take place until early 2013, when the first Green Deal finance plans will be signed and accessible. As a result, we are still some time away from knowing whether or not the scheme will prove successful.

Less than a week away from the scheme’s official launch, there are still unanswered questions as to who will be responsible for covering the cost of the initial home assessments, concerns have been raised over the proposed 7.5% interest rate, and consumer awareness is still low. These issues should all have been resolved some time ago to ensure the Green Deal launch runs smoothly, although it’s reassuring to see that some companies have begun their own consumer campaigns to raise awareness.

Feedback from HVP readers tell us that plumbing and heating installers seem to be fairly evenly split in their opinions on the Green Deal, and the renewable energy market in general. One one side, there are those who believe the Green Deal is a real opportunity to generate new business and so have embraced all the training they can access.

Another group of installers believe the training is too expensive, the scheme too complex, and there isn’t enough work available to justify the initial outlay. Only time will tell which group will turn out to be correct, but the news that installers who are Gas Safe Registered now have an easier route to access the necessary Green Deal training should be welcomed by all concerned.

The PAS 2030 Green Deal installation standard will now accept Gas Safe registration as adequate demonstration of gas safety compliance. This means registered installers are already partially approved for the Green Deal scheme, although they will still need to seek approval with regards to their Quality Management System and for the Green Deal code of practice.

Ultimately, every installer will have to decide for him or herself whether or not there is enough Green Deal work available in their area to justify the time and expense of additional training in such a difficult economy, but if it is at all possible without breaking the bank, it’s hard to see how extra training can be a bad choice, especially if it enables them to answer ‘yes’ to more enquiries from potential customers.