The government has brought forward to today the launch of its cash incentive scheme for the Green Deal in a bid to drive early take up of the flagship scheme

Greg Barker

The news came as the Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) also opened its door to take orders for Green Deal loans.

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) officials said the decision to bring the incentive scheme forward was taken in part to bridge the gap between the end of last year’s insulation programmes, which ended on 31 December, and the start of the Green Deal at the end of the month.

The government said it would help encourage people to get Green Deal assessments of their homes before 28 January, when the scheme formally launches, creating an early pipeline of work.

The incentive scheme had been expected to open alongside the Green Deal at the end of the month.

Under the incentive scheme people taking up the Green Deal will be able to get up to £650 per measure installed in their home. There is no cap on the amount that an individual household can receive.

Energy minister Greg Barker (pictured) said: “A whole new supply chain is going to grow up to service this much bigger market.”

From today, firms can also book Green Deal loans from the GDFC.

Paul Davies, adviser to GDFC from accountant PwC, said staff at GDFC had been working over the Christmas break to ensure the finance company could take orders two weeks before the Green Deal finance goes live on 28 January.