Chris Kendall Field Engineer at Baumit said appropriately-skilled insulation installers will be among those to benefit from the government’s energy-saving home improvement scheme.
Chris was reacting to today’s announcement that hundreds of thousands of homeowners will receive significant subsidies to upgrade their properties to improve fuel efficiency.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined the details of the Green Homes Grant during his summer statement in the House of Commons. The 2bn scheme, which launches in September, will provide vouchers of up to £5,000 for household projects in England such as insulation. The government said the grants could help to support more than 100,000 jobs.
The home improvement scheme is part of a wider £3bn plan to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.
Chris said he welcomed the government initiative, adding that its success was dependent on having enough skilled operatives to ensure its effective delivery. “The Green Homes Grant represents a long-awaited step in the right direction on the government’s part. It’s been long known that an unacceptable percentage of England’s housing stock is failing to reach required energy standards. The Green Homes scheme shows the government is taking the issue seriously and recognises the need to create homes which enhance occupiers’ comfort and wellbeing. It’s now incumbent upon the construction industry to employ tradespeople of sufficient ability to insulate these properties to the required standard. For some, that could mean signing-up to an industry-recognised training course to brush-up on their installation skills.”
Under the Green Homes Grant, it’s reported the country’s poorest households could receive up to £10,000 towards energy improvements. By taking advantage of the funding scheme, the government said homeowners will save an estimated £600 annually on energy bills.
Chris who runs insulation installer courses at Baumit’s purpose-built training academy in Doncaster, said there were environmental, as well as financial gains to be had by upgrading the country’s thermally-deficient homes. It’s estimated that poorly-insulated properties account for one-third of the country’s carbon emissions, due to the additional heating needed to offset draughts. The statistic was highlighted as part of a 2017 Green Building Report, which stated 25 million existing UK homes would fail to meet the insulation standards required by mid-century.
Baumit Academy
Baumit’s Doncaster training academy, which opened in March, offers candidates theoretical and practical tuition in all aspects of External Wall Insulation: a proven, cost-effective solution to the issue of domestic energy inefficiency. The sessions include tuition and hands-on experience in relation to render and airless plaster installation, as well as application of Baumit’s specialist range of topcoats, primers and paints.
Chris at Baumit, said with the majority of Green Homes projects due to begin in 2021, now was a good time for insulation installers to take stock of their skills. “This is a great opportunity for companies to get ahead of the game by assessing their employees and address any gaps in their knowledge,” he said. “This will help increase their service offering for what is sure to be a very busy time for the insulation sector and the construction industry as a whole. Previous government initiatives designed to improve home energy efficiency fell short of expectation due partly to insulation not being installed correctly. We cannot afford to let this happen again.”
Chris said the Green Homes Grant would enable householders to inhabit ‘healthy, comfortable living space’, adding that the reduction in emissions would support the global effort to tackle climate change. “It’s a challenge our industry must be qualified to meet,” he said.
Find out more about the Baumit Training Academy.