Bureaucratic ineptitude ruined the U.K.’s disastrous home retrofit program, and the U.S. could draw valuable lessons from the debacle.
Last summer the U.K. unveiled a “build back better” economic stimulus package that was centered around a $2 billion program to retrofit homes. The program was supposed to fund energy efficiency and clean heat upgrades in 600,000 homes, but it was canceled recently after a six-month effort that may have killed more jobs than it created.
The Green Homes Grants program allowed most U.K. homeowners and landlords to receive up to about $6,900 to help pay for insulation, electric heating systems, and other energy-efficient upgrades such as new windows, doors, and heating controls. Low-income homeowners were eligible for up to nearly $14,000.
But, in order to apply, building owners had to obtain a quote from an accredited installer—few of which existed. Installers were reluctant to go through the time-consuming and expensive process of getting accredited without a longer-term assurance that there would be work. Program administrators often rejected quotes for being too high, asking applicants to provide more details or seek out additional estimates. Many homeowners dropped their retrofit plans as a result.
Retrofitting homes is a major part of the Biden Administration’s $2 trillion American Jobs Plan aimed at economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession. The administration can look across the Atlantic as a lesson on how to avoid failure.
Related Stories
| Jun 14, 2012
AGC, other business groups oppose hiring rules for disabled
Business groups have asked the U.S. Department of Labor to reconsider a proposed hiring quota aimed at federal contractors pertaining to people with disabilities.
| Jun 5, 2012
HP Labs aims for net-zero energy data centers
Building sustainable data centers is one of the goals of HP Labs, and it believes technology, combined with the right building techniques, could result in the construction of energy-efficient data centers.
| Jun 5, 2012
USGBC delays LEED 2012; renames it LEED v4
In response to concerns by LEED users, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will delay the ballot on LEED 2012 until June 1, 2013.
| Jun 5, 2012
Baltimore officials vow to block $1.8 billion urban renewal project
Baltimore officials want to block a $1.8 billion urban renewal project until more neighborhood residents and minority contractors are hired and displaced residents can benefit from the revitalization.
| Jun 5, 2012
OSHA launches campaign to warn of heat dangers in outdoor work
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun a campaign to warn outdoor workers about the dangers of heat exposure.
| Jun 5, 2012
AGC’s Safety and Health Conference focuses on regulations, legislation
More than 150 industry professionals and other attendees will participate in the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC’s) safety and health conference July 11-13 in Washington, D.C.
| Jun 1, 2012
New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available
By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.
| May 31, 2012
Proposed change in Michigan’s building code would hurt innovation, say critics
Legislation pending before the Michigan Senate would change the law that calls for building codes to be updated every three years to require an update only every six years.
