New Energy Secretary Ed Davey has been welcomed as Chris Huhne's replacement at the Department of Energy and Climate Change by TrustMark, the Government endorsed not-for-profit quality mark for tradesmen,
Liz Male, chairman of TrustMark, said: 'Ed Davey's excellent grasp of how best to create consumer empowerment and the need for effective but proportionate regulation in business, gained from his experience at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is just the informed view we need for Green Deal at this critical stage in its development.'

Last year, TrustMark painted a picture for Ed Davey about how the implementation of the Green Deal will trigger a huge wave of associated building work and repairs. There will be much work that technically falls outside of the 'approved measures' of the Green Deal but that is central to its success - typically repair work that's needed to the fabric of a property before energy efficiency improvements can even be considered (tackling damp before a wall can be insulated, for example). Or even simple repairs that would ensure the Green Deal measures do achieve the energy savings that are promised.

TrustMark's early estimates suggest that even just a 25 per cent uptake of Green Deal work in pre-1980, owner occupied homes would add another £2 billion a year to the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sector for associated works and repairs required over and above the Green Deal work itself.

Ms Male said: 'Given current timetables for the Green Deal, unfortunately much of this work may begin just at the same time that the Government's consumer landscape changes are taking effect. That is why TrustMark believes it is vital that consumers know where to go for advice and are signposted to reputable firms during this period of change and for the future. TrustMark and all Green Deal providers must work together to ensure the initiative delivers good results, there is minimum consumer detriment, and reputable local firms are used for all associated works, not leaving it open to cowboys.

'Ed Davey understands these issues very well. We hope he will grasp this opportunity to look closely at the Green Deal and ensure the knowledge and experience in the consumer empowerment and construction industry teams at BIS are linked more effectively to the environmental expertise at DECC.' See http://bit.ly/yuQSZN for a biography of Edward Davey.