DECC Extends First Phase Green Deal Home Improvement Vouchers 10th February 2015 DECC has announced that the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) phase 1 vouchers will be extended to Tuesday 31 March 2015.The extension will allow more time for millions of pounds worth of installations to be carried out – which would have been missed as vouchers have started to expire without being redeemed. It is estimated that this will apply and help around 3,900 voucher holders.The first release of GDHIF closed in July and had vouchers worth up to a maximum of £7,600 on offer.Key points to the extension:The one-off voucher extension applies to GDHIF vouchers that have an expiry date before 31 March and have not yet been redeemed including vouchers that have already expiredThe extension is effective immediately and will apply automatically to eligible voucher holders – a new voucher will not be issued.To claim, eligible householders should carry out the work and submit their voucher for redemption to the GDHIF scheme administrator by 31 March 2015 – vouchers that have been extended will not be accepted after this time.All other terms and conditions for Phase 1 of GDHIF continue to apply to customers and installers.Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said: “ The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund has been going like hotcakes – winter can be a difficult time to get installations done so by giving more time to voucher holders they can join over one million homes already benefitting from a warmer, cheaper winter thanks to our energy efficiency schemes. Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change “ We know the best way to lower bills – permanently – is to make homes warmer and greener.We’ve helped one million homes install measures like insulation and boilers so it makes sense to extend Green Deal Home Improvement Fund vouchers for even more families to reap the benefits. Amber Rudd, Energy & Climate Minister Up to the end of December 2014, 11,061 vouchers have been paid and 13,613 measures installed through GDHIF, with £54.3 million claimed.Vouchers from the second release of GDHIF which opened to applications on 10 December 2014, will not be affected and will be valid for six months as per the expiry date on the voucher.Details of further releases of funding for GDHIF will be announced on a quarterly basis with the next release and announcement expected in late February/early March 2015.Households in England and Wales can get advice on how to reduce their bills and make their homes more energy efficient from the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS) on 0300 123 1234 (calls charged at national rates). Scottish households seeking home energy efficiency advice should contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.Alternatively, contact us for information> Contact Us Landlords to be Forced to Insulate their Housing Stock NIA Introduces New Service for Local Authorities & Housing Associations