Businesses interested in providing services as part of the government’s soon-to-be launched Green Deal energy efficiency scheme have been urged to begin investigating the opportunities presented by the new financing initiatives as soon as possible, following the launch of a new guide to the scheme.

The Construction Products Association and the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes yesterday launched a new free guide, Green Deal Opportunities for Industry, designed to offer firms practical advice on how manufacturers, distributors, main contractors and installers can benefit from the scheme.

Due to be launched in the autumn, the Green Deal will offer households and later businesses the opportunity to undertake energy efficiency improvements at no upfront cost, and then pay for the work through a small levy on energy bills. Under the rules of the scheme, those taking part will end up better off as repayments have to be lower than the savings people will realise as a result of the energy efficiency improvements.

A number of firms recently signed up to the scheme and have indicated they will provide Green Deal services, but the government is keen to grow the number of organisations taking part in the scheme, predicting it will enable a long-term increase in demand for green building services.

Writing in the foreword to the 93-page report, climate change minister Greg Barker praised the guide as “an example of how collaborative working can help companies prepare for the Green Deal”.

“It highlights how many firms are already gearing up to enter this new market, as well as showcases previous examples of the installation of energy efficiency measures,” he added.

The scheme has been criticised in some quarters for failing to provide enough clarity on how it will work before its launch in less than six months.

However, the new guide seeks to address some of this criticism with detailed step-by-step advice and checklists detailing how firms can qualify to provide Green Deal services, as well as information on which technologies and techniques are most likely to benefit from the scheme.

“Although it is early days within the Green Deal, which is still under consultation, the framework is now established,” said John Tebbit, industry affairs director at the Construction Products Association.

“So despite the fact that some working details may change, now is the time for those companies that are interested in the potential opportunities of the Green Deal to begin to investigate how they should prepare and what they need to be aware of. This publication provides the introduction that industry needs and will give companies a head start in their preparations.”