Forrest named on Green Deal panel

Preston-based social housing contractor Forrest has been appointed a registered installer of retrofit home improvements under the Government's Green Deal.

The contractor was awarded the status by accreditation body National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.

To qualify for Green Deal funding recipients must employ contractors that have been independently certified to the Government's new PAS 2030 standards.

Forrest says it is the first registered installer approved under Green Deal.

More than 25 different energy saving measures are included under the Green Deal with contractors requiring certification under each individual one.

The NICEIC has awarded Forrest installer status for gas-condensing boilers with the contractor on course to achieve PAS 2030 accreditation for other measures in the coming months. The Government is set to formally launch the Green Deal in October.

Forrest says that its established environmental retrofit practice, Forrest Green, and long history of delivering eco-related construction work meant it was ideally placed to become the nation's first registered Green Deal installer.

Lee McCarren, chief executive of Forrest, said: "We recognised many years ago that construction and the built environment, as major emitters of carbon, would have a critical role to play in helping the UK meet its climate change targets.

"We have placed green technology and techniques at the heart of our business and continually invest to keep ourselves at the cutting edge of sustainable building practice.

"The Green Deal is a once in a generation opportunity for UK homeowners, affordable housing providers and the construction industry and Forrest will be at the forefront of its delivery."

Forrest already holds the internationally recognised 14001 certification for environmental best practice.