A government initiative described as a "stopgap" could require the services of tradesmen who have completed renewable energy courses.
The Renewal Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) project, which offers Brits discounts on installing sustainable heating systems, was labelled in this way by Gordon Miller, co-founder and sustainability and communications director at Sustain Worldwide.
He explained that the scheme is just a temporary measure before the Renewable Heat Incentive and Green Deal initiatives are introduced in 2012.
However, Mr Miller stressed that it is still a "welcome" move, noting: "For anyone considering installing solar thermal before next winter, why not grab what is effectively a