Insulation scheme delays 'threaten thousands of jobs But, in an open letter to Energy Secretary Ed Davey, the Insulation Industry Forum, which represents 70pc of the UK's insulation industry, warned that it is "extremely concerned about the Government's plans for its implementation." Both new schemes were due to launch this month, but ECO - which will oblige energy suppliers to improve households" energy efficiency - has been delayed. The Green Deal, where householders will sign up for efficiency measures paid for through savings on their bills, is now subject to a "phased" launch, with customers only signing up from early next year. Insulation groups fear they will only start to see revenues from the new schemes in the second half of next year and claim it is "critical" that the Government address this gap. John Sinfield, managing director of Knauf Insulation, said: "Some small companies will begin putting people on notice in the next few weeks. Once those jobs have gone it is very hard to get them back again. A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "We regret any jobs losses, but the Green Deal offers a bright future for the insulation industry following an initial period of transition." He added that, by 2015, the new schemes would create more jobs in the insulation sector than exist now.