The government has launched its new £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme. Through the scheme, eligible homeowners will be able to apply to help pay for the installation of energy efficiency measures such as thermal insulation, as well as new boilers, double glazing, draught-proofing and solutions such as air-source and ground-source heat pumps.
What is the Green Homes Grant?
The Green Homes Grant is part of a broader £3bn investment plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions across the country. It will help homeowners pay for home improvements that will boost energy efficiency whilst reducing energy bills and contributing to the UK’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Up to 600,000 eligible homeowners will be able to apply for vouchers worth up to £5,000. These will cover up to two-thirds of the cost of the upgrades, with homeowners paying the balance. For some of the country’s lowest-income households, vouchers up to £10,000 may be available which could cover up to 100% of the cost up to the £10,000 voucher limit, with the remaining balance payable by the homeowner.
Depending on the home and the works carried out, it is estimated that the improvements could save households up to £600 a year in energy costs.
Work covered by the grant is split into two categories. Primary measures include the installation of thermal insulation products, condensing boilers, double glazing and solar thermal systems. Examples of secondary measures include draught-proofing and new heating controls. To receive a grant, you must have at least one improvement from the primary category and the cost of secondary measures must not be greater than the primary choices.
Insulating your home for less
Thermal insulation is often a simple and inexpensive option for reducing heating bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, loft insulation could save as much as £250 per year on energy costs, meaning that it usually pays for itself within just a few years.
Other types of insulation that may be covered by the Green Homes Grant include Room In The Roof conversion insulation, floor insulation, solid wall insulation and cavity wall insulation.
To apply for a Green Homes Grant voucher, homeowners should start by visiting the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) website. There, you can check if you are eligible for the grant and fill out a questionnaire about your home.
The questionnaire is simple and will only take a few minutes to complete. Once you’ve answered all the questions, the website will tell you what efficiency improvements your home could benefit from, and it will also give you an idea of how much each measure will cost and what sort of savings would result.
You can then choose the energy-efficiency measures that you might be interested in, and the website will provide advice on your next steps, which include getting quotes from TrustMark-approved contractors and applying for the grant voucher.