Posts filed under ‘Grants’
FREE loft and cavity wall insulation for everyone, for a limited time …
The Government has provided money for anyone (not only those on benefits, or of pension age) to get free cavity wall insulation, and free loft insulation, for a limited time this summer. The grant money may run out, so it is best to apply sooner rather than later. (The British Gas scheme says their scheme for their customers must be applied for by the end of July, by comparison).
A local company, called Everything Energy, that is known to the Energy Group, is offering this service in our area. Until the government funding runs out. www.everythingenergy.co.uk
Setting sun: solar panels feed-in tariff halved
This is a good article from the Guardian giving a lot of information about the decision by “the greenest government ever” to cut Feed In Tariffs for photovoltaics by 50% with only 6 weeks’ notice, though no change was expected till April. At least two legal challenges have been threatened, including one by Friends of the Earth, if the government doesn’t back down on the 12 December deadline.There will also be a protest at Westminster on 22nd November.
Green Deal – what it may mean to householders by late 2012
The Green Deal is a proposal (not yet finalised) by government, to fund a means of getting homes insulated, with a novel means of funding the work – with the householder paying nothing up-front, but paying over years on their energy bills.
Update on the Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed-In Tariffs
Update from the Energy Saving Trust on incentives for renewable heat, as well as update on financial support available to larger scale solar-produced electricity
Council grants for improving energy efficiency in the home
Epsom and Ewell Council have a page on the different schemes you can use as an Epsom and Ewell resident to get support for home improvements such as insulation.
http://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/EEBC/Environment/Energy/default.htm
One of the schemes is a government funded scheme called Gleen who can be contacted on 0800 652 3163. The services they offer include:
Funding runs out end of March 2011 so call them soon over the next few months to make sure you don’t miss out.
Grants for improving energy efficiency at home
Introduction
Financial assistance is available from a variety of organisations for improving the insulation of your home, for improving your heating system and for installing new technologies such as solar heating and solar and wind generation. Assistance is also available for landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
Grants are also available to cover a package of measures, for example to improve heating and insulation in a property.
The financial assistance is usually paid direct to the supplier or installer to reduce the cost to the home owner or tenant. If you are on certain benefits, the financial assistance will meet all the costs so you get your improvements free.
Insulation
Grants are available from electricity and gas suppliers such as British Gas, E.ON, Scottish Power etc under the Carbon Emissons Reduction Target (CERT) which came into effect in April 2008 and replaced the Energy Efficiency Commitment grants scheme. CERT requires gas and electricity suppliers to help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from homes. It sets targets for saving energy in the domestic electricity and gas markets. It makes up part of the UK Climate Change Programme following national and international concern over global warming. These grants cover the cost of insulating loft spaces and water pipes and tanks in the loft, and cavity wall insulation. Some grants are also available for topping up existing loft insulation if it is 100mm (4″) or less. The cost will depend on the size of your home and also on what discounts and special offers are available. The key thing to note here is that you can take up grants and offers from any energy company, regardless of whether they supply your gas and electricity. It is worth shopping around to see what deals are available at any time. In some cases (but not all) grants are also available for DIY installation of insulation. In general, grants are payable both to home owners and private tenants, but tenants should discuss with their landlords before applying.
Links – some of the more common utilities are:
- British Gas
- EDF Energy (includes SWEB, London Energy, Seeboard)
- NPower
- E.ON
- Scottish & Southern Energy
- Scottish Power
- Swalec
Grants are not available direct from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council or Surrey County Council. However, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council promotes the Government GLEEN scheme to provide free or discounted insulation and heating measures, and supports the HEAT project to provide discounted or free insulation. It is worth contacting the Council to see what assistance is available – the link is http://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/EEBC/Environment/Energy/, or you can ring the Council on 01372 732000. Alternatively you can ring the HEAT project on 0800 093 4050 or contact them online at http://www.heatproject.co.uk/.
Grant-aided insulation is also available from independent bodies such as HEAT or InstaGroup (ring 01189 328811 or look online at: http://www.instagroup.co.uk), also KHI on 0800 612 1062 or Nigel Campbell on 07971 267872. See also the Warm Front Scheme information under Heating below as this also provides grants for insulation.
To search for grants in your area go to the Energy Saving Trust search facility, or ring your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre free on 0800 512012.
Heating
The Warm Front Scheme provides grants for a package of measures for people on benefits; these measures include heating and insulation. If you have already had insulation put in, the Warm Front Scheme can cover the cost of improving heating systems (boilers and controls). There is a limit to the total amount of grant available; £2,700 (or £4,000 if your home needs oil central heating). The scheme is available to home owners and tenants and includes:
- Insulation
- loft insulation
- draught proofing
- cavity-wall insulation
- hot-water-tank insulation
- Heating systems
- gas room heaters with thermostat controls
- gas, electric or oil central heating
- converting a solid-fuel open fire to a modern glass-fronted fire
- timer controls for electric space and water heaters
- Other measures
- energy advice
- two low-energy light bulbs.
For further information ring 0800 316 6011 or see the Warm Front webpage
Assistance for People on Benefits
To qualify for free insulation or a Warm Front Scheme grant you need to be in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:
- Income Support (that must include a disability premium)
- Housing Benefit (that must include a disability premium)
- Council Tax Benefit (that must include a disability premium)
- War Disablement Pension (that must include a mobility supplement or a Constant Attendance Allowance)
- Attendance Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460)
- Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460 and which must include a disability element)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (that must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
You should also qualify if your have a child under 16 or are pregnant and have a maternity certificate MAT B1 and get any of the following:
- Income Support
- Council Tax Benefit
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (Savings or Guarantee elements)
And you should qualify if you are age 60 or over and get any of the following:
- Pension Credit (Savings or Guarantee elements)
- Council Tax Benefit
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Please note that conditions may apply to some of these, for example income levels or receipt of other benefits. For further information speak to one of the insulation grant providers.
Grants for New Technologies & Renewables
Grants are available from the Government under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme for installation of technologies such as solar heating panels, photovoltaics, small-scale hydro turbines and wind turbine generators, heat pumps, and wood and pellet burning stoves and boilers.
Grant levels are as follows:
| Technology | % Grant available |
|---|---|
| Solar photovoltaics | Maximum £2,000 per kWp installed, up to a maximum of £2,500 subject to an overall 50% limit of the installed cost |
| Wind turbines | Maximum £1,000 per kW installed, up to a maximum of £2,500 subject to an overall 30% limit of the installed cost |
| Small hydro | Maximum £1,000 per kW installed, up to a maximum of £2,500 subject to an overall 30% limit of the installed cost |
| Solar thermal hot water | Maximum £400 subject to an overall 30% limit |
| Heat pumps | Maximum £1,200 (ground source) or £900 (air source) subject to an overall 30% limit |
| Room Heater/Stoves automated wood pellet feed | Maximum £600 subject to an overall 20% limit |
| Wood fuelled boiler systems | Maximum £1,500 subject to an overall 30% limit |
Grants are available to home owners and leaseholders, but certain energy efficiency measures have to be installed before a grant can be approved, including loft and (where appropriate) cavity wall insulation, heating controls and energy efficiency light bulbs in all appropriate light fittings. An approved installer must be used.
For more information, visit the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website or ring 0800 915 0990.
Assistance for social landlords
The Energy Saving Trust has developed guidance for local authorities and housing associations to help them improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock, in order to:
- Provide more affordable warmth for tenants
- Reduce carbon dioxide emissions, one of the major causes of climate change
- Improve the condition and value of their stocks whilst reducing maintenance and other costs.
For guidance for local authorities, click here. For guidance for housing associations, click here.
Other assistance
Private Landlords: for free, impartial advice on the offer or range of offers most suitable for you, call your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre free on 0800 512 012.
Registered Social Landlords: Enact Energy provides project management services to access financial assistance and oversee the installation service. For more information phone 0870 442 7601 or go to: http://www.enactenergy.com/.
