In July, the UK government announced a £2 billion Green Homes Grant Scheme for homeowners and landlords to help make their homes and property more energy sufficient.
Homeowners and landlords in the United Kingdom can apply for vouchers to fund at least two-thirds of the hiring costs of plumbers, builders, and other tradespeople to upgrade the energy efficiency performance of their property, up to £5,000.
As well as helping create thousands of jobs, the UK government believes the Grant scheme will help the country meet its 2050 target of achieving zero carbon emissions.
According to the treasury, the vouchers when properly utilised can save families up to £300 annually on energy bills. Chancellor Sunak state that the average annual savings is around £200.
Homeowners will be able to apply for the vouchers in September. Details of the entire Grant Scheme are still limited and they will be released as time passes.
The main freebies and energy grants
The UK government has made energy as one of the main sectors for grant-giving to promote the reduction of the carbon impact on the environment. The local authorities, the government, and the energy suppliers all offer grants to aid homeowners and landlords in implementing energy-saving measures.
The energy-saving grants result in an increase in your property’s value, economy, and the home’s warmth. You also save a lot of money by insuring your boiler against breakdown and cutting electricity costs.
Boiler Grants and Freebies
Energy providers are offering freebies, such as new boilers, cavity wall insulation, and loft insulation. Such freebies are offered to certain groups, mainly those receiving certain benefits like pension credit, tax credits, universal credit, or income-based benefits. Here are some of the benefits you can get:
Loft insulation – A lot of heat in your home escapes through the roof, you can solve this issue by laying mineral wool under your rafters, which leads to savings of up to £225/yr.
Cavity wall insulation – Most homes especially those built from 1920 to 1990 have a gap between the external and internal walls. Filling the gap with insulating foam and mineral wool ensures that warm air stays in while cold air is kept out. This leads to an approximate of up to £225/yr savings for a three-bedroom.
Boiler repair or replacement – Heating accounts for 60 percent of your energy bills annually. Replacing your old boiler with a new efficient one could save your energy bills up to £315 per year.
How the Grant Works
To obtain the vouchers, landlords and homeowners will be required to fill an online application that details the energy efficiency measures they will undertake. The details are forwarded to licensed local suppliers. Once the supplier issues a quote and approves the application, the government will provide a voucher.
Who can apply?
According to the chancellor, both landlords and homeowners will be eligible, but we await further details. Chancellor Sunak confirmed that approximately 650,000 homes will be covered by the Grant Scheme. A research conducted by Moneysupermarket in July fount out 51 percent of homeowners are planning to undertake the initiative while 26 percent are considering doing so. However, this Grant scheme is not eligible for people living in Scotland.