Rishi Sunak announced a £2bn home improvement grant scheme during the mini-budget announcement in July, to help the UK’s ‘green’ economic recovery.
The Green Homes Grant aims to give over 600,000 homeowners £5,000 and £10,000 vouchers to insulate homes, with heat pumps, draft proofing and more improvements that will help households cut their energy bills.
The government estimates the measures could save families up to £600 a year on gas and electricity.
There are different grants available and those on the lowest incomes will have all of their costs covered up to the value of £10,000.
Vouchers on the grant include one or more of the following:
- Solid Wall, Under-Floor, Cavity Wall, or Roof Insulation
- Air Source, or Ground Source Heat Pump
- Solar Thermal
Households can also use their voucher for further energy saving measures including one or more of the following:
- Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing
- Upgrading to energy-efficient doors
- Hot water tank/appliance tank thermostats/heating controls
The Simple Energy Advise (SEA) service will be providing homeowners across England the access to advice and support on improving efficiency within their homes.
SEA will also suggest appropriate home improvements.
A full list of approve TrustMark and MCS registered tradespeople in their local area will be providing.
Once the works are agreed, vouchers will be issued from the end of September so work can commence.
Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, Mike Thornton, said: “The Green Homes Grant is a significant investment by the government in energy efficiency which will provide long term benefits to householders and the environment by cutting fuel bills and reducing carbon emissions.”
The government are urging tradespeople to register their participation for the scheme too.
Business and Energy Secretary, Alok Sharma said: “Green home improvements will save people money on their energy bills, help to cut carbon emissions, and create new work for many thousands of builders, plumbers and other tradespeople [and] Our TrustMark scheme will guarantee that building work is completed to a high standard by accredited tradespeople, ensuring consumers are fully protected.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “The Green Homes Grant is a vital part of our plan for jobs as we secure the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus [and] this is going to be a green recovery with concern for our environment at its heart.
“It will help to protect and create jobs, while also saving people money and cutting carbon.”
For more information on applying for the grant visit the Government website here.
