Funding
If you or someone you live with is receiving benefits, talk to your energy supplier to see what help is available through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Under the ECO scheme, energy suppliers must install energy efficiency measures in the homes of the people who need them most. For more information click here.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (previously the ECO+ scheme) aims to upgrade the least energy efficient homes. The scheme helps you get free or cheaper home insulation. For more information click here.
The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG), administered through your local authority, provides energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to low income households living in the worst performing, off gas grid homes in England (no gas boiler). You can check if eligible click here.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government grant for people who want to install a heat pump or a biomass boiler. BUS covers three low carbon heating systems. Air source heat pump: £7,500 towards cost and installation. Ground source heat pump: £7,500 towards cost and installation. Biomass boiler: £5,000 off cost and installation. To find out more information click here.
If you generate renewable electricity you could benefit from a Smart Export Guarantee tariff. The Smart Export Guarantee is a support mechanism that ensures people that generate their own electricity are paid for the electricity they export to the grid. This doesn’t happen automatically, so you need to sign up to get the SEG tariff. For more information click here.
The UK Government’s website has information and guidance on financial support and saving energy at home. They also have details of all the government funded options here.
With the rising costs of fuel, energy advice has never been more important. North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre expert energy advisers can provide advice on how to save money on energy costs, getting the best deal from suppliers and tackling problems with them, accessing grants and priority services. You can access more information on their Warm & Well scheme here.
Citizens advice also offers advice on how to obtain help paying for energy efficiency home improvements here.
An increasing number of mainstream lenders are now offering Green Mortgages. These incentives mean that if you’re purchasing an energy-efficient home or making energy-efficient improvements to your property, your lender may reward you with a better interest rate or cashback on your mortgage. This could also make your home more attractive if you have increased the EPC rating to C or more, as this will enable future buyers to look at these green mortgages.
