New scheme funds energy efficient home improvements

People living in Eddisbury can now get up to £5,000 of energy efficient home improvements funded by the Government as part of a new scheme.

The Green Homes Grant will not only enable households to improve their energy efficiency and cut down on bills, but help protect the environment and jobs, livelihoods and the local economy by creating more work for Cheshire tradespeople.

The new scheme, which opened for business today, covers a range of energy saving measures at home: including insulation for floors and roofs, double or triple glazing and draught-proofing.

Under the terms of the Green Homes Grant, the Government will offer vouchers to cover up to two-thirds of energy efficient home improvements – worth up to £5,000.

The improvements mean families could be saving £600 a year on bills.

And Edward Timpson, MP for Eddisbury, said he would encourage households to apply for the vouchers for the many benefits they will bring:

“I am delighted the Government has introduced this scheme,” Mr Timpson said.

“Not only will more energy efficient homes help families save money on their bills, but it will also help the environment too.

“With winter coming, anything we can do to make our homes warmer and more efficient is a real boost.

“And there are other benefits with this scheme too, such as providing more work for Cheshire tradespeople who would carry out the work helping to boost the economy.

“I hope as many people as possible across Eddisbury can sign up to this scheme and all the benefits and savings it provides.”

The Green Homes Grant also offers vouchers up to £10,000 for low income families and is available to some landlords as well as homeowners.

For full details on the Green Homes Grant, who is eligible and how to apply, go to www.gov.uk/GreenHomesGrant.

Green Homes Grant – England

Through the new Green Homes Grant scheme, homeowners (both freehold and leasehold owner occupiers), and landlords can apply for vouchers of up to £5,000 towards the cost of installing energy efficient and low-carbon heating improvements in their homes.

Some homeowners on income-based or disability benefits may be eligible for vouchers covering the full cost of improvement.

There are 2 elements to this scheme, a £1.5 billion voucher scheme and a £500 million Local Authority Delivery scheme, through which funding will be allocated to local authorities to support low-income, fuel poor households. The first phase of the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme launched on 4 August 2020, with the bidding window for local authorities to submit funding proposals closing on 1 September 2020.

We will be offering a total of funded projects of around £76 million across 56 bids allowing the upgrade of almost 11,000 homes for low income households.  Successful local authorities will be notified by the end of September.

Vouchers will help more than 600,000 households across England to save up to £600 a year on energy bills. Together the 2 elements of the scheme are supporting 100,000 jobs in green construction and helping reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The Green Home Grant scheme will open for voucher applications on 30 September 2020. Vouchers must be redeemed, and improvements completed, by 31 March 2021.

Tradespeople need to be TrustMark registered to carry out these home improvements as part of the scheme. Homeowners can be sure that they have been thoroughly vetted and meet the required standards of good customer service, technical competence and good trading practices.

Installers must follow Construction and other outdoor work government guidance for working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) when undertaking installations.