Cash advice

Earlier this year, the government announced its new Green Homes Grant scheme, which it hopes will shave hundreds of pounds off household energy bills by making our homes more energy efficient. Here’s what you need to know…

1

HOW CAN

I FIND

OUT HOW

ENERGY

EFFICIENT

MY HOME IS NOW?

If you bought your home in the past 10 years, its

Energy Performance

Certificate (EPC) will have been included in the Home Information

Pack. It’ll tell you your home’s energy rating. If you started renting in the past 10 years, your landlord should have provided you with the EPC. Most homes are rated D, according to Simple Energy Advice (rented properties must be at least an E). If you can’t find the certificate, search for it using your postcode at simpleenergyadvice.org.uk. If you want to get an EPC, you’ll need to have an assessment by a registered domestic energy assessor. This costs between £60-£120.

2

HOW MUCH CAN I CLAIM THROUGH THE SCHEME?

The Green Homes Grant will cover twothirds of the cost of certain improvements to your home (or your property if you’re a landlord) to make it more energy efficient, up to the value of £5,000.

If you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits you can apply for a £10,000 voucher to cover the total cost of the improvements.

3

WHAT SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS ARE COVERED? Primary measures include improvements to insulation (e.g. loft, underfloor or cavity wall insulation) or heating (like fitting solar panels or a ground source heat pump). If you’re having one of these done, you can also use the voucher to help cover the cost of an improvement from the list of secondary measures. This includes things such as draughtproofing, and replacing singleglazed windows with double or triple-glazing. You can find a full list on the website of the Department for Business,

Energy &

Industrial

Strategy.

4 HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE GREEN HOMES GRANT?

If you plan to apply, start getting quotes from local installers now, as you’ll need these to make your application. You’ll need to use your Green Homes Grant voucher – if you’re awarded one – before 31 March 2021. Any improvements you make under the scheme will have to be carried out by a TrustMark-registered tradesperson. Don’t forget always to ask for details of qualifications and training before engaging the services of a tradesperson, request and follow up on references, check they’re registered with a trades association or ombudsman, and approved by Trading

Standards.

5

WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT OFFERING THE GREEN HOMES GRANT?

The energy we use heating our homes (including heating hot water) accounts for a third of the carbon emissions generated by the average household. Making our homes more energy efficient will help the government meet its target of net zero carbon emissions in the

UK by 2050.