Get £5k for home improvements

The government’s Green Homes Grant scheme offers thousands to make homes more energy efficient. Here’s how to use it, and be greener too

We all want to run our homes as efficiently as possible: to protect the planet, but also to keep our household bills down. And now the government want to help us too, launching the Green Homes Grant scheme this month. We spoke to energy experts Matt Clemow, CEO and co-founder of Igloo Energy and Amit Gudka, Chief Energy Officer and Co-Founder at green-energy company Bulb, to find out how the grants work, and how to get access to them.

KNOW HOW IT WORKS

“From this month, homeowners in England can get up to £5,000 worth of vouchers to make energy-saving improvements so their homes are more energy- efficient and cheaper to run,” explains Matt. “It’s a win-win situation for the environment and your wallet. To access the Green Homes Grant, you’ll need to complete an online application form and get a quote from a listed supplier. Once your application has been approved, the government will give you your voucher and you’ll be able to start work.” Applications for the grant are set to launch this month and the scheme will run until March 2021.

BE PREPARED TO PAY SOME COSTS YOURSELF

“Bear in mind that for most of us, the grant won’t cover everything, and you will have to pay part of the costs”, warns Matt. “The voucher will normally pay for around twothirds of the work, so expect to have to contribute a few thousand pounds yourself. If you’re worried about the additional cost, check to see if you’re eligible to apply for more. Those on certain benefits won’t have to contribute to the cost of the improvements and can receive up to £10,000.” So why is the government helping? “The aim is to help boost the economy, power up the nation’s workforce and protect the planet”, says Amit. “It is also intended to help create thousands of jobs for plumbers, electricians, builders and tradesmen.”

WHAT’S COVERED?

“Homeowners must choose from a primary list of measures including insulation and lowcarbon heating,” says Amit. “You can also opt for secondary measures including draughtproofing, double-glazing, triple-glazing and heating controls, but must have at least one of the primary measures as well to qualify for funding.”

CHECK WHAT YOUR HOUSEHOLD NEEDS

“This varies from home to home and the government is planning to provide advice for people on how to make their home more energy efficient,” says Amit. “This should be on Simpleenergyadvice.org.uk very soon. ”

FIND OUT IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

“Anyone who is a homeowner or landlord in England can apply as long as the property isn’t a recent new build. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, there are other options available to you,” says Matt.

SCHEMES IN SCOTLAND, N. IRELAND AND WALES

In Scotland, the Warner Homes Scheme offers financial help towards things like wall and loft insulation and draughtproofing. In Wales, the Nest scheme offers free advice on improving energy efficiency and improvements for those who receive means-tested benefit or have low income or a health condition. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, you can get a grant to replace an inefficient boiler through the Boiler Replacement Scheme and a grant of up to £7,500 towards insulation, heating and window glazing through the Affordable Warmth Scheme.

SAVE WHILE YOU WAIT FOR YOUR VOUCHERS!

“There are plenty of things you can do to reduce your energy use and therefore your household costs,” explains Matt. “Tumble dryers use the most energy in a home so, if possible, switch to an indoor drying rack or use a washing line outdoors, weather permitting. If you have to use a tumble dryer, you can reduce the amount of energy it uses by removing any excess water, untangling clothes, and always drying a full load.”

IMPROVE YOUR HEATING

With winter looming, Matt also recommends ensuring your heating is up to scratch. “If you don’t already have one, a smart thermostat is a great way to make sure you only use energy when you need to heat your home, without compromising on comfort.

INVEST IN THE RIGHT BOILER

If you are thinking of buying a new boiler, consider switching away from a fossil-fuel heating system to something like an Air Source Heat Pump,” says Matt. “These can be up to four times more efficient at making useful heat and have an immediate reduction on your carbon footprint as they use electricity from the grid, which is on average 36 per cent renewable.”

SWAP OUT YOUR LIGHT BULBS

Amit suggests switching your light bulbs. He says, “LEDs use far less electricity than traditional bulbs, and emit very little heat (unlike traditional bulbs that release 90 per cent of their energy as heat).

BE MORE MINDFUL AROUND YOUR PAD

“Making your home energyefficient doesn’t have to cost the world, it can be as simple as changing your mindset,” says Amit. “Opting for a shower over a bath, remembering to switch off the lights, and washing up in a bowl to save hot water are simple changes and are relatively cost-free.”