The Green Homes Grant scheme will be extended by a year, to the end of March 2022.
Launched in September, the Green Home Grant is aimed to cover the costs of making homes more energy efficient. The government have allocated £2 billion to the scheme.
The Scheme intended only to last until end of March 2021 has now been extended and will continue to 31st March 2022. A miscalculation on the time it takes to deliver the work and the need for a qualified workforce has been a real oversight for the government.
This is great news for homeowners who are looking to make their property eco-friendlier. In March 2021 you will be able to apply for a government-funded grant up to £5000 – or in some cases up to £10,000 – this will be supplied in energy saving vouchers that will enable us eco warrior brits to heat and insulate our homes in a sustainable fashion.
As you can imagine there’s some criteria to hit – take a look at our outline below.
What is the Green Homes Grant for?
The government’s plan is to give some homeowners in England money to spend on eco-friendly home improvements.
The funding is supplied in a form of vouchers and in some cases will cover all of the cost.
How much will the vouchers be worth?
The Vouchers will cover at least two thirds of the cost. This is up to £5,000 per household. For low-income households, there is option of covering costs of up to £10,000.
The initiative could potentially save you £600 per year on your energy bills.
What can the money be spent on?
The vouchers can be spent on a number of different options although you will have to demonstrate that you are installing at least one of the primary measures listed below.
Low-Carbon heating
- ground source heat pump
- biomass boilers
- air source heat pump
- solar thermal (liquid filled flat plate or evacuated tube collectors)
Low carbon heating will require proper insulation with either solid wall, cavity wall and loft insulation
Insulation
- Under floor
- Cavity wall
- Solid wall
- Loft
- Room in roof
- Flat roof
The grant will not allow you to replace existing insulation or low-carbon heating. You will however be able to top up existing insulation to the recommended level.
A home-owner that is having a primary measure installed can qualify for a voucher of the same value toward the secondary measures, listed below:
- draught proofing
- double/triple glazing (only if replacing single glazed windows)
- secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing)
- external energy efficient doors (replacing single glazed or solid doors installed before 2002)
- heating controls
- hot water tank thermostats and insulation
Who is eligible for the grant?
All homeowners in England including private and social landlords are eligible for the scheme. Landlords do not qualify for low-income portion of the grant, so are therefore limited to be a voucher of up to £5,000.
Who is not eligible for the grant?
New builds that haven’t yet been occupied are not eligible for any part of the grant.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are not participating in the scheme, so only properties in England are eligible.
Who can carry out the work?
Anyone hired for the work should be TrustMark approved or registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
There will be a list of recommended and accredited suppliers on the Simple Energy Advice website when applying.
With anything of this nature, you will need to supply at least three quotes from different suppliers in order to ensure you’re getting the best value for money.
How do I apply?
You can apply via the Simple Energy Advice website, where you’ll find out what energy-efficiency improvements can be made to your home.