Have you ever thought about altering aspects of your home because it could be more energy
efficient but you aren’t able to fund it yourself? There are a variety of different funding
options out there that will help you make your home a greener space.
However, many of these schemes will only help with funding if you fall under various
categories, which we’ll explain here.
Firstly, there is a scheme called Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which aims to tackle
fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. This scheme consists of the Home Heating Cost
Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) which ensures energy suppliers promote the reduction of
energy bills through their specific measures such as the installation of insulation, heating
measures. The energy companies that work with the ECO may fit appliances for free or they
may require you to contribute to the total cost.
In order to be eligible for ECO, you must live in social housing with an EPC rating (a review
of the property’s energy efficiency) of E, F or G, or receive at least one of the benefits listed
below. You must also receive permission from the individual or company that owns the
property.
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Carer's Allowance
Child Benefit (on the condition that the household’s relevant income does not exceed
the amount set out in Chapter 3 of our scheme guidance)
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Pension Guarantee Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
Income Support
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Mobility Supplement
Personal Independence Payment
Severe Disablement Allowance
Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
Universal Credit
As this scheme isn’t a government grant, you cannot reclaim money for appliances you have
already installed. If you would to see if your home needs improvements you can use this tool
https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/energy-efficiency/reduce-bills. You can also use this
link https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/eco-suppliers to see which companies are
available and offering improvements.
Another scheme that is very beneficial, especially when considering improving your home so
that it’s more energy efficient, is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). This scheme essentially allows households to get paid for the extra, unused energy they have and they
can then send it back to the grid. The amount of money they give you is dependent on the
amount of energy the solar panels on your home produce, which means your house must be
fitted with a smart meter to measure the levels.
The electricity can be produced through the renewable technologies stated below:
Solar panels
Hydro
Anaerobic digestion
Wind
Micro combined heat and power
And these technologies must all fit the following:
The installation must be MCS-certified
It must be 5MW capacity or less (50kW for micro-CHP)
You must have a meter that can provide 30 minute readings for the electricity
exported by the technology.
In order to receive the payments, you must sign up to a SEG tariff. However, you must be
producing surplus energy which can be sent back to the National Grid, otherwise you won’t
be eligible. You won’t be able to make money from SEG due to the fact that SEG pays for
the excess electricity sent to the grid, rather than the entirety of electricity generated.
However, if you decide to get a SEG tariff, shopping around to find the best prices from
companies will prove that the money you can get paid does differ.
According to Which, ‘in November 2020, we found companies paying between 1p/kWh and 5.5p/kWh (or even as much as 11p/kWh if you choose a tariff that requires you to have a specific battery).’
The Warm Home Discount scheme is a scheme that allows you to receive a one off discount
from your electricity bill, of £140. The scheme will begin on the 18th October 2021 and will
discount your bill between the months of September through to March.
To qualify, you must be on a low income, meeting your energy suppliers criteria for the
scheme. Or you receive the Guarantee credit element of pension credit. You can also apply
even if you are on a pay-as-you-go meter. All you need to do is discuss your contract with
your supplier, where they may be able to give you a voucher.
Another scheme which is worth applying for is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). It is a
scheme that allows you to claim for heating systems. If the heating system that you have
installed meets the criteria of the RHI, you could be paid for the renewable heat you produce
for a number of years.
The RHI can support five technologies:
Wood boilers
Solar water heating
Ground source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps
Wood pellet stoves with back boiler
You can use this calculator to find an estimate of how much money you could receive
through the RHI https://renewable-heat-calculator.service.gov.uk.
The RHI scheme ensures that the owner of the renewable heating system has support for
seven years and you must also apply to the RHI scheme within one year of the installation of the heating system in your home in order to claim. The scheme will remain open until 31st
March 2022.
There are a variety of different schemes available that will support you on your journey to
becoming greener and more energy efficient. Dependent on specific criteria, such as your
income, there will be certain schemes and grants that will be more suited to you. However,
they are designed to support you and help fund these greener measures, so if you’re
eligible, take advantage of them.