Grants for Energy Savings Technologies

The Government, energy utility companies and local authorities all provide grants to help install energy savings systems in the home to help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Government Grants

At the moment the UK government provides up to £2,700 to households on certain benefits to improve their heating systems and their energy efficiency. In England, the scheme is known as Warm Front, in Northern Ireland it is Warm Homes, in Scotland it is Warm Deal and the Central Heating Programme and in Wales is it the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Criteria to be eligible for the various schemes vary depending on one’s geography. In some schemes to be eligible, one needs to be receiving certain benefits, while in others one needs to be above a certain age. For full details, visit the respective schemes (see links below).

If the property has previously received Warm Front improvements, the grant now available will be the balance of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is involved) less the value of all works previously completed.

Here are some examples of Warm Front eligibility criteria – if you own your home or rent it from a private landlord and if:
1. Householders aged 60 or over in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
• Pension Credit

2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B1, in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
• Pension Credit

3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460, which must include a disability element)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460)
• Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
• Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
• Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
• War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
• Attendance Allowance

NOTES:
The term 'Householder' includes the applicant's spouse, or partner, if they are living with the applicant

You can find out more about the eligibility within the following programmes

• Warmfront grant (England)
• Warm Homes grant (Northern Ireland)
• Warm Deal and the Central heating programme (Scotland)
• Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Wales)

Energy Suppliers

According to the Government’s Energy Efficiency Committee, energy suppliers with a certain number of customers that operate in Great Britain are obliged to achieve targets for improving home energy efficiency.

Subsequently, the energy suppliers are offering a range of offers which reduce the cost of installing energy efficiency measures. You can take up offers from any of the energy companies, not necessarily the one which supplies your home with gas and electricity.
Local Authorities
Most Local authorities provide grants and offers for local residents to install certain energy efficiency measures in their home.