Funding available to save on energy bills

Residents encourage to check if they are eligible

Residents across Basildon Borough are being encouraged to check if they are eligible to receive help under a new scheme being launched to help local households be warmer in their homes, lower their carbon emissions, and save money on their fuel bills.

Under the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme, delivered by Warmworks on behalf of Basildon Council and through funding from the Government, householders can apply to receive improvements to increase the comfort and warmth in their home. The scheme offers a wide range of insulation measures and renewable heating technologies which are designed to support homes to reduce their impact on the environment, including home insulation; solar panels, and air source, ground source, and hybrid heat pumps.

Green Homes Grants are open to homeowners, private tenants and people in social rented accommodation, where the home has a low energy rating and a low annual income. 

The Energy Savings Trust publish potential savings on bills if works are carried out to a property. Estimated savings for installation of loft insulation on its own can be anything between £230 (terraced) to £300 (detached) per year, depending on the property and the nature of any insulation already in place. The figures are similar for wall insulation (source Solid Wall Insulation Costs And Savings - Which?).

The initial enquiry form takes minutes to complete. Warmworks will arrange a survey in the homes of eligible householders to agree the work that will be carried out. An accredited and registered sub-contractor team then completes the installation of the agreed heating and energy-efficiency measures, before an independent inspection assesses the completed work against rigorous quality standards. Where required, Warmworks will also then arrange for a full annual service to be completed 12 months later.

Residents can find out if they are eligible for the scheme by completing the short application form here.  Further information is also available on the Basildon Council website.

UPDATE

We are pleased to be able to inform residents that Basildon Council has been allocated a further £1.8 million of Sustainable Warmth funding by the Government via the South East Energy Hub. This latest funding will enable the continuation of the current programme beyond the end of March, as well as introduce a further tranche of money for low income households living in properties with a low Energy Performance rating, reliant on non-gas fossil fuels.

Basildon Council will be working closely with the Energy Hub, Essex County Council and Warmworks to support delivery.

Low-income households in owner-occupied properties could be eligible for a subsidy up to £10,000, with no contribution towards the cost of the upgrade required. Where a low-income household resides in a rented property (either with a private or social landlord), they could be eligible for up to £5,000 per property.