From grants that provide free vouchers that can be used to make energy-saving improvements to your home to schemes that can bring significant reductions to the cost of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), there are plenty of eco-grants available for UK homeowners, landlords and motorists.
However, according to our recent ‘How Green Do Brits Think They Are?’ survey, it would appear that not everyone knows these grants even exist. From the 1,000 UK adults we questioned about their views on the environment, only 6.9 per cent of respondents said they either currently use, have used, or plan to use any form of eco-schemes, grants or funding. Additionally, over 25 per cent admitted that they didn’t actually know they existed.
The good news is that there are, in fact, a wide range of energy grants and schemes available to UK residents that can help with the cost of making your home and mode of transport more efficient and eco-friendly. This guide will tell you all you need to know about the most common eco grants available to householders.
Launched in April 2022 the 'Boiler Upgrade Scheme' is the newest government-backed energy grant.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a government scheme that encourages the installation and use of renewable heating technologies amongst both domestic homeowners and businesses through financial incentives
Introduced as a further incentive for households and businesses alike to invest in renewable energy heating technologies such as solar thermal panels, biomass boilers, ground to water heat pumps and air to water heat pumps, the RHI sees those eligible receive quarterly payments over seven years for domestic cases or over 20 years for non-domestic cases. The size of these payments are based on the amount of heat you generate sustainably. Although not made upfront to help with initial installation costs, they can help pay off these initial costs over time. On top of the regular bill reductions renewable energy can achieve, additional RHI payments can make the prospect of ‘going green’ far more attractive.
To assess your eligibility or to apply for the Domestic RHI, visit the government website here. For the Non-Domestic RHI, click here. Please note, the deadline for non-domestic applications is 31 March 2021, while the deadline for domestic applications is 31 March 2022.
Please note that this scheme has now ended.
Launched by the government in September 2020, the Green Homes Grant Scheme provides homeowners in England with vouchers that can be used to pay for up to £10,000 toward the cost of installing a range of energy saving measures in their home.
Covering everything from wall and loft insulation to the fitting of solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and air source, ground source or hybrid heat pumps, these grants are designed to help the UK meet its target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
To check eligibility and to apply for this grant, visit the government website here.
First launched by the government in 2013 and now in its third incarnation, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme is designed to ensure the UK’s largest energy providers contribute to the national effort to reduce carbon emissions by making sure their customers’ homes are as efficient as possible to reduce energy wastage.
Introduced to help families who are on low incomes and live in homes that are not energy efficient, the ECO scheme sees the UK’s largest energy providers offering grants that can be used towards covering the costs of cavity wall and loft insulation, new boilers, central heating upgrades and other energy efficient home improvements.
A full list of providers that take part in the ECO scheme can be found here. To check if you are eligible for a grant, simply contact your energy provider.
Originally launched in 2011 and renewed in March 2020 to run until at least the 2022/23 financial year, the Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) scheme sees the government put money towards any new purchase of a zero-emissions vehicle in order to offer a cash incentive for consumers to switch from conventional vehicles to eco-friendly electric cars and vans.
As of March 2020, anyone purchasing a zero-emissions electric vehicle can receive a grant of £3,000, or 35 per cent of the vehicle’s market value (whichever is lower), to subsidise their investment in a new green form of travel. The PiCG scheme is designed to help cut the UK’s CO2 emissions and has so far helped over 200,000 people purchase an electric vehicle.
To apply for a PiCG, visit the government website here to fill in an online application form.
If you’re interested in becoming more eco-friendly, why not see if you are eligible for any of these helpful grants?
To share more ideas on bettering the environment and to let us know how you’ve benefited from an eco-grant in recent years, tag us on Facebook at @ViessmannUK.
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