Make the most of government grants to transform your home into a greener property

(13/03/2009)

UK-wide grants are available for solar water and space heating, small-scale wind and hydro systems, heat pumps and biomass. There are a number of government grants available to homeowners who want to transform their home into a greener, more eco-friendly property.

England – The Warm Front Grant provides a package of insulation and energy-efficient heating measures up to a maximum value of £2,700. The grant is available to the over ‘60s in receipt of some form of income or other benefit, or homeowners with children under 16 in the house also in receipt of a state benefit.

Wales – The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme could make up to £5,000 available to transform your home into a greener, more eco-friendly property.

Scotland – Under the Warm Deal programme, homeowners receiving some form of income or housing benefit, or the over ‘60s, have £500 available from central funds to spend on insulation to keep their homes warmer and more energy-efficient.

Northern Ireland – The Warm Homes grant provides a package of energy-efficiency and heating measures up to the value of £850. Energy efficiency advice and guidance is tailored to each household. The scheme is aimed at owner-occupiers and people who rent their homes from private landlords.

The Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) provides grants for householders in Scotland. Funding is set at 30 per cent of the installed cost – up to £4,000.

Another offer to be aware of is that new zero-carbon homes worth up to £500,000 are exempt from stamp duty until 2012, and if the home generates more power than it needs, the excess energy can be sold back to suppliers without incurring income tax or capital gains tax.

It is not only the government that is providing help with improving your home. Energy suppliers are given targets by the government to promote energy efficiency. This is to support the Government’s long-term goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050. The suppliers therefore provide a range of offers which significantly reduce the cost of installing energy saving and renewable products.

The types of projects that would be eligible for these particular grants include heating installations and this is where Trianco's Smarter Energy comes in. Activair air source heat pumps are one option. Providing a low cost heating solution, capable of supplying all of a family’s hot water and heating needs it is five times as efficient as a gas or oil boiler.

Also part of the Smarter Energy product portfolio is the Kerr wood burning boiler. Burning logs of up to 30cm in length, this boiler can be used to heat not just houses but also garages, workshops, sheds, greenhouses, swimming pools and hot tubs.

Making an energy efficient home isn’t just better for the environment; it might also boost the property’s resale value so exhausting the resources that we have available to us is essential.

Related categories:  Cogeneration, combined heat and power   Environmental legislation   Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes   Solar power and photovoltaics   Wind power