Green Homes
Grant Scheme
As part of investment in a ‘green recovery’, homeowners and landlords in England will be able to apply for vouchers from the Green Homes Grant scheme to make over 600,000 homes more energy-efficient and create local jobs. Installing energy saving measures will help homeowners with lower energy bills whilst also helping the environment.
Green Home Grants Scheme Overview
Consumer Guide – Green Homes Grants
Installer Guide –
Green Homes Grants
Our guide covers the basics from eligibility requirements to quotes, installations and payments.
Green Home Grants Consumer Video
How can installers become an accredited supplier?
Quality assurance is at the heart of the Green Homes Grants scheme and the government has now clarified that tradespeople who want to install under the scheme must be TrustMark accredited, and also, MCS certified for heat pump and solar thermal installations.
As HIES is a TrustMark scheme operator, we can help HIES members with the TrustMark accreditation process. Click here to find out more or click here to apply to become a HIES member.
The accreditation that tradespeople must acquire before installing any work under the scheme will give homeowners peace of mind that their installer is approved and accredited thus ensuring high standards and thorough consumer protection.
This scheme will urge consumers to engage with TrustMark Registered Businesses to have energy-efficient works carried out in and around their homes, bringing increased jobs and revenue to businesses.
Business and Energy Secretary Alok Sharma:
The Green Homes Grant scheme will not only cut emissions and make a serious dent in people’s energy bills, but will create new work for many thousands of talented builders, plumbers and other tradespeople right across the UK. Today I’m urging businesses to sign up and get TrustMark accredited so they can crack on and offer their services to households across the country when the scheme opens.
What is the value of the vouchers?
- The grant will cover up to two-thirds of the cost for energy-efficient measures up to £5k.
- For low income households, the vouchers will cover the full cost up to £10k.
For example, a homeowner of a semi-detached or end-of-terrace house could install cavity wall and floor insulation for about £4,000 – the homeowner would pay £1,320 while the government would contribute £2,680. Doing so could save the owner over £200 annually on their bills and reduce their carbon footprint by cutting 700 kg of CO2 a year from their home alone.
How will the Green Homes Grant Scheme work?
The green homes grant scheme launched at the end of September, with online applications for recommended energy efficiency measures, along with details of accredited local suppliers.
Once one of these suppliers has provided a quote and the work is approved, the voucher is issued.
Who can benefit?
Homeowners will be able to check their eligibility on the Simple Energy Advice website at www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk. The Green Homes Grant applies to England only, so won’t cover homes in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. New-build domestic properties and non-domestic properties are not eligible.
For the general scheme, the following properties are eligible:
1. All owner-occupied homes (including long-leaseholders, shared ownership)
2. Landlords of private rented sector domestic properties
3. Landlords of social sector domestic properties (including Local Authority owned homes)
4. Park homeowners (for residential sites including Gypsy and Traveller sites)
How can homeowners find a reputable installer?
Consumers can only use tradespeople that are TrustMark accredited and also, MCS certified for heat pump and solar thermal installations.
The Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service will be the main source of information for consumers. Consumers can find advice and information on how best to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and will be able to search for accredited tradespeople who are authorised to carry out works under the scheme at www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk.
When can homeowners apply?
The vouchers started to be issued from the end of September 2021 and the scheme will close in March 2022.
What measures are covered by the scheme?
Homeowners and social and private landlords will need to use their voucher to install at least one of the following, which they will receive before works commence:
Primary measures:
- Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall, loft, flat roof, room in roof or park home insulation; or
- Low carbon heat – air source or ground source heat pump or solar thermal (where the home is suitably
insulated).
It has also been confirmed that “top-ups” are allowed. For example, this would be solid wall insulation for other walls where a wall has been previously insulated. Replacements are not included.
For households to qualify for secondary measures they must install at least one of the primary measures. It is important to note that secondary measures can only be subsidised up to the amount of subsidy provided for primary measures. For example, if a household receives £2,000 for primary measures, they can then only receive the same (a maximum of £2,000) towards any secondary measures.
For example, if a homeowner wants to install cavity wall insulation and receives a voucher worth £400 towards this measure, they can receive up to £400 more for further energy efficiency measures, such as replacing single glazed with double glazed windows.
Secondary measures:
- Draught proofing.
- Windows and doors: Double/triple glazing (where replacing single glazing), secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing), upgrading to energy-efficient doors (where replacing doors installed prior to 2002).
- Heating controls and insulation: appliance thermostats, hot water tank thermostats, hot water tank insulation, smart heating controls, zone controls, delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves. Households will need to have adequate insulation for low-carbon heating to be installed.
To note, secondary measures cannot be undertaken in isolation but can be installed alongside a primary measure.
How can HIES help?
As HIES is a TrustMark scheme operator, we can help members with the accreditation process so that your business can benefit from new work under the Green Homes Grants Scheme. Contact us today to find out more.
We’ve also put together a handy guide on the Green Home Grants Scheme that you can download for free here.
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