What is the green homes grant scheme?

Applications for the green home grant scheme closed on 31 March 2021. It was available to homeowners and residential landlords, offering a green homes grant scheme voucher which could be used to offset the cost of installing improvements designed to improve the energy efficiency of a home. The government green grant scheme was seen as a great way to add value to your property.

The green homes grant scheme voucher was intended to cover up to two-thirds of your desired improvements up to a maximum of £5,000. The government green grant scheme also covered a range of improvements to your home although this free government grant excluded newly built homes. The scheme was ideal if you were looking to get a new boiler for your home from a professional provider such as Next Energy.

The free government grant was aimed at people who own their own homes including shared ownership. The green home grant scheme also covered park homes or homes on a residential site including traveller sites.

If your household met certain criteria including receiving a range of specified benefits, then your voucher could cover up to 100% of the costs.

If you were a residential landlord then you could also benefit from the government green grant scheme.

Improvements covered by the scheme

The vouchers could be used to cover a wide range of improvements. Next Energy helped a wide range of grant claimants to arrange a free boiler through the scheme, where the boiler was a minimum of 6 years old.

Qualifying for a free boiler?

In order to qualify for a free boiler, applicants needed to be in receipt of pension credit or child tax credits and to meet a range of other eligibility criteria.

Benefits of a new boiler

Over time a boiler becomes less efficient and this compromises its effectiveness in heating water and your home. A new boiler will make your home more comfortable and will reduce energy costs and wastage. Additionally, you will also be doing your part to help reduce your carbon footprint.

A new A-rated boiler could save up to 1500Kg of carbon dioxide per year and £350 on energy bills. Modern boilers are also smaller which will save you space and are far less noisy, making your home not only more comfortable but quieter too.

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint relates to the volume of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of people burning fossil fuels. This could be coal in a power plant, which means that if you use electricity you are creating a carbon footprint. By driving or using public transport, the petrol or diesel used also adds to a person’s carbon footprint.

Burning gas to cook or heat your home also contributes to your personal carbon footprint. By reducing our carbon footprint we reduce our effect on the environment and the effects of climate change.

The good news is that whilst applications for the current grant closed on 31st March, a replacement is currently under consideration for an autumn rollout.