Government Launches Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme

Homeowners and landlords will soon find it even easier to keep their homes warm for less, with the launch of a new government home energy efficiency improvement scheme.

Through the Green Homes Grant scheme, due to open in September, homeowners and landlords can apply for vouchers to contribute to the cost of energy-saving home improvements – up to £5000 for most homeowners, or £10 000 for low income households. Householders benefit from having a warmer home that costs less to heat, and improving home energy efficiency also helps the UK achieve the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

The government is working with the Simple Energy Advice website to make applying for the vouchers easy through an online “Find Home Improvements” tool. A quick quiz helps homeowners understand what they are eligible for and what changes they can make in their home. Homeowners can also find fully accredited tradespeople near them and get a quote for improvements in time for the scheme launch.

Top 10 tips to improve your home’s energy efficiency

1. Take advantage of natural light. Open curtains and blinds throughout your house. 
2. Switch to energy saving lightbulbs such as LEDs or CFLs, and remember to turn off lights in rooms you are not using. 
3. Don’t leave appliances on standby. Turn them off at the wall or use power strips that detect when an appliance is on standby and automatically cut off the power.
4. Buy a smart thermostat. This will make sure you only have the heating on when someone is home.
5. Make small changes to how you heat your home: turn down your thermostat a few degrees, reduce the number of rooms you heat in your home, or heat your home for fewer hours each day.
6. Switch to a smart meter to help understand your energy use and how you can reduce it.
7. Wash your clothes on a lower temperature setting. Switching to 30 degrees can help increase energy efficiency and help your clothes last longer.
8. Make the most of warm weather by drying your clothes outside, or use an air dryer for the winter months. If you need to use the tumble dryer, make sure it is full before starting.
9. Make sure your dishwater is completely full before running it.  If possible, run it in the middle of the night, during off-peak hours
10. Check if you could be eligible for a home energy grant  at www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency

Head to the Simple Energy Advice website now and check out whether you are eligible for the new Green Homes Grant. 

Source: Insight DIY & Government Dept for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

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