Green Energy Grants
Have you ever considered applying for a green energy grant? There are a number of grants available to help with the costs of implementing energy saving measures in your home. Wind turbines, solar heating, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing, draught proofing, heating appliances, radiator panels, energy saving light bulbs are all covered by grants.
These grants are available to everyone not just those who have a low income. Grants come from three areas, government, energy suppliers and local authorities.
The government grant will pay up to £2,700 per household to improve its heating efficiency. In addition they encourage householders to install micro-generation technologies such as wind turbines and solar heating as part of their Low Carbon Buildings Programme which they implement on behalf of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory reform. You do have to install a certified product and use a certified installer. Last year funding was increased by 50% to install small scale renewables such as:-
- Solar photovoltaics - Sun shines on cells in a solar panel which convert solar radiation to electricity
- Wind turbines - Wind force produces power to turn a turbine which in turn produces electricity.
- Small hydro - Converts the energy of water stored at height to turn a turbine to produce electricity. These can range from domestic on or off grid applications to community or commercial applications.
- Solar thermal hot water – Solar panels heat tanks of water via a heat transfer system.
- Ground source heat pumps - A few metres underground the temperature remains a steady 12 degrees centigrade. Pipes embedded within the ground transfer this heat via a heat pump and use it to supplement hot water and central heating systems.
- Bio-energy - Two type of bio-fuel are burned to produce heat. Woody biomass such as wood (in the form of wood pellets, wood chips and wood logs) and energy crops plus short rotation coppice such as willow. Non-woody biomass such as animal waste industrial and biodegradable municipal products from food processing and high energy crops i.e. rape, sugar cane, maize.
In Scotland a similar scheme operates called The Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI). Funding is available for the same range of products up to 30% of the installed cost to a maximum of £4,000 per household. Scottish households may not apply for both the Low Carbon Buildings grant and also the SCHRI.
The Energy Saving Trust which operates the schemes on behalf of the government are also empowered to provide advice and grants similar to those offered to households for community groups, public, private and not for profit organisations.
Energy suppliers have, since 2002, been given government targets to promote energy efficiency to support the government’s vision of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050. This comprises a range of offers that reduce the costs of installing energy saving and renewable measures. You can shop around for the best deal, you don’t have to use your own energy supplier.
Local authorities also provide grants and offers for local residents and these will vary by area which is why you will be asked for your postcode when you access the website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/. Have a look at what’s on offer for your postcode and tick for more information.