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Energy funding and grants
Green Living Leicestershire - Home Upgrade Grant
Green Living Leicestershire is a partnership between North West Leicestershire District Council, Leicestershire County Council and other Leicestershire district authorities, to deliver projects supporting sustainability and Net Zero - the reduction of green house gas emissions to as close to zero as possible.
The scheme supports households that do not have mains gas as a primary heating system such as those with electric, heating oil, LPG or solid fuel heating. Households that only use gas for cooking or secondary room heating can still apply.
Eligibility criteria includes households within priority neighbourhood areas and more widely, households with an income of £31,000 or less per year or in receipt of means tested benefits, with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D,E,F or G (D or E in private rental). It will prioritise the most energy inefficient households.
For more information on the grants, including the full eligibility criteria, eligible postcode areas or to apply, visit Leicestershire County Council's Green Living Leicestershire Home Upgrade Grant webpage or call project delivery partner YES Energy Solutions on 0330 912 6199, who can support residents with their applications.
Green Living Leicestershire - Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
Qualifying householders can access funding to upgrade heating or improve home insulation through the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. ECO is a requirement placed upon energy companies to help improve the domestic energy efficiency of lower income homes. The scheme runs until 31st March 2026.
Leicestershire authorities are working together to widen access to this funding. There are several routes of eligibility for ECO funding. Please visit the dedicated webpages to find out more.
https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/eco
Flexible Eligibility
Flexible Eligibility or ‘ECO Flex’ is designed to allow Councils to set criteria to assist those who would fall outside of the normal benefit criteria but may still need financial assistance to make heating their home more affordable. This eligibility route is only applicable to private sector housing meaning those who rent privately or own their home.
North West Leicestershire District Council is utilising Flexible Eligibility to support low income or vulnerable households to access energy efficiency improvements via ECO funding and participates in a joint Statement of Intent with Leicestershire authorities which sets out the eligibility criteria.
Details of this scheme including the Statement of Intent published by Leicestershire County Council can be found at:
https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/eco
Leicestershire authorities are working together under the Green Living Leicestershire partnership to deliver projects supporting energy efficiency, sustainability, and wider net zero goals.
Other useful sources
Leicestershire County Council has further information on energy efficiency grants available.
The Government has a useful tool for helping you find grants to pay for energy saving measures www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk
Grants are available to encourage propery owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), contributing up to £6,000 towards to the cost. The Ofgem scheme runs from 2022 to 2025 and is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales.
Are you able to claim a cold weather payment? Or claim a winter fuel payment?
Find out if you qualify for a warm home discount off your bills.
Does your energy company fund energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation or new boilers through the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO)?
Energy Advice
HERO - Home Energy Retrofit Offer
Eligible residents living in energy inefficient homes can receive tailored support via home visits to access grant funding or assess their homes to identify suitable improvements.
The scheme aims to support residents to have the knowledge and confidence to improve homes, affordable warmth and cut carbon emissions. The service will be promoting retrofit of homes and providing advice at events across the county through to March 2025.
To find out more visit the HERO webpage or telephone the Warm Homes service on 0116 305 2524.
Warm Homes
Leicestershire County Council offers the Warm Homes advice service.
They can help with:
- Home improvement grants
- Tariff advice
- Energy debt advice
- Energy efficiency advice
- Benefit checks
- Insulation grants
They have a comprehensive advice booklet which provides an overview of top tips to reduce heating bills and maintain affordable warmth, advice on grants, benefits and keeping your home fit for winter as well as a range of useful resources for further reading.
Check out their website for lots of useful information and you can sign up for their warm homes newsletter which will also advise of any future funding.
Telephone: 0116 305 2524
Website: First Contact Plus Warm Homes Service
National Energy Association - Warm and Safe Homes Advice
The WASH Advice Service is a free national support service providing advice to householders in England and Wales on their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home. It also offers advice workshops direct to householders and training to frontline staff.
They can help with:
- Support with gas and electricity accounts including fuel debt
- Warm Home Discount and Priority Service Register information
- Switching suppliers
- Energy efficiency
- Trust fund applications
- Water rates
- Benefits advice and income maximisation
WASH Advice Line: 0800 304 7159
Website: www.nea.org.uk/advice-support
Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP)
LEAP is a free service that is helping people keep warm and reduce their energy bills without costing them any money. Contact them via their website www.applyforleap.org.uk or ring 0800 060 7567 or email support@applyforleap.org.uk for advice.
LEAP is open to all types of householders – homeowners, private renters and social housing tenants. Individuals need to qualify in one of three categories in order to be eligible for the scheme - details are available on their website.
Switching Energy Supplier
Energy Switch scheme
Energy Switch is a national scheme that allows people to join together to buy electricity and gas, which usually brings the price down. The more people who join the scheme, the bigger the savings. The scheme includes a renewable energy source.
Energy Compare
Citizens Advice energy comparison tool could help you to find a better deal on your gas and electricity plus has useful advice about switching supplier including advice for those who are in fuel debt.
Other information
Switching Tariffs / Changing Energy Supplier - Money Saving Expert's Cheap Energy Club
Centre for Sustainable Energy - Advice guides (insulation, heating and hot water and energy bills)
Consumer champion Which also has advice:
www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/
www.which.co.uk/switch/energy-advice/guide-to-switching-supplier
Last updated: Wed 21 August, 2024 @ 16:23