Most grants for energy efficiency improvements to homes have traditionally been provided by energy supply companies, to meet Government targets. From October 2012 these grants were replaced by Green Deal, which is effectively a loan scheme with repayments being added to electricity bills, with an additional subsidy called ECO for certain measures i.e. households in some low income areas and some benefit recipients. The Green Deal loan scheme proved very unpopular, with a take up of less than 0.1% of anticipated households. It is likely as of September 2015 the scheme will be ending and most of the funds set aside for ECO have run out.
As of September 2015, the following will be available:
Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation
Loft insulation grants are now only available to those who qualify for free measures, either in the low income areas or rural areas if receiving a qualifying benefit.
Cavity wall insulation is free in the low income areas and those with qualifying benefits in the rural areas, it may also become available for all clients in all other areas.
See also NEST
Solid Wall Insulation
In certain areas of Wales solid wall insulation is being carried out under a Welsh Government programme called ARBED, but there is no way to make applications for this. It is promoted in specific areas as the scheme moves in, but has now ended in Flintshire.
Internal solid wall insulation (using insulated plaster board directly fitted to external walls) is much cheaper than external insulation and can be done one room at a time. It is much cheaper to install as part of a DIY project, if you have the skills, and/or use a local plasterer. Internal insulation is equally effective as external insulation.
Solid wall insulation may be carried out under a Welsh Government’s NEST programme, usually in rural properties, but is now quite restricted as supplementary utility company funding has dried up.
Heating/Boiler Replacement
Free replacement boilers were recently being carried out under ECO programmes and only to people on certain earnings related benefits. This funding has now virtually ceased.
Boiler repairs and replacements may still be done under Flintshire Affordable Warmth and NEST.
Double Glazing
For the first time support will be provided under the cash back scheme. This will be limited to £1,000 and must include a second measure from the approved measures list.
Flintshire Affordable Warmth
Supported by Flintshire County Council and operated by North Wales Energy Advice Centre, this is to help ALL vulnerable households in need of help, and is not limited to recipients of benefits. Affordable Warmth works with other agencies to identify those in need of help and arrange a range of services.
Click here for further details.
NEST
The Welsh Government has a programme called NEST which will provide improvements including heating/heating upgrades and solid wall insulation to people in receipt of an earnings related benefit living in a house that is ‘F’ or ‘G’ rated.
click here for more details
Green Deal
Green Deal is a Government sponsored programme for the utility companies that started in October 2012. It covers a range of measures, particularly solid wall insulation. Unlike other initiatives, it is a loan based scheme where the savings achieved in heating bills are used to pay off the installation costs. For solid wall insulation, any shortfall will be met by the energy companies using an ECO grant.
Green Deal loans charge high interest rates for the repayments, which take many years to repay. No net fuel bill savings are achieved while the loan is being repaid. The loan stays with the property when it is sold. For these reasons, among others, the Green Deal has not proved popular.
Households cannot claim a cash-back and the ECO subsidy.
The loans for the Green Deal have now been withdrawn, and it is likely the Government will disband the scheme all together.
The offers available are changing all the time. For the most up to date information about current and future grants call the North Wales Energy Advice Centre (NWEAC) on 0800 954 0658
As of September 2015, the following will be available:
- Free insulation in some low income areas.
- Free insulation for some earnings related benefit recipients in most rural areas.
- NEST, the Welsh Government scheme for recipients of a range of earnings related benefits in properties with the lowest energy performance ratings.
- (In Flintshire) Affordable Warmth Scheme for vulnerable households in need of help, including those in fuel poverty.
Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation
Loft insulation grants are now only available to those who qualify for free measures, either in the low income areas or rural areas if receiving a qualifying benefit.
Cavity wall insulation is free in the low income areas and those with qualifying benefits in the rural areas, it may also become available for all clients in all other areas.
See also NEST
Solid Wall Insulation
In certain areas of Wales solid wall insulation is being carried out under a Welsh Government programme called ARBED, but there is no way to make applications for this. It is promoted in specific areas as the scheme moves in, but has now ended in Flintshire.
Internal solid wall insulation (using insulated plaster board directly fitted to external walls) is much cheaper than external insulation and can be done one room at a time. It is much cheaper to install as part of a DIY project, if you have the skills, and/or use a local plasterer. Internal insulation is equally effective as external insulation.
Solid wall insulation may be carried out under a Welsh Government’s NEST programme, usually in rural properties, but is now quite restricted as supplementary utility company funding has dried up.
Heating/Boiler Replacement
Free replacement boilers were recently being carried out under ECO programmes and only to people on certain earnings related benefits. This funding has now virtually ceased.
Boiler repairs and replacements may still be done under Flintshire Affordable Warmth and NEST.
Double Glazing
For the first time support will be provided under the cash back scheme. This will be limited to £1,000 and must include a second measure from the approved measures list.
Flintshire Affordable Warmth
Supported by Flintshire County Council and operated by North Wales Energy Advice Centre, this is to help ALL vulnerable households in need of help, and is not limited to recipients of benefits. Affordable Warmth works with other agencies to identify those in need of help and arrange a range of services.
Click here for further details.
NEST
The Welsh Government has a programme called NEST which will provide improvements including heating/heating upgrades and solid wall insulation to people in receipt of an earnings related benefit living in a house that is ‘F’ or ‘G’ rated.
click here for more details
Green Deal
Green Deal is a Government sponsored programme for the utility companies that started in October 2012. It covers a range of measures, particularly solid wall insulation. Unlike other initiatives, it is a loan based scheme where the savings achieved in heating bills are used to pay off the installation costs. For solid wall insulation, any shortfall will be met by the energy companies using an ECO grant.
Green Deal loans charge high interest rates for the repayments, which take many years to repay. No net fuel bill savings are achieved while the loan is being repaid. The loan stays with the property when it is sold. For these reasons, among others, the Green Deal has not proved popular.
Households cannot claim a cash-back and the ECO subsidy.
The loans for the Green Deal have now been withdrawn, and it is likely the Government will disband the scheme all together.
The offers available are changing all the time. For the most up to date information about current and future grants call the North Wales Energy Advice Centre (NWEAC) on 0800 954 0658