The Warm Homes Local Grant is delivering long-term cost savings for Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire residents living in cold, hard-to-heat homes.
Residents are being encouraged to get their applications in for the Warm Home Local Grants programme before winter so they have the best chance to keep their homes warm and reduce their energy bills during the colder months.
The £5.25 million Department for Energy Security and Net Zero scheme aims to bring down household energy bills over the long term through energy efficiency improvements and renewables. Homeowners, tenants and landlords can apply via the Warm and Well energy advice service, which is delivered by energy experts Severn Wye on behalf of the six Gloucestershire District Councils and South Gloucestershire Council.
Qualifying households will benefit from a wide range of energy-saving technologies and receive fully funded home improvements worth tens of thousands of pounds. These include insulation, solar panels, high-heat-retention storage heating, and air source heat pumps. Many households will be offered more than one upgrade.
The funding may be available to households that:
- are in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire
- live in an energy-inefficient home (with an EPC rating of D, E, F or G)
- have a combined household income below £36,000 a year or receive certain means-tested benefits.
Making big energy-saving home improvements can be daunting, so this scheme is delivered by a council partnership that householders can trust, as project manager Helen Curley explains:
‘Severn Wye has 25 years hands-on experience in energy efficiency and our advice is always impartial. We know every home – and every household – is different, so our home energy experts will carry out a property survey and recommend the measures that will make the biggest difference to the efficiency, comfort and energy costs of each individual home.’
Severn Wye has sound credentials for delivering the Warm Homes Local Grant; they were one of the highest performers in delivering the scheme’s predecessor, the Home Upgrade Grant.
Councillor Gary Luff, Chair of Housing Committee, Gloucestershire County Council says:
‘Every home is different, and Severn Wye’s retrofit co-ordination experts work closely with residents, funders and installers to make sure every energy efficiency improvement made under the scheme is the right one for that household. That way Gloucestershire residents can be sure of long-term improvements in home comfort and measurable cuts to household costs.’
South Gloucestershire resident David Stroud benefited from the previous home upgrade scheme. When he contacted Warm and Well to enquire about insulation he discovered he could have solar panels too:
‘Now they’re fitted our electric bills have come down and the house is generally warmer… they’re helping us reduce our bills. As a result of the service we got I’ve been promoting it to friends and neighbours. It doesn’t cost anything to ask and they’re very good – they’ll tell you what’s available.’
Residents interested in applying should call the free Warm & Well adviceline on 0800 500 3076 or visit severnwye.org.uk/warm-homes-local-grant
