The Green Homes Grant A new UK Government initiative could allow householders in England to make their homes more energy efficient. Joel Rawson looks at the advantages and limitations of the scheme and outlines how those who are eligible can make the most of it.
T
his summer the UK Government announced the new Green Homes Grant to fund energy and carbon saving measures. The suddenness of the news combined with a March deadline for spending the money implies that a key motivation is injecting cash into the coronavirus-hit economy. More attention on home retrofits is of course welcome, but to be successful this
32 Clean Slate
must be the seed for an expanded, ongoing retrofit strategy. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement should give details of if and how the scheme will continue. The choice or quality of supposed improvements could easily be compromised if both consumers and installers are just scrambling to get a slice of the pie before it disappears. The Green Homes Grant is England only. Other parts of the UK manage their
own programmes, usually supporting households claiming certain government benefits. In addition, Home Energy Scotland provides interest-free loans to all homeowners for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Sometimes a proportion of the loan can then be claimed back, like a grant. Within Wales, interest free home improvement loans are offered in Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
