As there are a number of figures thrown around, relating to U-values in new homes or extensions it is worth a reminded of some of the figures used in current Building Regulations. Building Regulations Overview The Building Regulations cover all aspects of building a dwelling, including fabric heat loss and air permeability. They are periodically […]
Latest Green Home Grant News
Green Home Grant Voucher Scheme Live 30 September 2020
From today, 30 September 2020, homeowners and landlords can apply for a Green Home Grant. The grant, in the form of a voucher, can fund up to two thirds of the cost of upgrading the energy performance of your home (maximum £5000 government contribution). Low income households will be eligible for up to 100% government […]
Green Home Grants
A Green Home Grant can help you improve the energy performance and comfort of your home. This page can help you decide the most effective ways to spend your grant to improve your home.
What is A Green Home Grant (GHG)?
Homeowners and landlords can apply for a voucher to fund up to two thirds of the cost of upgrading the energy performance of your home (maximum £5000 government contribution). Low income households will be eligible for up to 100% government funding, up to around £10,000.
The Green Homes Grant Scheme will provide vouchers to install one or more primary energy saving measures:
- Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation
- Air source or ground source heat pump
- Solar thermal
There are conditions attached to some of the measures. The measures have to be installed by a tradesman who is a TrustMark Registered Business or MCS Certified.
When installing a primary measure, the voucher can also be used to cover the cost of any of the following secondary measures:
- Draught proofing
- Double/triple glazing (where replacing single glazed windows)
- Secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing)
- External energy efficient doors (replacing single glazed or solid doors installed before 2002)
- Heating controls
- Hot water tank thermostats and insulation
Applying for a Green Home Grant
The scheme will run until March 2022. Applications for homes in England can be made at: green-homes-grant.service.gov.uk
Before applying, you will need to have:
- the name and date of birth of the property owner or owners
- the name and date of birth of anyone living in the property who is receiving benefits
- a quote for the work from a TrustMark-registered tradesperson
- the TrustMark licence number of your chosen tradesperson.
Which GHG Measure Is Best For My Home?
Best advice is generally to consider a whole house approach and ensure that spend is directed towards delivering an overall reduction in energy use whilst improving comfort levels. To find out more about the whole house approach read our article on Eco homes.
It is better to reduce the overall energy demand by reducing heat losses through the building fabric, before making improvements in heating systems. When making any improvements there are a number of factors that need to be considered:
- Reducing heat loss and improving thermal comfort
- Improving ventilation and reducing damp
- Avoiding overheating in the summer
- Overall occupant comfort
These factors are all interrelated. By making an improvement in insulation levels, it is import that the ventilation levels are not reduced or that the home will overheat in the summer months.
IMPROVING INSULATION AND VENTILATION
Improving insulation to reduce heat loss through the building fabric helps reduce energy bills but it is only part of the story and needs to tackled alongside reducing ventilation heat losses whilst also ensuring adequate ventilation. Consider the surface heat losses through:
- Floors (Read more on floor insulation).
- Walls
- Ceilings
and also think about the ventilation losses, allowing cold air through:
- Loft hatches
- Open chimneys
- Extractor fans
- Gaps in floorboards and skirting boards
- …and even letterboxes
Low energy building design approaches such as PassivHaus produce a well insulated almost air-tight building that is mechanically ventilated (Read about Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery Systems).