Act fast to get a grant to improve your home

Residents in East Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to put Monday 16 March in their diaries to apply for a home energy efficiency grant through the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund.

The Government have announced the third release from the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) worth up to £70 million.

From midday, Monday 16 March, the popular scheme will open to new applications for the new release of funding, with up to £5,600 available to households to help with the cost of installing energy saving measures such as solid wall insulation, double glazing, boilers, cavity wall and floor insulation.

Kayleigh Maguire, Energy Efficiency officer at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The Home Improvement Fund is a great way to get help to improve your home and cut your energy bills. The last release of funding was snapped up with 48 hours and as it is so popular residents are encouraged to apply when the window opens on Monday 16 March. The scheme is a great way for those who are eligible to get their home ready for whatever the next cold snap might have in store for them.”

More than 25,000 households have already received a voucher for The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund since it launched in June 2014. For the third release of funding, money has been increased for the two measures offer. Domestic energy customers will be able to receive:

*       up to £3750 for installing solid wall insulation
*       and/or up to £1250 for installing two measures from an approved list
*       up to £100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment
*       up to £500 more if applying within 12 months of buying a new home.

The £70 million for the third release will be available for applications for solid wall insulation and/or the two measures offer until all the funding is allocated.

I’d suggest anyone who has already had a Green Deal assessment to be ready to pounce to make sure they aren’t left out in the cold. For those who haven’t but are interested, first do a quick online check which will tell you if it’s worth getting an assessment, if it is, then try and arrange one as soon as possible.”

To complete the two-stage application process, householders will need:

*       A Green Deal Advice Report (GDAR) or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that is less than two years old;
*       A quote from a GDHIF registered installer or provider for work specified on the GDAR or EPC and included on the list of GDHIF approved measures; and
*       Proof of property ownership (for landlords/undertakings only) Householders are encouraged to get more than one quote, particularly when they are having expensive work done, to make sure they are getting the best deal available.

Additionally residents seeking Solid Wall Insulation are advised to contact the Action on Energy Cambridgeshire scheme which has funding of up to £6000 per property until 31st March 2015. You can contact the scheme via the website: www.actiononenergy.net or by calling: 0800 093 3303

For more information call Kayleigh Maguire – Energy Efficiency officer on 01353 665555