Government confirms details about its Green Homes Grant scheme

Under the scheme, announced as part of its Summer Economic Update, the Government will provide grants covering two thirds of green home improvements, capped at £5,000. Households on low incomes will qualify for grants worth up to £10,000 to support energy efficiency upgrades. 

Constructions workers and tradespeople will need to sign up for TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation to carry out work under the scheme, which is expected to help households save up to £600 a year on energy bills and cut carbon emissions. 

Homeowners, including social/private landlords, will be able to apply for vouchers towards the cost of one or more of the following: 

• Solid wall, under-floor, cavity wall or roof insulation 
• Air source or ground source heat pump 
• Solar thermal 

In addition, as long as households have at least one of the above measures in their package of works, they can use up to an equivalent amount from the balance of their voucher for further green home improvements, including:  

• Double or triple glazing/secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing 
• Upgrading to energy efficient doors 
• Hot water tank/appliance tank thermostats/heating controls 

Households across England will also be able to access advice and support on energy saving home improvements from the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service, which will provide details about appropriate home improvements to help support for their applications for funding. 

Homeowners will be given a list of approved TrustMark and MCS registered tradespeople to carry out the work and once the work is agreed, Green Homes vouchers will start to be issued from the end of September. 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “The Green Homes Grant is a vital part of our plan for jobs as we secure the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus. This is going to be a green recovery with concern for our environment at its heart. 

“It will help to protect and create jobs, while also saving people money and cutting carbon.” 

Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, Brian Berry, said: “The Green Homes Grant is a really welcome boost for the building industry as it recovers from the impact of COVID-19. The vouchers will be a significant benefit to households wanting to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their energy bills, whilst providing much needed work for accredited installers at this difficult time.” 

The Green Homes Grant Scheme forms part of the Government’s wider green package which also includes an additional £1bn programme to make public buildings, including schools and hospitals across the UK more energy efficient. An additional £50m has been earmarked to pilot retrofitting of energy efficient systems in social housing. 

Date published 7 Aug 2020 | Last updated 8 Oct 2020