Even when these improvements aren’t directly related to energy performance, they may present opportunities to take advantage of the green homes grant scheme. For example, it is much simpler to fit underfloor insulation if the owner is already planning to have carpet or laminate fitted on the ground floor. With the scheme covering the first two thirds of the cost of the work, up to £5,000 (or the full cost up to £10,000 for those on low income), the payback period for owners having energy efficiency improvements fitted is greatly reduced. Landlords in particular may see the advantage of this investment as they are now required to ensure their domestic properties have a minimum energy performance certificate (epc) of e (subject to some exclusions) before they can be put up for rent due to the minimum energy efficiency standards.
Head to the green homes grant guide on the uk government website. From here, you can check eligibility and find home improvements. You will then be asked to complete a survey about your home and its occupants to identify what measures might be suitable. Simple energy advice will suggest options with cost estimates and the contact details of local eligible tradespeople who could carry out the work.
Once you’ve decided which improvements to have installed, we recommend getting three quotes from trustmark registered businesses to make sure you’re getting the best value for money. However, you only need one quote from a green homes grant registered installer in order to apply for a voucher. You will need to provide a copy of the quote when you apply. If the quote seems unreasonably high, the scheme administrator may request that you provide another quote.
Now your home is ready for an air or ground source heat pump, you can apply for the rhi. Because you will have used the green homes grant to install insulation, it will not reduce the amount you receive from the rhi. This fabric first approach means that you can benefit from up to £5000 from the green homes grant for improvements you were likely to make and the full rhi heat pump tariff over a 7-year period!.
Apply for your green homes grant voucher from the end of september 2020 onwards. Once you have confirmation that your voucher application has been accepted, the installer/company you have chosen to provide your energy-efficient measures will deduct the voucher from your quote. They will then request and receive payment from the government for the costs covered by the voucher. More information on the grant and terms and conditions can be found on the government website.
Solid wall, underfloor, cavity wall insulation are each listed as a primary measure under the green homes grant, meaning that you’re eligible for funding of up to £5,000 for home improvements. Unless you are receiving certain government benefits , in which case you may be able to claim up to £10,000, you’ll need to contribute one-third of the cost, with the government issuing a voucher for the other two-thirds directly to the approved installation company. For more information and to find a local trader, head to the green homes grant website.
The ‘big six’ utility companies, including npower, edf and british gas, are obliged to provide funding so that those who need to can improve the efficiency of their homes. This includes grants for new boilers and insulation. As the funding is a grant, not a loan, it doesn’t need to be repaid and could cover a large part – if not all – of the cost of insulating your home.
Underfloor insulation is a great way to keep your property warm – approximately 15% of heat lost from homes is lost through the ground floor. The great news is that it could even be free under the eco3 scheme or heavily discounted under the new government green home grants initiative. Meg are well equipped to help you take advantage of these schemes so fill in super quick enquiry (am i eligible link – do i make this what can i apply for) to see what is available for you to save money and help reduce your impact on the planet.
Underfloor insulation can be performed in properties that have suspended timber floors. This measure is often overlooked as many homes believe they do not have the underfloor space or access to effectively install it. It’s for this reason that many companies do not offer this as an insulation measure. We are particularly proud of our underfloor process that lets more homes take advantage of this cost-effective, energy-saving measure. We have developed a new way of preparing insulation, wrapped in a breathable membrane, we can now manufacture this into more practical rolls. Because of this innovation, we can reach depths of only 500mm whereas before a minimum space of 1 metre was required.
Many older houses with suspended timber floors in the uk have big draughts and inadequate floor insulation; this can cause cold feet as well as higher energy bills. Installing underfloor insulation can address both these problems and give a payback on your investment in 5 years or less depending on whether you do it as a diy job or use a professional. This article discusses the options for insulating suspended timber floors and the author’s experience of insulating the floors of a 1930’s house.
The best way to insulate your home from under the floor is via a cellar or a basement. This allows the insulation team enough access to the underfloor area, most older homes retain an amount of draughts and condensation, this was done so that bricks and wooden joists stopped rotting. The insulation company specialise in under floor insulation, by over insulating these areas, it can create a flow of warm damp air that will filter into the cavities of walls and timbers and eventually cause them to rot. Getting the balance is as important.
Mineral wool insulation comes in roll or batts (slab form). It is cheap but not as good an insulator as pir thermal insulation board and is a pain to cut to the right size. If you can get the right width to match the joist spacing and the joists are spaced evenly then it can work well. Natural materials such as wool are more pleasant to handle than mineral wool and are considered superior for older buildings by those that know (english heritage) as they allow the floor to “breathe” and buffer the moisture reducing the risk of damp. Where you are fighting lack of underfloor ventilation and the lack of a dpc then this could be the best option. It is installed in a similar way to mineral wool insulation.
If your house has a suspended timber floor on the ground floor, then a layer of insulation can be held in place under the floor between the joists. This is called under floor insulation (ufi). The first step is to remove any carpet or floor covering so that you can access and lift the floorboards to see if your home could have ufi. Before carrying out any work, a thorough inspection of all the joists and underfloor timbers should be carried out by an approved professional for signs of damp, rot or insect damage, and appropriate repairs carried out if required.
Did you know 10% of heat loss from an average home is through the ground floor?
if your property has a form of suspended wooden flooring on the ground floor, then we can help you reduce your energy bills by installing underfloor insulation. This measure helps reduce heat loss by allowing your property to hold heat more efficiently and stops any unwanted cold air passing through the floorboards. In addition, the insulation still maintains enough space to allow air circulation underneath the floorboards to prevent damp rising, therefore keeping the property dry.
As part of the eco3 scheme, you could receive free undefloor insulation. The brand new green home grants scheme also enables all households to receive a voucher worth ⅔ the cost of installation (upto a maximum value of £5000). Here are some key details about underfloor insulation, how it can both help to make your home warmer and to reduce your energy bills.
First time installation and top ups
heat melcombe regis are happy to offer residents of melcombe regis, weymouth and other areas of dorset grants towards the cost of loft, underfloor and cavity wall insulation. did you know that the recommended depth of loft insulation is now 300mm / 12 inches – so it is well worth checking your insulation even if you think that you have sufficient.
With underfloor insulation, you are not just kept warm during the winter, but your place stays cool during the summer. Underfloor insulation does not work by trapping heat, instead, it reduces the loss of heat. This results in a controlled airflow, where warm air doesn’t get in during the summer and cold air doesn’t get in during the wintertime. Your home can be thought of like a thermos flask, with underfloor insulation. It keeps the cool air cool and warm air warm. Just as a thermos flask controls the temperature of what’s inside it, your floor insulation gives more control over your home’s airflow.
Warmer kiwi homes grants can pay for 90% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation, as well as some heating options.
If your property meets certain criteria, you can qualify for a free insulation grant to cover the cost of installing underfloor insulation (ufi). Contact us today to learn more about underfloor insulation, and whether or not you qualify for the free grant. The boiler grant is non-repayable, and there are no complex terms and conditions to worry about. If you qualify you could get a new boiler (and possibly heating controls) installed at no, or minimal, cost to you. Your level of funding will be determined by your home’s current efficiency and the state of your boiler – this means an energy assessment will be required. This is completely free.
90% off the price of insulation and heat pumps
energy efficiency conservation authority (eeca) insulation and new heating subsidies covering 90% of the cost are available now for low-income homeowners (owner-occupiers), the programme excludes landlords. Homeowners with community services cards, or living in an area deemed as lower-income are now eligible for grants covering up to 90% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation and well as 90% off the cost of a heat pump.
The first thing you need to understand is whether your home is suitable for underfloor insulation. This depends upon the kind of floors you have in your home: –
older home with suspended floors – these generally lose the most heat ● solid (concrete) floors – these can be insulated but it can be very costly and requires considerable work
modern houses – these tend to incorporate slabs of polystyrene insulation a few inches below the concrete floor surface, effectively reducing this type of heat loss.
What is eco?
energy company obligation (eco) is a central government energy efficiency scheme available throughout great britain. Its aim is to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of homes occupied by low income, fuel poor and vulnerable households. Who funds eco?
the government has made it a requirement that the large energy suppliers provide the funding to pay for the energy efficiency improvements to your homes. The funds are passed directly to the eco providers or installers who must be a pas2030 or trustmark accredited company to be able to install energy efficiency measures in your home.
The first is the eco scheme. This is something that the government has put in place to check that energy companies are doing all they can to make sure people’s homes are efficient and that they’re not wasting too much energy. Under the eco scheme, large energy providers should offer grants to improve the energy efficiency of households that are low performing or to families who are on a low income. With the scheme, you could receive free cavity wall insulation, free loft insulation or a brand new boiler at a subsidised rate. For a full list of providers who take part in the eco scheme, see here.