Energy efficiency in the home - grants, loans and discounts
We have a range of assistance available to help improve energy efficiency in the home. There are grants and loans available for home-owners, tenants and landlords. Whether you are eligible for a grant or a loan may depend on your income. Details on each of the schemes are given below.
Warm Front
The Warm Front grant scheme provides grants for energy efficiency improvements for private sector homeowners and tenants on income-based benefits. Grants are available for up to £2700 per household (£4000 if oil central heating is involved).
Measures available include loft insulation, draughtproofing, insulation, Energy-efficient light bulbs and gas, electric or oil central heating.
Eligibility: Private sector homeowners or tenants who are in receipt of certain benefits may qualify.
Visit the Warm Front website or call 0800 316 2805 for more information about what help is available and eligibility.
Coldbusters
The Coldbusters grant scheme installs energy efficient heating and insulation measures in private sector fuel poor properties.
Eligibility: Any private sector homeowner or tenant who is in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- income support
- housing benefit
- council tax benefit
- guaranteed pension credit
- income-based job seeker's allowance
- working or child tax credit
- attendance allowance
- disability living allowance.
The Coldbuster grant scheme is administered by Creative Environmental Networks (CEN) on behalf of Lambeth. Contact CEN for more information or phone 0800 358 6668.
Loans for All
Lambeth offers interest-free energy efficiency loans to Lambeth homeowners through the 'Loans for All' scheme. The scheme has been developed to assist those who do not qualify for energy efficiency grants.
Loans are available to help meet the costs of energy efficiency measures such as:
- New gas central heating
- replacement central heating boiler
- heating controls package
- insulation (loft, cavity wall, draught-proofing)
- solar water heating
Eligibility: There are no restrictions on who is eligible - the only requirements are that you own your own home, and that you pass a basic credit check. Contact HelpCo for more information or phone 0845 450 0395.
Solar water heating and other renewables
Homeowners in Lambeth can apply for a government grant of £400 towards the cost of installing a solar water heating system. Solar for London can advise you on how to apply for this grant and help you in planning and installing a solar water heating system.
Financial savings from installing solar water heating will depend on the amount of hot water used, your boiler efficiency, and the type of fuel normally used to heat your water, but could be £20 - £120 per year. By installing a solar water heating system, you will also help protect the environment by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) by an average of 440kg per year.
Eligibility: Applicants to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme must be private householders who wish to install renewable technology in their homes.
If you are interested in installing solar water heating in your home, please contact Solar for London or phone 020 7820 3156.
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme also provides grants for other renewable technologies, such as wind turbines, solar PV and heat pumps. For more information, contact the Low Carbon Buildings Programme or phone 0800 915 0990
Private Landlord Energy Award (PLEASE) grants
PLEASE grants are available for landlords to improve energy efficiency in their properties.
PLEASE grants are available as a contribution towards the total cost of work, and will be paid once the work has been completed and assessed, although the work will need to be approved beforehand.
Grant amounts will vary, depending on the type of work, which can include:
- new central heating system or heating boiler
- upgraded heating controls
- cavity wall insulation and loft insulation
- draughtproofing.
Eligibility: Applicants must be landlords who wish to carry out heating or insulation work on a privately rented property in Lambeth.
Contact Helpco (Heat Light and Power Company) for more information (Tel: 0845 450 3374).
Energy Efficiency Commitment funding
The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) places an obligation on energy suppliers to achieve energy efficiency improvements in UK households. The suppliers are required to achieve energy saving targets in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, as part of the UK's Climate Change Programme.
Energy suppliers with EEC targets offer grants and discounts on various energy efficiency improvements, including insulation, lighting, heating and appliances.
Eligibility: All private householders are eligible for EEC discounts. You do not have to be a customer of the particular electricity or gas company in order to apply for that company's EEC scheme.
People in receipt of certain benefits, or aged 60 or over, may be eligible for a 100% grant.
All the main energy suppliers offer EEC grants and discounts. To find out what's currently on offer, contact the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.