What is the Green Homes Grant Scheme – and how can I apply?
The Green Homes Grant scheme, announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak in July 2020, will provide £2bn for home improvement projects as part of a wider £3bn government plan for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050. The grants are provided in the form of vouchers which you can use towards making specific insulation and energy-efficient improvements to your home – including replacing single glazed windows with double glazing. These efficiency measures should then translate into savings on your energy bill as you should be using less gas and electricity to heat your home if it’s better insulated. The Treasury claims that taking part in the scheme could save you more than £200 annually on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint by cutting 700kg of CO2 a year from your home alone.
How much are the vouchers worth?
The vouchers are worth up to £5,000. The government will cover at least two thirds of the cost that you spend on green upgrades up to this amount. Households on low incomes can receive vouchers covering 100% of the cost of the improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000. the cost of the secondary measures must not exceed that of the primary measure(s).
What can the vouchers be spent on?
The vouchers cover a wide range of measures which are split into two parts– primary and secondary. Below is a broad list of the measures included, but these are subject to approval.
| Primary measures: | Secondary measures: | |
| Insulation measures include: | Low carbon heat measures include: | If you use the voucher for any of the primary measures, you can also use it to cover the following “secondary” measures: |
| Solid wall insulation (internal or external) | Air source heat pump | Draught proofing |
| Under-floor insulation | Ground source heat pump | Double or triple glazing (where replacing single glazing) |
| Cavity wall insulation | Solar thermal (liquid filled flat plate or evacuated tube collector) | Secondary glazing (in addition to single glazing) |
| Loft insulation | Biomass boilers | External energy efficient doors (replacing single glazed or solid doors installed before 2002) |
| Flat roof insulation | Hybrid heat pump | Heating controls (such as, appliance thermostats, smart heating controls, zone controls, intelligent delayed start thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves) |
| Room in roof insulation | Hot water tank thermostat | |
| Pitched roof insulation | Hot water tank insulation | |
| Insulating a park home | ||
The voucher does not cover:
- A new extension or conversion
- Insulating a conservatory which has no fixed heating
- Installing a new fossil fuel boiler such as gas, oil or LPG
You can have one or more of the above under the scheme.
To qualify for the secondary measures, you must have one of the primary measures carried out and the cost of the secondary measures must not exceed that of the primary measure(s).
How do I qualify?
Any homeowner or social or private landlord in England can apply. New-build properties that have not been occupied before are not eligible.
How do I apply for a Green Homes Grant?
Visit the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) website and get advice about which energy saving measure would suit your home best.
Based on information you provide about your home you’ll be shown different options. These will include the cost of the work and the value of the savings it will provide each year.
You’ll then be sent a list of tradespeople who are registered with TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) (schemes which list construction workers approved by the government) in your local area to carry out the work.
Tradespeople have to register for TrustMark or MCS accreditation themselves to take part in the scheme and benefit from the work.
You should get at least three different quotes for the work so you know you’re getting the best value for money.
When does the scheme start?
The vouchers will start to be issued from the end of September 2020 onward with details of how to apply for them to be announced soon.
You should only agree for the work to go ahead once your application for the voucher has been accepted.
The voucher must be redeemed and the work scheduled to be completed before 31 March 2022.
Are new double-glazed windows and doors included?
Yes. Double glazing, triple glazing, and secondary glazing are measures included within the scheme.
However, you can only use the grant for these measures if upgrading from single glazing and if you are having one or more of the primary measures installed, as long as the cost of the secondary measure does not exceed the cost of the primary measure.
This means that, as long as you meet the above criteria, you should be able to use the vouchers for:
- Double glazed windows
- Triple glazed windows
- Secondary glazing (helpful if in a conservation area where rules don’t permit adjustments to the look and feel of a property)
- Energy efficient doors when replacing single glazed or solid doors installed before 2002
I already have double glazing in my house, but it is very old and not very energy efficient, can I still apply for the grant?
No. The Green Homes Grant only covers new windows or doors if you have single glazing. It will not cover upgrading from double glazing to a more energy efficient double or triple glazing.
However, double-glazed windows fitted before 2002 (which is when the revised Part L regulations came into force) are typically G-rated at best, so you may wish to consider replacing them with more modern windows featuring high-performance glass such as PLANITHERM®.
This would help you:
- Save energy
- Save money on your heating bills
- Save carbon
- Improve the comfort of your home through additional benefits that our products deliver such as reduced overheating, noise reduction, and enhanced safety and security.
Our estimation is that there are over 100 million windows in the UK housing stock that were fitted before 2002, and homeowners could benefit by replacing them as part of wider home improvement projects. This may reduce overall costs and minimise disruption.
Which companies are accredited suppliers?
TrustMark Registered Business or MCS Certified tradespeople should count as an accredited supplier under the Green Homes Grant scheme, but installers do have additional requirements they must follow – so make sure to check with them.
Many local businesses are registered under one of the above schemes. So be sure to look around in your local area for insulation and double glazing companies who may be able to help.
find a local Planitherm Network installer online You can on our website, and then you can ask if they are TrustMark registered or MCS certified.
Installers included in the scheme will be listed on the Simple Energy Advice website.
Support from Saint-Gobain
The Saint-Gobain Group includes several businesses, such as British Gypsum, Weber, Celotex and Isover, that work together to deliver integrated solutions to deliver high-performance homes – Saint-Gobain Glass is part of that story.
Find an Installer
The Saint-Gobain Group includes several businesses, such as British Gypsum, Weber, Celotex and Isover, that work together to deliver integrated solutions to deliver high-performance homes – Saint-Gobain Glass is part of that story.
Additional information is able at https://www.saint-gobain.co.uk/green-homes-grant-solutions
