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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.

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.

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 2021.

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.