The Warm Front Scheme
Depending upon your personal circumstances,
you may qualify for the Warm Front Scheme which can fully cover the
cost of heating and insulation improvements. To find out if you are
eligible, please visit our Warm Front Scheme page.
Discounted Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation
If you are not eligible for free insulation
there are currently grants available to all householders across
West Lancashire to help with the costs of loft and cavity-wall
insulation.
Funded through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
obligation placed on energy suppliers, certified installers will be
will be able to access these funds on your behalf and offer you a
discounted rate for installation.
It is recommended that you obtain at least 3 quotes from
different installers prior to agreeing for the works to be carried
out.
These initiatives are specifically designed to reduce your fuel
bills, protect the environment and make your home healthier and
more comfortable to live in.
Domestic fuel bills are rising rapidly so the savings from
insulating your home are greater than ever. Installing insulation
at current energy prices would reduce the heating bills for an
average-sized, un-insulated house by up to £270 per year!
Renewable Energy
Feed-In Tariffs
Feed-in tariffs (FITs) were introduced in the UK on 1 April
2010. From this date householders and communities who generate
their own electricity from renewable or low carbon technologies
will receive regular payments for every kWh generated.
If you are eligible to receive FITs you will benefit in 3
ways:
- The generation tariff: a set rate paid for
every kWh of electricity you generate, paid by the energy supplier
(amount varies between technologies).
- The export tariff: a further 3p/kWh from your
energy supplier for each unit, which isn't used on site, that you
export back to the electricity grid.
- Reduced energy bills: as you use the
electricity you generate on site and therefore use less from the
grid.
For further information on how FITs work, the generation tariffs
for different technologies and advice on how to sign up to the
scheme, visit the FIT website (external link) or
contact the
Energy Saving Trust (external link).
Renewable Heat Incentive
For residential installations, the Renewable Heat Incentive
(RHI) is being introduced in two phases:
Phase 1: From 1 August householders can
benefit from a renewable heat premium payment. This is a one
off payment that gives money to householders to help them buy and
install renewable heating systems, in return for information on
your system and how it performs. For further information on
the Renewable Heat Premium Payment visit the
Energy Saving Trust (external link).
Phase 2: Working in a similar way to the
feed-in tariff, the RHI will see the owner of any renewable or
low-carbon heat technology receive a fixed income for every
kilowatt of heat produced, when introduced in 2012. However, please note
that full details of this scheme are yet to be made available
and receiving a Renewable Heat Premium Payment does not
automatically mean you'll be eligible for RHI tariff payments.
For further information on the anticipated implementation of
phase 2, please visit the RHI (external link)
website.
Energy Saving Trust’s grants and offers search facility
Simply enter your post code, the energy saving
measures you are interested in and a few basic details about your
home and the
Energy Saving Trust’s search (external link) will find the
offers applicable to you.
Help and Funding Available to Landlords
Landlords Energy Saving Allowance (LESA)
Individual and corporate landlords who make energy saving
improvements to their properties can reduce the tax they pay by
claiming the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance.
LESA is a tax allowance (not a cash payment) that allows
landlords to claim up to £1,500 against tax every year to cover
costs spent on:
- Cavity wall and loft insulation
- Solid wall insulation
- Draught proofing and hot water system
insulation
- Floor insulation
For more information and eligibility, how you claim and
what it covers please visit the
Directgov (external link) website.
Related information