More people eligible for free energy-saving home improvements

More people in Basingstoke and Deane can now get free home improvements to help them save money and cut carbon, after a grant scheme increased its income limit by £5,000.

Now, residents with a household income of up to £36,000 living in inefficient homes without gas boilers can apply for free energy-saving measures from the Warmer Homes Consortium, which Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is part of.

The funding is from the Home Upgrade Grant, a government scheme that aims to help people that own or rent a home without gas central heating to make their property more energy efficient. Improvements that can be fully funded by the grant include insulation, heat pumps, solar panels and heating controls.

Cabinet Member for the Climate and Ecological Emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin said: "Now the income limit for this grant has been increased, even more people in our borough can benefit from free home improvements that could save them hundreds of pounds on their bills and cut local carbon emissions to help fight climate change.

"As the scheme closes to applications this November and grants are dealt with on a first-come first-served basis, if you are eligible then I encourage you to apply as soon as possible to make sure you don't miss out.

"And if you think you might be interested in free energy-saving home improvements but you'd like to talk to someone first to find out more, then please do get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable Green Team for free no-strings advice and support."

While properties with gas boilers are not eligible for a grant, funding is available for people living in homes heated by storage heaters, an electric boiler, panel heaters, oil, coal, liquid petroleum gas or solid fuel.

The Warmer Homes Consortium is a partnership of 23 local authorities across the south east that is led by Portsmouth City Council and managed by AgilityEco.

The borough council launched its Green Team last summer to help residents to live more sustainable lifestyles and cut their carbon footprints in support of its 2019 climate emergency declaration and ambitious target to work towards a net zero carbon borough by December 2030.

More information about the Home Upgrade Grant, including how to apply, is at www.WarmerHomes.org.uk

People can get in touch with the council's Green Team for energy-saving support and advice at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/green-team

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.