More grant funding has been announced for fully funded home improvements that could help residents to save money on their energy bills and cut their carbon footprints.

Thousands of homes could receive fully funded energy saving measures after the Warmer Homes Consortium, which Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is part of, was awarded £41.4 million from the government.

The funding has been received through the Home Upgrade Grant, which is a government scheme to improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families that do not have gas central heating.

Residents with a household income under £31,000 and living in homes that do not have gas central heating and have an energy performance certificate rating of D, E, F or G can apply for funding for free energy efficiency home improvements.

The improvements could include loft and solid wall insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels and heating controls, with these measures potentially saving households up to £400 a year on energy bills.

 
The borough council is working with partners through the Warmer Homes Consortium, a partnership of 23 local authorities across the south east led by Portsmouth City Council and managed by AgilityEco, to deliver the measures.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “These grants could help people to keep their homes warm while using less energy, saving them hundreds of pounds on their bills every year and cutting their carbon footprints to help tackle the climate emergency.

“Coming out of the colder months is a great time to apply to install these measures as they may take some time. I would encourage anyone who is eligible to apply as soon as possible so they can begin to save money and cut their emissions.”

Commenting on the success of the Warmer Homes Consortium’s successful bid for £41.1 million for improving homes across the south east, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said: “This investment will help thousands of households to heat their homes for less, keep them warm for longer and could save hundreds on their annual energy bill.

“The green energy sector is growing, and this funding will support green jobs and provide the training needed to deliver these vital upgrades to homes.”

Applications will open this April and close in March 2025. The funding is a continuation of the support already available via the Warmer Homes Consortium, which has already helped over 2,700 homes and achieved over £11.1 million in lifetime bill savings to date.

For more information about the Warmer Homes programme, including the eligibility criteria, and to apply for assistance visit www.warmerhomes.org.uk or call freephone 0800 038 5737.