Pre-Budget Report Announces Energy Efficiency Boost

The pre-budget report recently announced that residential property owners will receive more help when it comes to making homes more energy efficient, cutting the heat that is lost thanks to new plans.

Chancellor Alistair Darling stated that a quarter of all UK carbon emissions come from our homes, which is why he feels it so important that we work harder to insulate our properties to help tackle climate change.

As a result, Darling announced that £200 million funding would be added to the Warm Front Scheme – a scheme that provides grants of as much as £3,500 to help cover the costs of home improvements that can make homes more energy efficient.

These grants are provided to owners of properties over the age of 60, those who receive certain benefits, or those with children under the age of 16.

Under the scheme, homes are assessed after which recommended improvements are given to help bring it up to standards of energy efficiency.

Measures to increase insulation in the home could include installing double glazing – an option that can dramatically reduce the heat lost through our windows and cut down on the cost of energy bills by around £135 each year. In some cases renewable technologies may be proposed, in which case the grant can go as high as £6,000.

Darling has said that around 235,000 homes have already benefitted under this scheme, and that the added funding will ensure that a further 75,000 homes will also benefit.