FREE HOME INSULATION WITH THE GREEN DEAL

The Green Deal is the UK Government's initiative to increase energy efficiency for 14 million households, by offering energy efficient products at no up-front cost. The scheme is essentially split into two parts; Green Deal Grants, also known as the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) and Green Deal Finance.

100% Free Green Deal Grants are available now to anyone in receipt of specific benefits, credits or allowances and also to those living in areas of higher fuel poverty. Anyone who does not qualify for a 100% Grant will qualify for Green Deal Finance. This will provide energy efficient improvements at no up-front cost.

Green Deal Grants

The grant-funded element of the Green Deal is available now and is known as the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO). Under ECO, Energy Suppliers including British Gas, E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power, SSE and EDF are obliged to pay for Loft & Cavity Wall Insulation and more efficient Heating, in households that are in fuel poverty.

Products offered by our installers under a 100% Free ECO grant are as follows:

• Loft Insulation
• Cavity Wall Insulation
• Boilers & Central Heating

Who qualifies for a Green Deal Grant?

Someone living in the property must be in receipt of at least one of the six main benefits shown on the left below. Pension Credit and Child Tax Credit qualify automatically but the other four main benefits require a qualifying component.

Householders in some parts of the country may also qualify for Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation if they live in a postcode area where there is a higher likelihood of fuel poverty. If you live in one of these areas, you can claim free insulation regardless of benefits or circumstances. Note that this does not apply to Central Heating as you must receive a qualifying benefit.

Green Deal Finance

Even if you don't qualify for a Green Deal Grant, you will still be entitled to Green Deal Finance. This enables householders to install energy-saving and energy-generating measures to their homes at no up-front cost.

Green Deal Finance is effectively a loan against the property that is recovered by installments deducted from the electricity bill over several years.

The savings on bills must exceed or at least equal the repayments (including interest) under the Green Deal 'Golden Rule'. The householder will effectively see a reduction or no change to bills but will be living in a warmer, more Energy Efficient property.

More products will also be eligible for Green Deal Finance, including the following:

• Air source heat pumps
• Biomass boilers
• Biomass room heaters
• Cavity wall insulation
• Condensing Boilers
• External wall insulation
• Ground source heat pumps
• Heating controls
• Hot water cylinder insulation
• Internal wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Micro combined heat and power
• Micro wind generation
• Pipework insulation
• Replacement glazing
• Room in roof insulation
• Roof insulation
• Secondary glazing
• Solar water heating
• Under-floor heating
• Under-floor insulation
• Water source heat pumps

Each property will require an assessment to determine which energy saving/generating measures can be installed. Following the assessment, a Green Deal Plan is produced that can be taken to one or more Green Deal Providers who can offer finance.

What's the difference between the Grant and Finance?

Both the Green Deal Grant and Green Deal Finance allow householders to have Energy Efficient products installed in their properties at no up-front cost.

The Green Deal Grant has been designed to help those living in fuel poverty so if you qualify for a grant, you benefit from the full bill savings and there is nothing to repay.

If you qualify for Green Deal Finance, you may benefit from a reduction in your fuel bills but some or all of the savings will go towards paying for the work.

In both cases, you will be living in a warmer, more Energy Efficient property.

Are There Any Other Options?

If you do not qualify for a grant and you are not interested in taking out Green Deal Finance, EnergyLink can arrange for you to receive a free, no-obligation survey and quote from an approved installer. By paying for the work yourself, you benefit from the full energy bill savings and there is no interest to repay.