Buckinghamshire Council has been awarded £576,000 from the government’s Home Upgrade Grant to provide energy efficiency and clean heating upgrades to owner occupied and private rented properties in the county. The upgrades are aimed at tackling fuel poverty and reducing carbon emissions.

The scheme enables eligible households to benefit from a range of energy and cost saving upgrades, depending on the specific circumstances such as the fuel source, energy efficiency and EPC rating of the home. The majority of the funding will be made available for the least efficient homes heated by the most polluting fuel sources.

Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said:

“This new funding from the Home Upgrade Grant will help us continue to improve Buckinghamshire’s most energy inefficient homes. The funding is aimed at low-income households, helping them save money and reduce fuel poverty. The home improvements will also cut carbon emissions and support our progress towards making Buckinghamshire net zero by 2050.

“With fuel costs at an all-time high, the second phase of this scheme is an important chance for local residents to improve their homes, save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions.”

Buckinghamshire Council will shortly be contacting residents who they believe are likely to be eligible for the scheme. Further information will also be made available soon on the council’s website.

Any Buckinghamshire residents who are struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, fuel and other household costs should call the council’s Helping Hand team on 01296 531151 or complete the online contact form.

–ENDS–

Notes to Editor

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) will provide energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating via local authority funding, to households in England that:

• are low income
• are off gas grid heating
• have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G

£630 million will be awarded to successful applicants of the HUG scheme to help them deliver HUG 2 until March 2025. Funding will be released to successful local authorities in the financial years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025.

Local authorities are delivering the first phase of the Home Upgrade Grant as part of the sustainable warmth competition until March 2023.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-upgrade-grant-phase-2

Eligible households must either be situated in a pre-qualified postcode area (Indices of Multiple Deprivation Income Deciles 1-3) or have either a gross household income of no more than £31,000, or an equivalised income where cost of living is below £20,000 after rent or mortgage costs.

The home must also be heated by alternative fuels including electricity, oil, liquid propane gas, and solid fuels. The energy efficiency criteria will be determined by the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of the property (needs to be below band D) and residents will be supported with this part of the eligibility process during application. Residents will be provided with a free EPC where they do not already have one.

Local installers will guide customers through the application journey, helping them understand and establish eligibility for the scheme. If eligible, the installer will identify which improvements for the home (such as air source heat pumps) will provide the greatest benefits and arrange any necessary surveys and installations.