?Please note that this scheme is now closed. There may be other schemes available in your area – please visit our guide to Boiler, Central Heating & Insulation Grants 2018 for more information.
Changes to the Government’s Green Deal cashback scheme will see homeowners with solid walls offered cashbacks of up to £4,000 to carry out solid wall insulation. By increasing the amount available the Government is hoping more households will be encouraged to carry out energy saving home improvements to lower energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.
Properties built before 1920 are likely to have solid walls rather than cavity walls. And there’s around 7 million homes in the UK with solid walls that need treating.
Solid walls are the hardest to treat and the most expensive type of home insulation compared to the more popular cavity wall insulation. But properties with uninsulated solid walls let through twice as much heat compared to cavity walls, leaving householders to pay through the roof to keep their homes warm and comfortable because they use a lot more energy.
Solid walls can be treated by either insulating them internally or externally. External wall insulation is the most popular type of solid wall insulation but it’s the most expensive option. Internal solid wall insulation is cheaper but it’s less popular because not only is it more disruptive, you’ll also lose some internal space as it reduces the size of your room. Whilst external solid wall insulation can cost anything from £9,000 up to £25,000, internal solid wall insulation is considerably cheaper. You’re looking at between £4,500 and £15,000*.
The following changes to the Green Deal cashback scheme will apply to applications made on or after December 2013. The cashback scheme will run until 30 June 2014 (previously 31 March 2014) and the following rates will apply:
- Up to £4,000 for solid wall insulation – increased from £650
- Up to £1,000 for ‘room-in-roof’ type insulation – increased from £220
- Up to £650 to install double glazing – increased from £320
Vouchers must be redeemed before the end of September 2014.
Speaking about the cashback scheme’s changes, energy and climate change minister Greg Barker said: “The extension and increase to Green Deal cashback means more families will be helped to have warmer, more energy efficient homes and lower energy bills by next winter. These changes also create more opportunities for the growing number of authorised green deal companies.”
The Green Deal has been “under delivering”. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is obviously hoping the increase will boost interest and uptake of energy efficient measures. The existing cap on cashback payments has also been raised, from 50% of a household’s contribution to two thirds. By doing so it means a greater number of people who apply for cashback will be eligible for the maximum level.
*According to Energy Saving Trust
