Making your potential customers aware of the grants and schemes available to them can help to secure you the job.
Some grants help with the costs of the initial installation while others offer financial incentives further down the line. Then there are schemes that entitle largely vulnerable people to reduced heating bills.
Green Homes Grant
The Green Homes Grant scheme was closed to new applicants on 31st March 2021.
Through the Green Homes Grant, homeowners can receive government funding to help with the costs of making energy improvements to their home. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to eligible homeowners (£10,000 for low income households) and the scheme is split into the Primary Green Homes Grant and the Secondary Green Homes Grant.
Primary grant: A primary grant can be used to support the installation of a renewable heating system (heat pump or solar thermal) and insulation. Only once work has been completed using a Primary Green Homes Grant can the homeowner apply for a secondary grant.
Secondary grant: The Secondary Green Homes Grant can fund further energy improvement measures such as replacing windows, fitting energy efficient doors and upgrading the heating controls.
For installers of renewable heating systems, insulation, windows, home heating
Renewable Heat Incentive
To encourage more homeowners to generate heat with their own renewable heating system, the government introduced the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Through the scheme, homeowners can receive quarterly payments over a 7 year payment based on how much heat their system generates.
For a renewable heating system to be eligible, you will need to be MCS-certified – as will the heating system itself. Eligible renewable heating systems include air source heat pumps, biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps and solar thermal panels.
The table below shows how eligible homeowners can receive per kilowatt-hour of renewable heat generated.
| Renewable Heating System | Air Source Heat Pump | Biomass Boiler | Ground Source Heat Pump | Solar Thermal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiff (p/kWh of renewable heat) | 10.85 | 6.97 | 21.16 | 21.36 |
Note: The Renewable Heat Incentive is set to be replaced by the Clean Heat Grant in 2022.
For installers of renewable heating systems
Clean Heat Grant
Once the RHI comes to an end in 2022, it’s set to be replaced by the Clean Heat Grant. Rather than rewarding homeowners for generating renewable heat after installation, like the RHI, it will help cover the upfront costs.
Through the scheme, households and businesses can receive a grant of up to £4,000 to put towards the installation. The Clean Heat Grant is currently set to be funded until March 2024.
For installers of renewable heating systems
ECO
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) can entitle eligible homeowners to a free boiler. Through the scheme, energy companies with more than 250,000 customers must provide low income families with funding to upgrade their heating system. To be eligible, the homeowner or private tenant must be in recipt of certain benefits.
For installers of central heating systems
Smart Export Guarantee
With the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) now closed to new applications, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) has been launched to take its place.
The SEG works in a similar way to the FiT, as payments are made per kilowatt-hour of electricity sent to the National Grid. However, rather than the payments being made via the government, as was the case with the FiT, it’s energy suppliers who are responsible for paying the owners of eligible solar systems.
Energy suppliers with over 150,000 customers are legally required to be part of the scheme. Those with fewer have the option to join.
How often the customer receives payments will depend on their energy supplier. Some pay monthly while others make payments annually.
For the homeowner to be eligible, the solar PV panels must be accredited by MCS, Flexi-orb or an equivalent scheme. Plus, a smart meter must be fitted to track how much electricity is being exported.
For installers of Solar PV
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount entitles eligible homeowners to £140 off their annual energy bill. Strictly speaking, the Warm Home Discount is open to any homeowner as long as they’re with an energy supplier who takes part in the scheme. However, they must also fit into one of the following criteria:
Core Group: Anyone receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. They will be automatically added to the scheme and will receive a letter to confirm from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Broader Group: Homeowners at risk of fuel poverty, such as those who receive Universal Credit, income support or have an income lower than £16,000. Any homeowner who fits this criteria must apply through their energy supplier and make a new claim each year.
The £140 discount is automatically taken from their energy bill between September and March.
For installers of home heating
Cold Weather Payment
If the temperature is forecast to be 0C or below for 7 consecutive days then homeowners in that area could potentially benefit from a Cold Weather Payment. This will entitle them to an automatic payment of £25.
To be eligible, homeowners must be receiving:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Universal Credit
Additionally, one of the following must also be true:
- In receipt of benefits for having a disability or over state pension age
- Have a child under 5
- Have a child and are receiving Child Tax Credit with an additional sum for a disability
For installers of home heating
Quote on more jobs
Potential customers are sure to be impressed with your knowledge of grants and schemes that could save or earn them money. That makes now a great time to start quoting on more jobs. And the good news is that we’re generating and qualifying leads on a daily basis.
It’s completely free to sign up and you can take a look at the leads available in your area today. You’ll only ever pay for the leads you want as and when you want them.
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