Government Warm Front Scheme – Grants and Rebates
The Government’s Warm Front scheme provides grants for insulation and heating improvements, and rebates to the over 60’s, to make homes more energy-efficient, warmer and healthier.
Tips for Saving Energy
Don’t leave appliances on standby
Switch them off when not in use.
Energy-saving light bulbs
These should be used wherever possible.
Loft insulation and draught proofing
This helps the home to retain heat, and therefore cuts fuel costs.
Cavity wall insulation
This helps to reduce fuel bills by reducing the amount of heat lost through the walls of your home.
Hot water cylinders and tanks
These should also be insulated to help save on fuel costs.
Energy efficient appliances
When shopping for appliances, you should look for those that carry an Energy Saving Recommended logo, or an EU energy label (rated as near to level A as possible).
The Warm Front scheme is a Government initiative which provides home insulation, condensing boilers and central heating improvements to home owners or people who rent from a private landlord. These improvements make homes more energy-efficient, warmer and healthier, and grants are obtainable up to a value of £3,500 (or £6,000 if oil central heating is recommended). The scheme is administered by a Government approved company called EAGA.
How do I apply?
If you are in receipt of benefits, you may be eligible for a Warm Front grant. For more details regarding the eligibility criteria, please read ‘Do you qualify for a Grant?’ You can also find out if you are entitled to a grant by ringing the EAGA Partnership on freephone: 0800 316 6011 or textphone: 0800 072 0156 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. You will have to fill in an application form before an assessor can visit you in order to survey your property and recommend work. This can be done online at www.warmfront.co.uk, by selecting the yellow bar labelled ‘Apply for a Warm Front Grant’.
Assessment
Once your grant has been approved, an assessor will visit your home in order to carry out a survey of your existing boiler, central heating and insulation systems. He will recommend improvements such as updated central heating systems, loft insulation, or cavity wall insulation. For further details of possible improvements, which are covered by the Warm Front Grant, please see ‘What are Grants Available for?’.
Installation
After the assessor has made his recommendations, a fully trained installer will carry out the required improvements to your home. The EAGA team carry out regular checks of installers’ work to ensure that it meets high standards, giving you peace of mind.
Rebates
If you are over 60, but do not qualify for a Warm Front Grant, you may still be eligible for a £300 rebate, provided you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord. The rebates apply to people who do not have a boiler or central heating system, or have one that doesn’t function. For more information, please refer to ‘Heating Rebates for the over 60’s’.
Further Advice
You can also receive advice on energy efficiency by visiting www.warmfront.co.uk and selecting the ‘energy efficiency advice’ tab.
