A government funded scheme allowing eligible Island residents to apply for free upgrades to make their homes more energy efficient has been the most successful in our region.
Upgrades are worth up to £38,000 per household and could include insulation, air source heat pumps and solar PV panels which can be installed for free, saving households thousands of pounds in the future. The eligibility criteria includes,
- You use electric, oil or LPG to heat your home, not mains gas
- Your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is D, E, F, or G (Warmer Homes can help you find out if you’re not sure).
- You have a household income of £36,000 or under, or you or you receive a means-tested benefit.
The Isle of Wight council was among a group of 23 local authorities to successfully bid for £41.4 million in government funding. The money comes from the Home Upgrade Grant and aims to help lower income households whose home is not very energy efficient and not heated by mains gas.
Jordan: Improving energy efficiency in homes is a key issue
Councillor Phil Jordan, council leader, said,
“We are really pleased that eligible Isle of Wight residents have taken up the Warmer Homes scheme more than anywhere else in the southern region. This is testament to the work we have done to ensure that those who can claim this help have been targeted.
“We have produced a campaign to include social media and radio ads, as well as working closely with our partners to promote the scheme to those eligible residents.’’
He continues,
“Improving energy efficiency in homes is a key issue.
“Energy bills are a major concern for many households so anything that can be done to reduce these costs is vital.
“Making homes more energy efficient at the same time helps to reduce carbon emissions across the Island.”
Shadwell: £2.5+ million of fully funded energy-saving measures for 120 homes
Katherine Shadwell, Project Manager, AgilityEco said,
“We are proud to be supporting the Isle of Wight Council with their delivery of the Warmer Homes scheme.
“Since 2023, the Warmer Homes scheme has supported Isle of Wight residents with a range of fully funded energy-saving home improvements to help keep their homes warm and their energy bills low.
“Since the Warmer Homes scheme has been introduced to the Island, we have supported over 120 homes with over £2.5 million of fully funded energy-saving measures.”
Extended by a month
The scheme has now been extended by a further month and the application deadline for residents is now the end of November (31st November 2024).
More information can be found on the Isle of Wight council website by visiting The Warmer Homes programme.
You can also call the freephone number on 0800 038 5737 or email: [email protected] for further information and guidance.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
