People can now apply for a standalone grant of £7,500 from the Home Energy Scotland Scheme to install heat pumps in their property. Previously, applicants were required to sign up for a loan before they qualified for this funding, but can now access the money directly.
The new approach is designed to offer greater flexibility and should make it simpler and more affordable for people to install climate-friendly heat and energy efficiency measures in their homes. Something many households are looking at as energy bills continue to soar amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The enhanced measures will also include an extra £1,500 to homeowners in rural areas, in line with a commitment made as part of the Bute House Agreement. Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Patrick Harvie announced the changes whilst on a visit to a Home Energy Scotland advice centre in Edinburgh to learn more about the ways their advisors have been helping people to access energy efficiency funding.
He said: “Reducing emissions from our homes and buildings is one of the most important things we can do to help end Scotland’s contribution to climate change.
“Our Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out ambitious targets to transform how we heat and insulate buildings and we have committed £1.8 billion over this parliament to support its delivery. This includes doubling our funding for the Home Energy Scotland scheme this year.
“The improvements to the Home Energy Scotland Scheme - including, importantly, targeted support for those in rural areas - will make it easier for people to access funding to ensure their homes are more energy efficient and use climate friendly-heating.”
He is encouraging anyone that is interested to visit the Home Energy Scotland website or contact them by phone to get more information and guided help with the application process.
Harry Mayers, Head of Home Energy Scotland, said: “Having a warm home and reducing energy bills are big priorities for households in Scotland. The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan will help thousands of households make much-needed improvements to their homes to keep out the cold and drive down bills.
“The changes being made mean that homeowners can now apply for grant funding without a loan, this will be a huge help towards covering the cost of making energy efficiency improvements or installing renewable systems such as heat pumps.
“The updated scheme comes at just the right time as we’re going into winter with energy prices at record highs. The rural uplift, which will provide extra financial support for those who live in rural and island communities who often face increased costs for home improvements, is especially welcome.”
What is the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme?
The new Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme provides a grant which can be taken on its own or alongside an interest free Home Energy Scotland Loan.
This replaces the previous Home Energy Scotland Loan and Cashback offer, where the cashback element had to be taken in tandem with an interest free loan.
Changes to the scheme involve:
- Grant funding for heat pumps up to £7,500. The remainder of funding requested can be taken up as an optional interest-free loan.
- Grant funding for energy efficiency improvements - up to 75% of the combined cost of the improvements and up to the maximum grant amount of £7,500.
- A rural uplift of £1,500 to both the heat pump and energy efficiency grants. This uplift increases the heat pump grant flat rate and the maximum limit of the energy efficiency grant to £9,000.
- Packages of measures created to support the uptake of complimentary measures that offer substantial improvement to energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation of households.
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The Home Energy Scotland service, and associated funding, is managed by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of Scotland’s new national public energy agency, Heat & Energy Efficiency Scotland.
