The council is supporting the residents and communities of West Suffolk to improve their home energy efficiency and the government has launched a series of funding initiatives to support home insulation and renewable energy installations.
Warm Homes Suffolk
Warm Homes Suffolk want to help the people of Suffolk live in homes that cost less to heat, so they can reduce their energy usage and enjoy lower bills. Whether it’s by fitting loft insulation, solar panel systems or providing expert advice and support to shrink your fuel bills, they want to help you live in a warmer home and reduce the amount of energy you use. As well as keeping you warm for less, it will help reduce Suffolk’s carbon footprint, helping to achieve our commitment to net zero by 2030.
Residents in Suffolk can benefit from free energy efficiency measures, when energy grants are available. Eligible households include those with a total annual household income of £36,000 or below and live in a property with an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of D, E, F or G. You can find your EPC rating at: GOV.UK - Find an energy certificate
To register your interest please contact the Warm Homes Suffolk team on 03456 037 686. Please contact: environment@westsuffolk.gov.uk for more information.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The government is offering grants of £7,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump and in some cases biomass boilers to properties across England and Wales through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
You are eligible for a grant if:
you own the property you are applying for
you are replacing fossil fuel heating systems - such as oil, gas, electric or LPG which stands for liquefied petroleum gas
The Great British Insulation Scheme is a new government scheme that will help people save money on energy bills by insulating their homes. This £1 billion scheme will help approximately 300,000 households across the country and save consumers around £300 to £400 a year on their bills.
To be eligible, you must have:
EPC rating of D or below
low Council Tax band (A to D in England).
The scheme works by obligating energy companies to help customers reduce their energy bills. This could be through installing energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation or providing efficient heating systems such as heat pumps. The cost of these may vary; therefore, costs may be covered in full or you may be asked to make a contribution.
The Suffolk Loft Insulation Offer enables homeowners in Suffolk to receive a 50% discount (up to £200) and free delivery on orders of 200mm or 370mm wide eco-friendly, itch-free thermal insulation rolls from High Loft, the UK's leading eco loft insulation brand.
Last winter, the project enabled over 5,000m2 of roofs in Suffolk to be insulated. This year, the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership want to double that figure.
The offer is open to anyone in Suffolk and will only close once the allocated funding has been spent. So, whether you’re looking to top up your existing insulation or insulate from scratch, this offer is for you.
Solar Together Suffolk is an innovative scheme offering high-quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage. It is a group-buying scheme, which brings Suffolk households together to get high-quality solar panels at a competitive price, helping you through the process and keeping you informed at every stage. It is free to register and there is no obligation to purchase.
During 2021 there were 405 solar PV installations across Suffolk. At point of installation, these were 44 per cent cheaper than the market price for an equivalent system. Over the next 25 years, these are expected to prevent 9,800 tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere.
If you already have solar panels installed you can also register to have battery storage added to your existing solar panels to maximise the benefits of your system.
Solar Together Suffolk in 2024
The Solar Together Suffolk scheme will run again in 2024. This page will be updated when details are confirmed - we will likely be accepting registrations in September.
An initiative to support small scale renewable energy generators where you can be paid for any excess electricity you generate and export to the grid. You can claim the tariff if you have any of the following technologies installed with a capacity of up to 5megawatt (mW), or up to 50kilowatt (kW) for Micro-combined heat and power (CHP):
solar photovoltaic
wind
micro combined heat and power
hydro
anaerobic digestion
The energy suppliers that offer smart export payments are only required to offer you a tariff that is greater than zero therefore the rate each energy company pays is likely to vary. You should compare the tariffs available before agreeing a contract. Furthermore, the tariffs may be fixed or variable similar to your existing electricity tariff, but they are managed separately.
Homeowners can now claim their home energy efficiency assessment voucher today at no or low cost. No cost for homes under 98m². The scheme is funded by Suffolk Public Sector Organisations. The most you will pay for a home bigger than 98m² is £30 for an assessment typically valued at over £250.
The home energy efficiency assessment can help identify the best ways to make your home more energy efficient. These assessments will be delivered by a trained professional who will analyse the building’s construction, materials, existing energy efficiency measures and any relevant heritage or planning constraints. You will receive a comprehensive report that outlines the findings and recommends specific improvements for lower emissions and better energy savings.
To apply today, you will need to start by checking your EPC rating on GOV.UK - Find an energy rating. If your home is rated below C or no rating is provided, then you can take up our offer. Once you have checked your EPC rating, please visit the Suffolk Energy Efficiency Assessment webpage to get started.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires large energy companies to help improve the energy efficiency of domestic homes by discounting the cost of improvement works. This applies to certain households who are struggling to pay their energy bills and are defined as being in fuel poverty. The Government has now given local authorities the ability to identify vulnerable households in their areas which could benefit from these improvements. The new scheme is called ECO Flexible Eligibility.
Suffolk’s councils have jointly published criteria, in a statement of intent, enabling them to identify households that would benefit from such improvements under ECO flex. Improvements are often fully funded where the household meets particular criteria and is at risk of fuel poverty.
Suffolk’s councils welcome enquiries from energy companies and installers who would like to work with us under the ECO4 scheme. For more information and contact details visit Green Suffolk - ECO Flexible Eligibility Scheme
Warm Homes Suffolk Loan: register your interest
Suffolk County Council offer interest-free loans to help make residents’ homes warmer, safer and cheaper to run. Energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, solar panels, batteries, glazing, or heat pumps will all be possible with loans of up to £15,000 to be repaid over a maximum of seven years at zero per cent interest.
Making homes more energy-efficient helps retain their heat and use less energy, meaning homeowners can save on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions. A warm home also has a positive impact on health and wellbeing.
The Community Energy Fund is a new fund that will help support local communities to develop energy projects that can benefit their local areas. This £10 million fund will help enable communities kickstart energy projects, including rooftop solar partnerships, electric vehicle charging points, small-scale wind farms and more.
The fund will be delivered over two years through the Local Net Zero Hubs. It will directly help communities to support local growth and enable places to directly benefit from clean, locally owned energy.
The projects will deliver businesses and families with affordable, secure and clean home-grown energy, while helping homes manage their own energy consumption to bring down costs and reduce fuel poverty - even if you live in a remote village or city neighbourhood. The funding is not available for capital works, equipment or service delivery, and cannot be used to cover costs incurred prior to the grant offer.
The fund has now closed for the first round of applications. We will update this webpage when round two of application opens.
