TrustMark is proud to work alongside government to help deliver the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which launches today (Wednesday 30 September 2020).
Homeowners across England are now able to apply for funding to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties.
All work carried out under the scheme must be completed by a TrustMark Registered Business, who will have demonstrated high technical standards, quality assurances and a commitment to customer service.
The scheme could benefit more than 600,000 homeowners as well as create new jobs and opportunities for training and protect existing jobs across the construction and energy sectors.
Simon Ayers, CEO of TrustMark, which is the only Government Endorsed Quality Scheme, said: “Today marks a pivotal moment in not only our industry’s recovery but our journey to reducing carbon emissions and being net-zero by 2050.
“Homes – both new and existing – account for 18% of CO2 emissions and 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions. The time for innovation and development is now. Through the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, we can collectively play a vital role in the delivery of lower carbon properties, with reduced energy costs and healthier and more comfortable living conditions for the occupiers.
“As well as benefiting the consumer, the Green Homes Grant will give a boost to the construction and energy sectors providing a perfect opportunity for businesses to develop their services, gain more customers, expand and grow. We are proud to be working alongside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and other industry partners to deliver this important scheme.”
The vouchers will allow homeowners to obtain funding for up to two-thirds (up to £5000) of the cost of the energy efficiency measures identified, while lower income households including those on certain benefits could be entitled to have as much as £10,000 of the costs fully covered. They will be able to use the vouchers to install one or more of the following:
- External wall insulation; internal wall insulation; cavity wall insulation
- Under-floor insulation: solid Floor
- Under-floor insulation: suspended Floor
- Loft insulation; flat roof insulation; room-in-roof insulation
- Park home insulation
- Air source; ground source heat pump
- Solar thermal
- Biomass boiler
In addition, households can use their voucher for further energy saving measures. These include one or more of the following:
- Draught proofing; double or triple glazing; secondary glazing, when replacing single glazing
- Energy efficient replacement doors
- Hot water tank thermostat; hot water tank insulation; heating controls
Mr Ayers said that improving the insulation of properties is avital component in the Whole House Retrofit approach, which is imperativeto reduce carbon emissions.
He added: “We firmly believe that a property is looked at with the ‘fabric first’ so we can address the overall efficiency of the building. Only through this whole house approach, will a property owner determine what measures are needed for optimising home energy efficiency and ensure the best value for money.
Businesses wanting to complete work under the scheme can do so by signing up to TrustMark. All businesses need to be certified to install energy efficiency or low carbon heat measures to the relevant standards. More information is available here.
