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Home, Travel and Food: together they make up more than 60% of the average UK resident's carbon footprint. Here you'll find the latest news, research and ideas to help you cut their impact.

Go green with a grantPrint

There are lots of grants available to help save energy at home – and cut your bills at the same time.

Where to find financial help

Financial support is available from the Government, energy suppliers and local authorities.

If you live in England and are on certain benefits, you may be able to receive up to £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low-carbon or renewable technologies are recommended) from the Government's Warm Front Scheme to spend on insulation and heating improvements[1] (equivalent schemes are available in Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland).

The Government's Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) requires energy suppliers to make payments to householders who generate their own electricity from renewable sources, such as small wind turbines and solar panels.[2]

Many energy suppliers offer discounts to customers looking to install cavity wall and loft insulation.[3] Local councils may also offer grants or subsidies to residents wanting to make their energy usage more efficient.[4]

A greener home could save you money

Even small steps can produce significant results: if every household in the UK installed one energy saving light bulb in place of an old incandescent bulb, the CO2 saved would be equivalent to taking 70,000 cars off the road.[5]

If you want to calculate the carbon footprint of your home and find ideas for energy-efficient switches, as well as ways to save on your energy bills, check out the Energy Saving Trust website.

5 ways to grab a green grant

Apply directly online for government grants at EAGA http://www.eaga.com/index.php

  1. Search for grants with the Grant Information Database on the EST website

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/gid  

  1. Contact your local authority to see if it provides green grants for local residents
  2. Check for offers from EDF Energy

Find out more about the Government's Feed In Tariffs (FITs) scheme at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate-your-own-energy

External links

Energy Saving Trust calculator http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/calculator/checklist

Find out more about FITs http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Feed-in-Tariff-Clean-Energy-Cashback-scheme

Sources

[1]  The Warm Front Scheme provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended).
Information Source: Direct.gov

[2] Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) became available in Great Britain on 1st April 2010. And isn't available in Northern Ireland - although this is under review. Under this scheme energy suppliers have to (compulsory for big six suppliers) make regular payments to householders and communities who generate their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity panels(PV) or wind turbines.
Information Source: The Feed-in Tariff Scheme, Energy Saving Trust 

[3] The Government's Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) has been replaced by the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) this means energy suppliers with a certain number of customers operating in Great Britain are obliged to achieve targets for improving home energy efficiency. The suppliers therefore provide a range of offers which significantly reduce the cost of installing energy efficiency measures.
Information Source: Grants and Offers, The Energy Saving Trust

[4] If every UK household installed just one extra energy saving light bulb, the CO2 saved would be equivalent to taking 70,000 cars off the roads.
Information Source: The Energy Saving Trust

Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance. Certain facts and figures shown have been sourced from third parties. Team Green Britain has not verified information sourced from third parties and Team Green Britain cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of these facts and figures.

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