Under new plans released by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), heat pumps and solar panel installations will be included as part of £1.8 billion plans to boost energy efficiency in buildings.
The funding is being provided as part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant and Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which all look to decarbonise social homes and public buildings.
Local authorities, providers of social housing and charities have been awarded a financial injection of £630 million, which is to come from phase two of the latest stage of the Home Upgrade Grant, while £778 million will be provided through the most recent wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
This funding will be rolled out from April 2023 and upgrade home sover the next two years. This will look to implement a range of technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions within homes.
This includes exterior wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, new windows and doors and draft-proofing measures. Low carbon technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels have also been included in these schemes and will continue to bolster the UK’s renewable sector.
“We know this is a difficult time for families, which is why the government is covering around half a typical household’s energy bill this winter. This is a huge investment that will help households save hundreds on energy bills and see them heat their homes for less, and stay warm for longer,” said secretary of state Grant Shapps.
“Not only this but the funding is also a huge boost for job creation and economic growth, opening up new and exciting opportunities across the UK’s ever-expanding green sector.”
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which provides grants to public sector bodies to fund low carbon heating, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures such as heat pumps, solar panels and insulation, has also received a £400 million with this being allocated to public sector bodies across the UK.
“The UK is truly a world-leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and the progress we’ve made over the last decade has been remarkable. But we can’t rest on our laurels and must continue to drive forward progress, setting a standard for other countries to follow,” said Lord Callanan, minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance.
“Reaching net zero means considerable action from the public sector as well as private sector. Through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding allocation announced today, we are empowering public bodies to save the taxpayer hundreds of millions while packing a punch on our ambitious and necessary climate goals.”