1.Carbon Trust
Start saving money on your energy bills
with a 0% interest Energy-Efficiency Loan
Energy-Efficiency Loans from the Carbon Trust are a cost effective way to replace, upgrade or add new equipment with a more energy efficient version.
Being more energy efficient makes sound economic sense because using less energy lowers operating costs. From an environmental perspective, it's an effective way for business to cut carbon emissions and, in turn, combat climate change.
If you're a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in England or Wales*, and have been trading for at least 12 months, you could borrow from £5,000 to £100,000. It is unsecured, interest free and repayable over a period of up to 4 years. There are no arrangement fees and applying is straightforward.
Energy Efficiency Loans - Customer Pack - Download 656kb
2.Low carbon buildings programme
The DTI's Low carbon buildings programme will provide grants for micro generation technologies for householders, community organisations, schools, the public sector and businesses. Micro generation is the stand-alone generation of low carbon heat and/or electricity.
Click to apply for LCBP Domestic grant
Householders and Community
A.) What levels of grants will be available?
The grant levels will be as follows and we will regularly review them as the market for each technology develops:
Technology |
% Grant available |
Solar thermal hot water |
Maximum £400 regardless of size subject to an overall 30% limit (exclusive of VAT) |
|
|
Bio-energy |
Maximum £1,500 regardless of size subject to an overall 30% limit (exclusive of VAT) |
B.) Who can apply for a grant?
Householders For individual property owners including private householders to install micro generation on small buildings.
Communities Communities for non-profit community organisations such as registered charities, community groups, and schools to install micro generation on community buildings.
C.) How will the application process work?
Applications are accepted on a rolling first-come-first-served basis.
An outline of the process is as follows:
- Complete the energy efficiency measures required by the programme and obtain a quote from an accredited installer.
- Make an application online.
- After receiving a grant offer letter via email, order the equipment and begin installing the technology. The grant is valid for 6 months .
- After you have completed the installation and you have paid the installer, you can submit the claim documents to the Energy Saving Trust.
- The grant claim is checked and, if in order, the grant will be issued within 15 working days of receipt of all the documentation.
Applications can be received from properties located within England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland (excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
Please note: you should wait until you have received a grant offer letter before commencing the installation.
D.) What are the required energy efficiency measures?
You must undertake a number of energy efficiency measures before you are eligible to apply for a low carbon buildings grant. These measures will ensure that you are minimising your energy requirements. Before applying we require you to have:
- insulated the whole of the loft of the property to meet current building regulations e.g. 270mm of mineral wool loft insulation or suitable alternative
- installed cavity wall insulation (if you have cavity walls)
- fitted low energy light bulbs in all appropriate light fittings
- installed basic controls for your heating system to include a room thermostat and a programmer or timer.
E.) Can I apply more than once for the same project for different technologies?
Yes you can. You can apply for funding for up to 3 different technologies on one building, with a maximum of 3 different buildings funded (NB these have to be on separate applications).
F.) What if the grant applications are for different addresses?
Different addresses are still eligible as the programme is all about maximising the number of low carbon buildings.
Please note the grant will not cover:
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Un-associated costs (e.g. roofing works outside the direct installation of the microtechnology system, vandal covers, asbestos removal, upgrades to your household ring main, new radiators or heat distribution system, etc.)
- Expenditure on works or activities which any other person or organisation has a statutory duty to undertake
- Any liability arising out of negligence on the part of the Applicant or its representatives
- Expenditure of a political or religious nature
