Grants to reduce energy bills and tackle climate change

Improving insulation and making heating and hot water production more energy efficient in homes are some of the best ways to tackle climate change, the Essex Climate Action Commission heard yesterday.

The Commission met for the fourth time this week to discuss how making changes to our built environment – such as homes, businesses, schools and hospitals – can help in the fight against climate change.

Commissioners also heard how ensuring new homes and buildings are more energy efficient and carbon neutral is much easier and cheaper than retrofitting existing properties.

Calling for bold action, the Commission set an ambitious challenge for all new build homes and schools to be net zero. Essex County Council and other public institutions in the county were called on to ensure their own estates become net zero by 2030.

Lord Randall, Chair of the Commission said: “With 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint coming from the built environment we must seize the opportunity to build back better and make sure any new homes and buildings are more energy efficient.

“I would also encourage Essex residents to take advantage of the government funding which opens today and is available until March to make improvements to our existing homes which could save them up to £600 a year.

“Tackling climate change in cannot be done by a single organisation – the public sector, the private sector and Essex residents – we all have our part to play.”

The government’s Green Homes Grant means Essex residents can now apply for up to £5000 government funding to make homes low carbon and more energy efficient.

Grants are available to make improvements such as installing cavity wall or loft insulation, upgrading windows or replacing old boilers with a heat pump.

All the information residents need can be found on the Simple Energy Advice website.

The Essex Climate Action Commission will make its full set of recommendations on a range of matters – transport, energy, waste, land use, green infrastructure and the built environment – to Essex County Council cabinet for consideration by the end of March 2021.

In a press release issued earlier today by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Business and Energy Secretary Alok Sharma said:

“Our plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings and help build back better is good news for jobs, the environment and people’s back pockets, as we reduce emissions and help cut energy bills.

“I urge everyone to visit the Green Home Grants website to see how they can make the most of this fantastic scheme.”

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