Energy efficiency
We’re working towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving energy efficiency and providing affordable warmth for homes and businesses in the city.
Schemes available for home energy
Green Homes Grant - Local Authority Delivery Scheme
We are able to improve the energy efficiency rating of eligible households by installing a range of free energy efficiency measures through the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme.
The scheme aims to tackle fuel poverty and improve the city’s carbon footprint by raising the energy efficiency of privately owned homes with an E, F or G energy rating.
The scheme includes free energy efficiency measures, such as:
- External wall insulation
- Air source heat pumps (low carbon heating)
- Solar panels
- Door insulating improvements
- Smart heating controls
- Cavity insulation
- Loft insulation
Find out more information and apply on our Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme page.
Warmer Homes, Greener Homes
The Warmer Homes, Greener Homes fund helps Leicester homeowners who are struggling to afford to replace their broken or faulty heating system. The fund is aimed at helping those who are vulnerable to the cold due to having a long-term health condition or disability.
The fund also provides one-off grants of up to £500 for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Top-ups to help fund contributions clients have been asked to make. Funding is limited and awards don’t cover 100% of the costs.
Find out more about the Warmer Homes, Greener Homes fund and eligibility criteria.
ECO (Help to Heat) and ECO Flex
ECO (Help to Heat) is a scheme run by energy companies to help improve the energy performance of homes occupied by vulnerable, low income households. This scheme is available to homeowners and private tenants who receive benefits.
ECO Flex is an extension of the ECO (Help to Heat) scheme, but the criteria for who qualifies for help are wider than the normal scheme, and set by us.
Find out more about the ECO (Help to Heat) and ECO Flex schemes.
Fuel arrears voucher scheme
To assist with tackling fuel poverty and affordable warmth issues, we have teamed up with Energywise at the Community Advice and Law Service to provide financial support to Leicester City residents who have fuel arrears on their energy supplier accounts. One-off grants to pay fuel debts are available to eligible applicants. Also available are a wider range of services to assist with reducing energy costs and usage, welfare benefit checks and money management. Please visit cals.uk.net for more information or call 0116 2965361 to speak to a member of the Energywise team.
Where can I get energy advice from?
Simple Energy Advice is a government endorsed website that provides free impartial advice about how to reduce your energy bills and make your home more energy efficient and warmer.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are needed whenever a property is built, sold, or rented. An EPC contains information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs and gives the property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The EPC is valid for 10 years and details recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money.
To view your properties EPC go to: Find an energy certificate – GOV.UK.
If your property doesn’t have an EPC, then information about how to get one can be found here: Getting a new energy certificate – GOV.UK.
Where can I find an installer?
If your planning to have energy efficiency improvements made to your home without grant support, then you should choose a TrustMark Registered Business. TrustMark is a Government Endorsed Quality scheme that covers work carried out in and around your home. When you choose a TrustMark registered business you can be sure your installer has been thoroughly vetted to meet the required standards and is committed to good customer service. Visit the TrustMark website for more information: TrustMark - Homeowners HUB - Improving Consumer Protection.
Energy at work
We are working to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions in Leicester. This involves a number of initiatives taking place throughout the city.
Businesses have a large impact on these targets, and we're dedicated to working with them to help them achieve this.
Climate change and energy costs are having a real impact on businesses and a business can benefit from increasing resilience to the rising energy costs. By focusing on energy efficiency, a business can reduce energy use, reduce energy bills, improve the overall efficiency of the businesses and help protect them from rising energy costs. These measures will improve a business’s bottom line and their green credentials, therefore improving their potential supply chain opportunities.
Green BELLE
Green BELLE is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project being run by the Energy Projects Team, which assists SMEs in Leicester and Leicestershire to cut their CO2 emissions and reduce their energy bills.
The project will be running until December 2022.
For more information, visit the Green Belle website.