Being energy efficient not only helps the environment, but can reduce energy bills and benefit your health. 

Green Living Leicestershire programme

This grant can help Charnwood residents improve the warmth and comfort of homes, whilst also reducing energy bills, carbon emissions and levels of fuel poverty across the county.

Leicestershire County Council are currently inviting applications via our scheme partners 'YES Energy Solutions' to qualify residents. It aims to raise the energy efficiency of low energy performance homes, including off-gas grid homes.

For more information on the grants, or to apply, visit the county council’s Green Living Leicestershire page, or call project delivery partner YES Energy Solutions on 03309 126199, who can support residents with their applications.

Home energy advice, grants and funding

It is important to be warm and comfortable in your home. Low temperatures can make existing health issues worse and the colder your home is, the greater the risk of you becoming ill.

You can make some simple changes to your home that will ensure you are warmer and more comfortable and your energy bills are lower. See the Warm Homes Advice Booklet for information and tips, or visit First Contact Plus, where Leicestershire residents can benefit from tailored advice by telephone, email and post and in some cases a home visit by the Warm Homes Officer, for support with:

  • Checking energy tariffs – are you paying more than you need to on your energy bills?
  • Grants for heating and insulation measures
  • Energy debt management and help to clear it
  • Checking heating and hot water controls
  • Understanding your properties Energy Performance Certificate
  • Accessing subsidies offered by your energy supplier
  • Support for vulnerable residents

Energy efficiency standards in private rented properties

Landlords must provide a current energy performance certificate (EPC) for each property they let. The EPC will show an energy efficiency rating for the energy performance of a home, similar to the ratings now displayed in shops on refrigerators and washing machines.

The Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties. Since April 2020, landlords can no longer let or continue to let properties covered by the MEES Regulations if they have an EPC rating below E, unless they have a valid exemption in place.

Landlords who do not comply with the new regulations risk being fined up to £4,000.

For more information, general guidance on EPCs and details of the exemptions and how to register and exemption, please visit:

Heating savings advice

Boiler efficiency advice

The video below provides helpful advice on how to apply simple tricks that can help your condensing combi boiler run more efficiently and save money on your gas bills:

For more advice on energy efficiency

  • Contact Warm Homes for advice on grants and benefits that you might be entitled to and saving money on your energy bills (0116) 3054286
  • The Citizens Advice Bureau - Advice in many areas including energy supply, recommendations when switching suppliers and reading your meter or understanding your bill 08444 111444
  • The Pension Service - If you get the State Pension, then you may be entitled to Winter Fuel Payments 08459 151515   
  • Carbon Trust - Helps business and the public sector reduce carbon emissions and capture the commercial opportunities of low carbon technologies 0800 085 2005
  • Energy grants calculator - Find out if you are eligible for help with your energy bills or to make your home more energy efficient.
  • Tenants' energy efficiency improvements provisions - guidance for domestic landlords and tenants - Guidance for tenants, landlords and others with an interest in domestic private rented property on part two of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO 4) 

Grants are available via larger energy suppliers and installers working on their behalf for a range of insulation measures and support to upgrade or replace inefficient or broken heating systems. 

Some measures require a household contribution and the measures available from providers may vary. 

ECO grants are primarily directed at owner occupier homes with Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) in bands D,E,F & G. Eligible households must be in receipt of qualifying benefits, or on a low income (less than £31,000 per year).

Find ways to save energy in your home and check your eligibility by visiting the Simple Energy Advice website. 

Boiler Upgrade Scheme 

The Government is providing grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps and biomass boilers, through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).

Grants of up to £6,000 are available to subsidise the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies. 

The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales. It runs from 2022 to 2025. 

For more information on this, you can visit the Ofgem website. 

Advice for businesses on reducing energy bills

The Carbon Trust provide information on energy efficiency to businesses with a toolkit for small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Useful links

Last updated: Tue 17th January, 2023 @ 09:40