Energy and renewables

Installing green technologies in your self-build can not only offer energy savings in the long run, you might qualify for Government schemes to help pay for them.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Feed in tariffs (FITs) Energy saving loans

The main funding scheme offered by the Government for installing renewable heating such as biomass, ground source and air source heat pump technologies, is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The domestic RHI is for single-rated properties and is payable for seven years. Quarterly tax-free payments, which increase annually in line with the consumer price index, are made to the homeowner. The amount of RHI payable is based on the energy performance certificate (EPC) you receive once your heating installation is complete. Typically, a biomass installation could payback in about eight years (depending on fuel source). A ground or air source heat pump system usually pays back in four to five years. The rates paid under the RHI vary depending on what system you are installing. Currently, heat pumps (ground and air source) are seen as the best technology to use and offer higher payments. While the scheme is currently supported until at least 2022, the Government continues Did you know you can apply for an interest free loan to install a variety of measures such as solid wall insulation, double-glazing or a new boiler? Through the HEEPS loan scheme, an owner occupier or private sector landlord could get up to £15,000 per property, and landlords with multiple properties are eligible for up to £100,000 in total. The repayment period varies based on the amount you intend to borrow but those taking out higher value loans will be able to pay back over 10 years. From October 2016 for a limited time and subject to available funding, applicants are eligible to receive a grant of 25% of the cost of their work, up to a maximum of £3,750. Applicants must be able to complete works and claim funding by March 10, 2017 to benefit from this offer. To accommodate this change the HEEPS loan will be reduced to a maximum of 75% of the cost of eligible works. The maximum loan value remains at £15,000. Applicants are also entitled to claim up to £150 towards the cost of the Green Deal Advice Report that is required before a loan can be approved. If you are installing external wall insulation and apply directly to your local authority for a building warrant you can also claim back this cost. Payment in these circumstances will only be made based on the actual cost paid to the local authority for lodging the warrant and you must be able to supply a copy of the bill, receipt or invoice issued by the local authority. This special offer will also be available to private sector landlords for a maximum of three properties. If applying for work at more than three properties loan funding, the interest free loan will still be available for 100% of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of £15,000 per property. For more information on the loan scheme, visit energysavingtrust.org.uk. The Feed in Tariffs (FITs) scheme is another Government scheme designed to encourage uptake of a range of small-scale, renewable and low-carbon technologies to generate electricity. Under FITs, you could be paid for the electricity you generate if you install an eligible system such as solar PV or a wind or hydro turbine. to adapt the criteria so it is important that you, and your installer, keep up to date. Further changes have been mooted for 2017, including a cap on larger properties and the removal of support for solar thermal installations.