This page is for residents of Cambridge. If you do not live in the city, read South Cambridgeshire District Council’s advice on funding for household energy saving measures or check your local council’s website.

There are various grant schemes available to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

Green Homes Grant scheme

The government’s Green Homes Grant scheme can help cover the cost of energy efficiency or low-carbon heating improvements.

Homeowners and landlords can apply for two-thirds of the cost of improvements, up to £5,000. Homeowners on certain benefits might be able to claim 100% of the costs, up to £10,000.

• Apply for the Green Homes Grant scheme on the government website
• Find out more about Green Homes Grants on the Simple Energy Advice website

The scheme opens in October 2020 and closes at the end of March 2021.

Temporary coronavirus crisis fuel voucher scheme

If you have a pre-pay meter and are struggling to get help from your energy supplier, contact homeenergy@cambridge.gov.uk. We can tell you whether the new temporary fuel voucher scheme will be able to help you.

ECO energy efficiency scheme

The government’s Energy Company Obligation scheme helps to reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.

A new part of the scheme called ‘flexible eligibility’ enables us to set targets for energy suppliers to help fund the installation of energy-efficiency measures in qualifying households.

Measures might include loft and wall insulation. Targets are based on each supplier’s share of the domestic energy market. Not all energy suppliers are obligated to join the scheme.

You can apply for support if you live in a property that is costly to heat, or if you or somebody living with you are vulnerable to cold.

Qualifying criteria include:

• You receive a qualifying benefit
• Your household income is less than £20,000 for a single person or £30,000 for a couple, and you have savings of less than £20,000
• Your property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F or G, or provides a qualifying score through our assessment
• You or somebody living in your property have a health condition that can be exacerbated by the cold
• You or somebody living in your property are pregnant or have a child aged under 5
• You or somebody living in your property are aged over 65

Our ECO scheme statement of intent [PDF, 0.5MB] provides further information about eligibility.

Contact us if you think you might be eligible to receive support. Note that being eligible does not guarantee that measures to improve heating or insulation will be installed, or that they can be installed free of charge.

Green Deal

The Green Deal was a government scheme which helped residents make improvements to the energy efficiency of their homes. It has now closed.

As soon as we are aware of any new or replacement government schemes, we will add the details here.

Feed-in tariffs

Feed-in tariffs provided a guaranteed rate for each unit of electricity generated and exported. They are no longer available for new installations.

• To find out more about renewable electricity technologies and historic feed-in tariffs, visit the Energy Savings Trust renewable energy page and the Ofgem feed-in tariffs page.

Renewable Heat Incentive

If you have a renewable or low-carbon heat technology such as solar hot-water heating or a heat pump then you may be eligible for the government's Renewable Heat Incentive.

• To find out more about the renewable heat technologies and the Renewable Heat Incentive, visit the Energy Savings Trust renewable heat page and the Ofgem renewable heat incentive page.

Cambs HIA

Cambs HIA, formerly known as Home Aid, is a home improvement agency set up to assist people living in Cambridge who are elderly or vulnerable, who have disability needs, or who are on a low income.

Their aim is to help people repair, maintain or adapt their homes by providing practical or financial advice and support, to enable them to remain in their own homes in greater comfort and safety.

Grants include a one-off, non-secured and non-repayable Home Energy Grant of up to £1,000, available to owner-occupiers to introduce measures that will improve the energy efficiency of their home.

• Find out more about Cambs HIA