The Government has made a further £1.8 billion available through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. This money will go towards improving the energy efficiency of buildings in the UK. This comes at the right time, to ease concerns surrounding the fuel crisis, the rising cost of living, and the nation’s ambitious Net Zero targets.
The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Home Upgrade Grant
The Funding
£1.4 billion of this new funding is going towards the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the Home Upgrade Grant. Phase 2 of the HUG sees £630 million to be awarded to local authorities, social housing providers and charities. A further £778 million is being used by the SHDF to boost the housing sector.
Who will the funding help and how?
The SHDF and the HUG will specifically target vulnerable and off-grid homes, particularly those with an energy rating of D or below. The money will go towards the installation of energy efficiency measures such as exterior wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, new windows, heat pumps, and others. It is estimated that these improvements could save tenants up to £400 annually on their energy bills. Also, it will have a nationwide benefit as this process will support 20,000 jobs in the green sector.
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
The Funding
The government has announced a grant of £409 million to go to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This will fund energy efficiency measures for public sector buildings all over the country.
Who will the funding help and how?
Museums, schools, universities, and hospitals will be among those to benefit from PSDS-financed improvements. Some of the recipients were announced today, they include:
- Adur and Worthing Councils
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
- Northumbria University
- Greater Manchester Academies Trust
The measures made available by the grant will help each building to reduce its emissions, decrease its reliance on fossil fuels and take advantage of renewable energy. These improvements will reduce the energy bills of said institutions, which is expected to save the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds. Additionally, all of these steps reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen a more self-sufficient, renewable way to power the country. This improves the UK’s energy security, which has proved to be ever more important following Putin’s weaponisation of fuel.
This funding and its roll-out will play a large role in improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s public sector and private housing sector. This will not only save the taxpayer money, but it will also push the nation closer to energy security, and lessen the need for fossil fuels. On a smaller scale, this money will help families to heat their homes affordably, to keep them safe, warm and healthy.
Thousands of jobs in the energy sector are being created and supported by schemes such as these. If you would like to get involved, please consider taking one of Energy Trust’s professional training courses. Book your space online or call us on 0333 012 0002.
