Home energy efficiency assistance

Since 2021 we have been working successfully in partnership with Bristol City Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council to deliver home energy efficiency improvements across the district.

Bright Green Homes project - Home Upgrade Grant

The Bright Green Homes project is being delivered by our partners at Bristol City Leap. It aims to assist low-income households living in properties that do not have mains-gas central heating.

The project aims to improve homes to be more energy-efficient through the provision of a range of insulation and low-carbon technologies. 

This includes

• cavity wall insulation
• external wall insulation
• loft insulation
• underfloor insulation
• air source heat pump
• solar PV

Eligibility

To be eligible for the grants, applicants must meet the following criteria

• a combined annual household income of £36,000 per year or under
• a valid Energy Performance Certificate with a rating of D, E, F or G
• the property must not use gas central heating
• you must live in the North Somerset Council area

Owner occupiers and private landlords with a portfolio of four or less properties are eligible to apply. Landlords will be required to contribute one-third of the cost of the upgrades.

The WHAM project (Warmer Homes, Advice & Money) is run by the Centre for Sustainable Energy. It supports Bristol, B&NES and North Somerset’s most vulnerable residents by giving advice on energy, money, benefits and carrying out home repairs.

The project has been running since 2017. It aims especially to help those on low incomes and those struggling to afford to heat their homes.

WHAM supports people with

• advice on how to monitor, check, and pay for energy bills
• help to make homes safe and secure
• advice on benefits and money
• help with budgeting and debt advice
• advice on managing energy use and cutting bills
• accessing grants for heating repairs and upgrades

Loan assistance is available through our partners Lendology CIC for

• the installation of low-carbon and/or renewable energy solutions and;
• improvement of insulation in domestic properties

Assistance can also be provided with a Home Improvements Loan to homeowners or landlords to assist in the repair or maintenance of properties. This can include repair or installation of heating and other works to keep a property warm and free of damp or mould.

This scheme is designed to deliver improvements to the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills. Under the scheme, households can get free insulation, including loft, roof, cavity wall and other types of insulation.

Eligibility

• you are classed as a low-income household and you own your own home or, in some cases, rent from a private landlord
• your home has an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or below - E or below if renting
• someone living at the property qualifies for certain benefits, such as pension credit, universal credit, child benefit (subject to income limit), income support and housing benefit
• you live in social housing or are considered by your local council as being on low income (total household income under £36,000 a year) and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home

We now offer a service where you can borrow a thermal imaging camera from the library in Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare. This is a great way to see areas of heat loss in your house and help you improve energy efficiency.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy have produced a range of Home energy fact sheets. They provide advice on insulation, energy bills, using heating controls, smart meters, boilers, heat pumps, solar panels, keeping warm at home, meters, heaters and more.

Retrofitting

The government have issued guidelines about using correctly trained and trustworthy contractors, who have a sound knowledge of the correct retrofitting methods for individual property types

Work and equipment fitted should come with a Trustmark certificate, which ensures that householders know that suitable and recommended measures have been fitted. 

Trustmark is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme that covers work carried out in or around their home.

• July 2018 director decisions
• January 2020 director decisions 
• September 2022 director decisions