What is the Low Carbon Buildings Programme?

The Department of Trade and Industry operate a grant scheme called the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, designed to assist all householders (regardless of financial circumstances) with the cost of installing renewable technologies. The Low Carbon Buildings Programme also operates an accreditation scheme for both renewable energy systems and installers.

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme currently offers funding for all of the renewable technologies available under South Derbyshire District Council’s Renewable interest-free loan scheme with grants ranging from £400 for solar hot water systems, up to £1000 per kW for small-scale wind and hydroelectric systems (with a maximum grant of £5000).

It is a stipulation of the Renewable loan scheme that all applicants must apply for a Low Carbon Buildings Programme grant. Application forms and lists of accredited installers can be found on www.lowcarbonbuildings.co.uk. If you do not have access to the Internet, the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Team can provide hard copies of all of these materials.

Quotes for work under the Renewable interest-free loan scheme will only be accepted from installers that are accredited by the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and (if solar hot water engineers), the Solar Trade Association. This is to ensure that that the quotes you receive will be accurate and the system installed will have been thoroughly tested. It is also a stipulation of your application for a Low Carbon Buildings Programme grant towards the cost of your system.

Criteria

The only criteria you need to meet if you wish to apply for a Low Carbon Buildings Programme grants are:

• You must be the owner of the property in question (applicants who have leasehold ownership must have permission of the property freeholder)
• Your property must be a ‘permanent’ building and not a mobile home, caravan or house boat
• You must have installed basic energy efficiency measures including:
  • A minimum of 270mm of loft insulation (where practicable);
  • Cavity wall insulation (where applicable)
  • Energy saving light bulbs in all appropriate fittings
  • Heating system controls (including a room thermostat and a programmer or timer).

Included within this pack you will have received an energy efficiency enquiry form. This form allows the Home Energy Efficiency Officer to complete a grant search on your behalf. You will then receive details of any energy efficiency grants that you may be eligible for including grants from the Council, the Government’s Warm Front scheme and various energy supplier grant schemes. Everyone is entitled to at least a partial grant to help with the cost of insulation measures and if you are in receipt of a benefit or allowance you may be able to get insulation and heating system upgrades installed for free.

If you are a private landlord it is your tenants (and not yourself) who would be eligible for any grants and discounts under the schemes mentioned above. The Government also offer a Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance, which allows you to claim back up to £1500 on your income tax return when you install certain energy efficiency measures (such as cavity wall and loft insulation). For more details please contact the Home Energy Efficiency Officer on 01243 534690 or energy@south-derbys.gov.uk.

How much?

Details of the current grants available under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme scheme can be found in the table below.

Details of grants available under the Low Carbon buildings Programme

Technology	Typical cost	Low Carbon Buildings Programme grant
Solar hot water heating	£2500 - £4000	A maximum of £400 regardless of system size (up to a limit of 30% of the total cost).
Photovoltaics	£4000 - £9000 per kWe	Up to £3,000 per kWe (up to a maximum of £15,000 or an overall 50% limit of the total cost).
Small scale wind turbine	£2500 - £5000 per kWe	£1000 per kWe (up to a maximum of £5000 or a limit of 30% of the total cost).
Small scale hydro system	No typical system cost	£1000 per kWe (up to a maximum of £5000 or a limit of 30% of the total cost).
Ground source heat pump	£4000 - £6000	£1200 regardless of system (up to a limit of 30% of the total cost).
Biomass stove	£2400 - £2600	A maximum of £600 regardless of system size (up to a limit of 20% of the total cost).
Biomass boiler	£4500 per 15kW	A maximum of £1500 regardless of system size (up to a limit of 30% of the total cost).

How to apply

Application packs can be requested by calling the Low Carbon Buildings Programme freephone helpline number (0800 915 7722) or can be completed using the on-line application system on the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website (external link)

Contact Details

South Derbyshire District Council
Energy Officer
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
DE11 0AH

Tel: 01283 228719
email: energy@south-derbys.gov.uk

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