Video about energy (120Mb)

People in the St Albans district can play their part in reducing global climate change by taking advantage of grants and advice available through a new local environmental projects fund called Life in the Green Lane. The fund will work towards creating a greener, cleaner and healthier future for everyone in the district.

Through Life in the Green Lane, households, community groups, schools and businesses can find out how to do their bit by obtaining support, funding and advice on a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy issues…

It is estimated that the cost of heating water for your home is between a quarter and a half of the total bill. Hot water usage tends to remain the same all year round. A solar thermal system installed under the life in the green lane scheme will provide up to 60% of your hot water needs over a year, and provide you with nearly 100% in the summer. The system will be able to reduce your annual fuel bills and also save up to 1 tonne of carbon emissions a year.

The Life in the Green Lane scheme also offer you the chance to install key energy efficiency measures including loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and low energy light bulbs into your property, which will help to reduce the costs of your energy bills and reduce the carbon footprint of your property.

The Life in the Green Lane team will help you apply for the new low carbon buildings programme grant which will entitle you to £400 of the costs of the installation of your hot water system.

A Solar System for under £2500 - The aim of the scheme is to provide you with a solar thermal system for under £2500. This may not be possible on every occasion due to technical issues. The following system would fall under the £2500 quotation range: 1 x 2.75m2 collector 1 x 2.75m2 tile flashing kit 1 x 165l duel coil solar cylinder 1 x pump, safety valves, controller and pipework.

This system could be installed into a property were there are no access problems present. If your property does not fall into this range we will strive to keep the costs down to a minimum.

Householders who can demonstrate that energy efficiency measures have been installed in their home may be eligible for a £400 grant through the government's Low Carbon Building Programme, thus bringing the total cost of the installation to around £2000.

The scheme is open to any homeowner living in the district. To register an interest please contact the Sustainability Team on 01727 819 380/466 or e-mail sustainability@stalbans.gov.uk.

The Warm Front grant is a Government funded scheme which provides grants to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient through various insulation and heating measures.

If you own your home or rent from a private landlord and receive certain benefits, you may be able to claim a grant of up to £2,700 under the Warm Front scheme. You can claim if you receive one of more of the following.

• Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,050 and which must include a disability element)
• Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,050)
• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
• Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
• Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
• War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit

If you are not sure whether you are entitled to a grant, call the Warm Front Benefit Entitlement Check free on 0800 072 9006.

If you do not qualify for the Warm Front grant you may instead qualify for the £300 Heating Rebate Grant. Through Warm Front, funds have been made available to homeowners and private tenants who are aged 60 or over to help with the cost of installing a new central heating system or repairing a broken one. The £300 rebate only applies if you have no heating system or one which does not work. The £300 Heating Rebate applies to gas, electric, oil or solid fuel installations and repairs.

It's easy to apply for the £300 Heating Rebate...

Step 1: Call the Warm Front Team free on 0800 316 6012 (please quote MK851)
An advisor will ask you some questions to see if you qualify for the £300 Rebate. They will offer you a free, confidential Benefit Entitlement Check to identify any benefits to which you may be entitled. This may qualify you for further assistance of up to £2700.

Step 2: Voucher
If you qualify for the £300 rebate you will be sent a letter and a voucher. This letter will include the names of six registered installers working in your area. The voucher is valid for three months from the date of issue.

Step 3: The installation
It is recommended that you ask one or more of the installers on the list for a quote. Once you have decided which installer will carry out the work, contact them directly. If you have a preferred installer who is registered with CORGI, NICEIC, OFTEC or HETAS, but who is not registered for the Warm Front Scheme, they can carry out the work but must be registered for the Scheme before the work starts. Your installer must register at www.eagagroup.com/schemes/ewfheatingrebate. Repairs to existing heating systems can be carried out under the Scheme where the work exceeds £300.

Step 4: Payment
Once the installation has been completed, the installer will give you an invoice for the work. The invoice should show the total less the £300. You should then give your signed voucher to the installer so that they can claim the rebate, together with the balance due. If you have any concerns about the installation you should contact the installer direct.

Step 5: Quality check
An inspection is carried out on a number of installations to make sure that the improvements have been made and that you are happy with the work that has been carried out.

Warmer Homes Greener Herts

Grants and discounts to insulate your home

Discounts on loft and cavity wall insulation are available to ALL local residents who own their homes or rent privately. Individuals in receipt of income or disability related benefits may also be entitled to have insulation and heating improvements carried out FREE of charge.

How do I apply?

Taking advantage of grants and discounts is easy. Call the Warmer Homes Greener Herts advice line free on 0800 80 48 777 to find the best value option for your particular circumstances. This independent advice service is managed by Milton Keynes Energy Agency. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Who funds the grant and discount schemes and how do they differ?

All the main energy suppliers offer loft and cavity wall insulation at various discounted prices. The price differs between the different energy suppliers according to the size of your property and the fuel source used. When you call 0800 80 48 777 you have the option to be referred directly onto the insulation grant or discount scheme that is most beneficial to you.

This new insulation scheme aims to provide free cavity wall and loft insulation for people aged 65 and over, who do not receive a benefit, and whose main income derives from a state pension (people with private pensions, or investments and savings of over £10,000 will not qualify).

The insulation work is carried out by "Working Herts", which provides work-based learning for people aged 16-18. The young trainees not only learn a trade and skills, they also learn about good customer service/care and about health and safety. They get involved in managing paperwork, and any trainee in need of help with literacy or numeracy will receive professional tuition. Given the social spirit of the scheme, Working Herts makes an ideal partner being professional insulation installers, as well as a charitable organisation.

To qualify for the Warm & Well insulation grant you must be aged 65 or over and be a homeowner within the District. Your main income must come from state pension only.

To apply please either print out and complete the application form or contact Andrew Scullion at the District Offices on 01727 819 450

This grant is targeted at elderly people as it enables small scale work to be carried out with the minimum of paperwork so that the person can remain happily in their own home. Examples of such work are rewiring, plumbing repairs, replacement of rotten wood, roof repairs etc.

Eligible works include repairs necessary for remedying unfitness, repairs to services and the building to prevent risk to health and safety of the residents and measures to conserve energy where the applicant is not eligible under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Residents interested in the scheme should contact Anchor Staying Put on 01707 255710

Financial Incentives for Private Sector Landlords to improve the energy efficiency of your housing stock £1,500 tax break for private landlords The Landlord's Energy Savings Allowance provides all private landlords who pay income tax with upfront relief on capital expenditure for installations of loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation in rented accommodation.

The allowance enables landlords to deduct the cost of new insulation (up to £1500 per property) when calculating their taxable profits from letting residential property. For more information click on the PDF below, or contact your local Inland Revenue tax office or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk

Landlords Scheme January 2006

Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, The Forest Centre, Station Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedford, MK 43 0PR

Freefone: 0800 512012

You can find out how energy efficient your home is by completing a simple on-line survey. Complete the survey now and the results will be given to you instantly.

What is the Home Energy Check?

The Home Energy Check is a way of assessing the energy efficiency of your home. By completing the simple questionnaire on-line, you will be provided with a personalised report on energy saving in your home with recommendations on what action you can take. The report will also include details of any local grants or schemes that you may be able to access.

What's more, the results are instant so you can find out how energy efficient your home is right now!!! And it's completely free!

Complete the survey by clicking on this link.