As we move into Spring and Summer, it’s tempting to forget about keeping our homes warm through the winter. But now is the time to plan for a warmer, cheaper winter in your home in 2024! See below to find out ways that Thanet District Council can help you keep your home warm and reduce your fuel bills this year.
Households in Thanet are facing a growing challenge – the struggle to keep their homes adequately warm without breaking the bank. Rising energy prices have catapulted an increasing number of residents into fuel poverty, defined as needing to spend more than 10% of their income on heating their homes to an adequate level.
The Deteriorating Situation:
Fuel poverty in Thanet has reached alarming levels, with 19.2% of homes (13,000) facing this predicament in 2020, compared to a national average of 10.3%. The surge in energy prices from £1,042 in 2021 to £2,500 in 2023 has added to the problem, impacting various demographics. Thanet District Council's advice service has identified new groups seeking help, including working families earning less than £40,000 and pensioners who have small private pensions but who are not on pension credit.
The Solution: A Holistic Approach:
The approach focuses not just on crisis support but on long-term solutions. With 12,000 homes in Thanet having uninsulated cavity walls across all tenures (EPC ratings D, E, F, G), the emphasis is on improving the insulation of homes rather than solely providing crisis aid to heat them.
Objectives:
- Reduce Carbon Emissions: By enhancing home insulation and promoting low carbon heating.
- Assist Those in Need: Targeting households facing fuel poverty.
- Reduce Household Fuel Bills: Through energy-efficient home improvements.
- Ensure Homes Are Warm and Healthy: By addressing issues such as homes which are cold and damp.
Available Support:
EoN is the delivery partner for the schemes and Thanet District Council’s Thanet Winter Energy Support initiative provides a range of grants and support services, including:
- Home Upgrade Fund: Offering 100% free grants averaging £18,000 per home, with a maximum grant of £38,000, specifically for off-gas homes for residents with lower incomes. The scheme closes in March 2025.
- ECO4 Scheme: Government-funded support for energy efficiency improvements for low-income households, available to all homeowners and tenants with energy ratings of D, E, F, or G. This scheme closes in March 2026.
- Great Big Insulation Scheme: Targeted at homes with EPC ratings D to G within council tax bands A to D.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Grants for low carbon heating systems, providing discounts for air source heat pumps, biomass boilers, and ground source heat pumps.
- Solar Together: A bulk discount scheme for installing solar electricity panels and battery storage.
How to Access Support:
Residents can apply for grants and support by contacting either the Green Doctor team via
www.hugapply.co.uk or Thanet District Council Home Energy Team via
energysaving@thanet.gov.uk, calling
01843 577400 or making an online referral at
https://form.thanet.gov.uk/home-energy.
Additional Resources:
Apart from the grants, the initiative provides valuable advice services, including boiler repairs, replacements, and support for vulnerable homeowners and tenants.
The Thanet Winter Energy Support initiative offers a comprehensive solution to the escalating issue of fuel poverty and rising energy costs. By focusing on long-term home improvements, the programme aims to not only provide immediate relief but also create sustainable, energy-efficient living conditions for the residents of Thanet.
To read the full case study, visit:
www.groundwork.org.uk/greendoctor/green-doctor-partnerships/case-study-thanet-district-council/