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Energy Efficiency

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A promotion of Cosy Home in Lancashire

Cosy Homes in Lancashire offer advice and information on renewable technologies, choosing more energy efficient appliances and changing behaviour to reduce energy bills.

Handy person for small jobs

Cosy Homes in Lancashire's, is offering a handy person for small jobs to install low cost energy saving measures.

The service provides low cost energy saving measures to make your home warmer. These include:

  • Draught-proofing
  • Radiator reflector panels
  • Hot Water Tank Jackets
  • LED Light-bulbs
  • Draught excluders
  • Letter-box brushes
  • and many more plus our handy person will carry out an energy audit of your home 

To qualify you need to be in one of the following groups:

  • Have a household income of less than £36,000 per year or
  • In receipt of means tested benefit or
  • Aged 70+ years old

Visit Cosy Homes in Lancashire and apply now

Cosy Homes in Lancashire - Your Local Council Scheme

Cosy Homes is a partnership of 14 Lancashire Local Authorities with Blackpool Council acting as the Lead Authority.

Cosy Homes in Lancashire provide grants towards heating, insulation and more so residents can feel safe, warm and well at home.  

Cosy Homes in Lancashire are currently delivering the government funded Home Upgrade Grant (HUG).

HUG is available for home owners, landlords and residential park homes, to receive energy savings measures worth up to £38,000, for free, with no requirement to pay anything back.

Properties without mains gas central heating and an EPC of D, E, F or G could qualify for free air source heat pump central heating, solar PV panels, all types of insulation and more!

Residents qualify if they;

  • Live in an eligible post code area - visit the HUG Eligible Postcodes OR,
  • Have a household income less then £36,000 gross OR,
  • Someone in the household is in receipt of a means tested benefit.

Cosy Homes in Lancashire will be accepting applications until January 2025 however, they urge residents not to wait to apply, as funding is allocated on a first come first served basis.

They can also provide support through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) and Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and have great relationships with Connected for Warmth, LEAP, and Electricity North West.

Don't think you qualify? It's still worth applying, as there is usually something we can help with. Contact 'Cosy Homes in Lancashire' today on 03306 061 488 or visit the Cosy Homes in Lancashire website.

Please beaware, Landlords are required to pay a contribution.

Home Upgrade Grant - Phase 2

The Government's 'Home Upgrade Grant' is now available to Preston residents. The Government announced on 22 March 2023 that Cosy Homes in Lancashire has been awarded £41m for the second phase of the Home Upgrade Grant.

The scheme eligibility will be similar to the first phase although for this new phase the Government has introduced area based eligibility.

What this means is that if your property is in an eligible post code area, has no gas central heating and has an EPC of D, E, F or G you would qualify without having to provide any financial information such as proof of income or benefits. 

 The aim is to help residents to improve the warmth and comfort of their homes whilst also reducing energy bills, carbon emissions and the levels of fuel poverty across Lancashire.

The scheme aims to raise the energy efficiency of low energy performance homes which do not have gas central heating by installing insulation measures, installing renewable heating technologies such as Air Source Heat Pumps. Solar PV and Solar Thermal and upgrading single glazed windows to double glazing units.

To benefit from the scheme your property must have an Energy Performance Certificate Rating of D, E , F or G.

If you're not sure then you can check on the EPC Register. If your property does not have an EPC then we can do this under the scheme however if the survey shows your house has an EPC Rating of A, B or C then it would not qualify for any measures.

Greener Homes. Warmer Homes

What is a Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)?

The Home Upgrade Grant Scheme is a £2.5bn Government scheme to provide energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating to low-income households that do not have gas central heating.

Lancashire Authorities has received £41m for the second phase of the funding with the aim of reducing fuel poverty across the County.

Therefore eligible residents in Preston can now access the Home Upgrade Grant, via the Cosy Homes in Lancashire initiative.

What is the Cosy Homes in Lancashire initiative?

Cosy Homes in Lancashire is an Affordable Warmth initiative established by the 14 Local Authorities in Lancashire.

Cosy Homes in Lancashire has a centralised hub, managed by Rhea Projects Ltd who operate the scheme on behalf of all Lancashire Local Authorities.

Visit Cosy Homes in Lancashire

How much is the grant?

If you are a homeowner you may be entitled to receive a grant of up to £38,000 towards eligible measures to improve the energy efficiency of your property.

Preston City Council as part of Cosy Homes in Lancashire, want to help you make your home greener and therefore better for the environment but importantly, warmer.

The energy efficiency measures should also make it cheaper to heat your home in future too.

What improvements can you get with the grant?

If you and your property are eligible, the following energy efficient measures may be covered by the grant:

  • Insulation (solid wall insulation, loft insulation, room in roof insulation and under floor)
  • Renewable heating technologies such as Air Source Heat Pumps
  • Energy efficient external doors and window upgrades (single glazed to double glazed)
  • Solar PV

Might you be eligible for the grant?

You may be eligible if:

  • Your property has a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band D, E, F or G
  • Your property doe not have gas central heating installed
  • You own the home (including shared ownership and park homes on residential sites)
  • You have a total household income of less than £36,000 or are in receipt of any benefits
  • You are a residential landlord in the private sector

One quick phone call is all it takes to assess your eligibility.

Contact 'Cosy Homes in Lancashire' today on 03306 061 488 or visit the Cosy Homes in Lancashire website.

What happens if you live in rented accommodation?

The grant is available to landlords in order to help them upgrade the property you are living in, thereby making the property greener and warmer. Ultimately it will increase the value of the property.

A maximum grant of £5,000 is available to Landlords and a contribution will be required in all instances.

We are encouraging all our residents who are struggling to heat their home in winter, to speak to their Landlord today and tell them about the grant.

How do you find the energy efficiency rating for your home?

There's a handy website tool at GOV.UK - Find an Energy Certificate which will help you find out the EPC rating for your property. If your property has never had an EPC survey then we can do this through the scheme.

The Cosy Homes in Lancashire's friendly team can also help you with this.

How do you know the scheme is legitimate?

The scheme will be delivered under the Cosy Homes in Lancashire initiative, with the support of Preston City Council. All work undertaken will be in accordance with current Government Retrofit standards (PAS 2035.2019) and will be carried out by Trustmark-registered installers for your peace of mind.

How do you apply?

You can apply online by visiting the Cosy Homes in Lancashire website or call their local rate number (03306 061 488 ) so they can establish your eligibility and explain the process to you.

Surveys will be carried out and no cost to you and by one of the expert Council-approved energy and heating specialists.

Following the survey, recommendations will be made to you about the most suitable energy efficiency improvements for your home to improve the thermal comfort and save you money on future energy bills.

Contact 'Cosy Homes in Lancashire' today on 03306 061 488 or visit the Cosy Homes in Lancashire website.

Boiler efficiency database

Information relating to boiler efficiency including the Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) ratings is available on the Boiler Efficiency Database website.

Heating and hot water (central heating)

The Heating and Hot Water Industry Council website will help you get the best from your central heating system. It offers advice on what to do when it goes wrong and provides you with contact details of manufacturers of boilers and other components, as well as installers in your area. They can provide you with sound advice and a professional service when you need it.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy comes from sources which will not run out, for example the wind or the sun. It is clean energy which does not produce harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which contribute to climate change.

There is a variety of different renewable technologies available to homeowners. However, if you are considering installing a system you should be aware that depending on your house location some systems may not be suitable.

It is also important to ensure your home is very well insulated before considering these technologies.

Types of renewable energy

  • Wind energy
  • Solar hot water heating (also called solar thermal)
  • Solar electricity (Photovoltaic Panels)
  • Ground or air source heat pumps
  • Biomass and bio fuels
  • Hydro

Get paid to generate renewable energy

  • Feed-in Tariffs (FITs)
  • Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) 

For further information about possible grants and funding please visit the Cosy Homes in Lancashire website.