Grants and offers

There are currently full or partial grants available, depending on your circumstances, for cavity wall and loft insulation, solid wall insulation, heating system repairs and renewable energy. See details below.

For further advice visit our energy advice page or contact our Sustainable Energy Team (contact details on the right of this page).

Grants for insulation and heating for low income households

If you are on benefits or a low income we are currently able to offer full grants for energy saving measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation, efficient heating controls, internal solid wall insulation and much more.

• You do not have to be over 60
• You do not have to be in receipt of a means tested benefit
• You need to be either an owner-occupier or a privately renting tenant
• To qualify your fuel bills must be more than 10% of your annual income

To find our more or to apply please contact the Sustainable Energy Team, or download the "Struggling to Pay Your Gas & Electric bills" leaflet.

Warm Front Scheme for those receiving qualifying benefits

	Warm Front Scheme website

The Warm Front Grant can be used for improving your homes insulation or upgrading faulty or ineffective heating systems.

You could be eligible for a grant if you receive benefits and you are 60 or over, disabled, have a child under 16 or are pregnant or one a low income.

You can get £2,700 towards the cost of improvements. If improvements cost more than this amount you can apply to us for a Warm Front top-up grant.

You must apply before the work is carried out. For full details about eligibility and to apply visit the Warm Front website or contact the Sustainable Energy Team.

Discounted cavity wall and loft insulation, with £75 council tax rebate

We have teamed up with British Gas to offer discounted cavity wall and loft insulation. The typical cost for a three-bed semi under the scheme is £250 for cavity wall and £274 for loft insulation.

You will also get a one-off council tax rebate when you have your home insulated through the British Gas scheme, you do not have to be a British gas customer.

Call 0845 971 7731 and quote reference OXFCT or visit the British Gas website for more information. Or download the £75 Council Tax Rebate leaflet.

Free cavity wall and loft insulation for over 70s

British Gas offer free loft and cavity wall insulation to people over 70, or on income related benefits.

You do not need to be a British Gas customer to benefit from the scheme. Phone British Gas on 0845 605 2535 for more information or to apply.

Winter Fuel Payment

A winter fuel payment of up to £200 is paid to over 60s before Christmas each year.

If you are eligible you should receive the payment automatically. For more information call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 08459 15 15 15.

Cold Weather Payment

If you get Pension Credit you may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment for each week of very cold weather in your area. You may also be eligible if you are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and have a child under five.

You will get £8.50 when it is or is going to be zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row. This has to happen between 1st November and 31st March. You do not need to apply. You will be given the payment automatically if you qualify, for more details contact your nearest pension centre or Jobcentre Plus.

Grants for Solar and Renewable Energy

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme offers grants for installing renewable energy, such as solar hot water, solar electric, wind turbines, small-scale hydro, ground and air source heat pumps and biomass.

For more information about renewable energy grants go to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website.

Grants for Solar and Renewable Energy for Community Buildings

For public buildings such as schools, community centres and churches the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 offers grants for installing renewable energy, such as solar hot water, solar electric, wind turbines, ground source heat pumps, wood pellet stoves and boilers.

For more information about renewable energy grants go to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 website.

Community groups and other non-profit making organisations can also apply for competitive grants of up to 50% from the Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP).

The technologies eligible are solar hot water, solar electric, wind turbines, heat pumps, wood pellet stoves, wood fuelled boiler systems and micro-hydro turbines. For more information on these grants visit the Community Sustainable Energy Programme website.

Oxford Solar Initiative

The Oxford Solar Initiative supplies information about planning permission, selecting appropriate solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems, installers and applying for government grants.

Contact the Sustainable Energy Team for an Oxford Solar Initiative Information pack or download information from the links above. 

Page last reviewed 10 Jul 2008