It often feels as if rural areas are ignored in national conversations about heating and energy efficiency for the home. Many properties in our region rely on off-grid gas heating (using LPG – liquid petroleum gas, such as propane) and there has been very little on offer to improve the situation for those properties. The latest Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) aims to provide funding to help home owners and tenants reduce their energy bills by upgrading the energy performance of homes.
HUG 2 is the second phase of the Home Upgrade Grant scheme and will build on the policy specification of HUG 1, which has been delivering improvements as part of the Sustainable Warmth Competition since early 2022.
The focus of HUG 2 is on Dorset Council and BCP Council residents in ‘economically deprived neighbourhoods (as defined by the government), or have an annual income of less than £31K, or are already in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Dorset Council and BCP Council have launched the Home Upgrade Grant, which is designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes across Dorset.
The scheme enables homeowners and private renters to access funded energy saving measures such as loft & cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, heating upgrades, air source heat pumps and solar panels. The HUG2 scheme will help reduce energy use and fuel costs for Dorset residents who live in the lower energy rated homes (EPC D to G) and heat their homes with a fuel other than mains gas such as; electric heaters, oil and LPG boilers and solid fuel heating.
The scheme will also help BCP and Dorset Council achieve their pledge to take action to address the climate emergency and will help towards the reductions in energy use needed to meet the UK’s 2050 Net Zero targets.
If the HUG 2 criteria apply to you, or you know someone who may well quality, then the starting point is to download the HUG 2 leaflet from Ridgewater Energy. click on the image below. And if you don’t qualify for HUG 2 but have poor energy insulation in your home, contact Ridgewater Energy as there may be other schemes that are applicable for you.
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And to get started on the assessment of your home visit the Dorset Home Upgrade Grant website by clicking on the image below.
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MORE NEWS: Ridgewater Energy has organised a launch event to raise awareness of HUG2.
Taking place in Dochester on 4th October 2023 and intended for partner organisations in the region.
Details HERE
