Residents in Rutland can now get free upgrades to make their homes more energy efficient. These upgrades are up to £38,000 per household.

Earlier this year, a group of 32 local authorities, including Rutland County Council, successfully bid for £41.4 million in funding from the government. This money comes from the Home Upgrade Grant and aims to help lower income households that don't have gas central heating. 

If your home is not very energy efficient and lacks gas central heating, you can apply for this programme. You may be eligible for free upgrades for your home that could save you money on your energy bills. These upgrades include things like better insulation, air source heat pumps, and solar panels. 

By applying to Warmer Homes, you can have these improvements installed in your home for free. For example, solar panels usually cost £6,000 to install, but you won't have to pay anything for them through this funding. They can save you over £500 per year.

Solid wall insulation, which can cost up to £10,000, can also be installed for free and save you up to £500 a year. Air source heat pumps, which are worth £14,000, can be installed for free and save you up to £1,000 a year. So, by taking part in this programme, you get these installations at no cost, and they will help you save money on your energy bills.

Rutland County Council's Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and the Environment, Cllr Christine Wise, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for Rutland residents, whose main source of heating their home is not mains gas, to receive energy efficiency measures and potentially low carbon heating solutions. 

"I would encourage all homeowners who have solid fuel heating, electric storage or panel heaters or oil boilers to visit the Warmer Homes website to check if they are eligible for this funding."

John Moores from Warmer Homes added: "We're delighted to have been awarded further funding to support more homes through the Warmer Homes programme. We've already helped many households keep warm and healthy whilst reducing their energy bills and improving the energy efficiency of their home.

"In the last year alone, the Warmer Homes programme has installed fully funded heat pumps, solar panels and insulation that will deliver £10m in lifetime bill savings, an average annual saving of £251 per household and has abated over 50,000 tonnes of CO2."

This scheme is available now and will be open until 2025. This scheme is first come, first served so apply now.

Apply today by visiting the Warmer Homes website or calling the freephone number on 0800 038 5757. 

You can also find more information about the energy initiatives and advice available in Rutland by going to the RCC website.