Energy efficiency is paramount for the UK government, as well as homeowners. Having homes that don’t waste energy helps cut the country’s carbon footprint, as well as helping the economy by allowing residents to save on heating bills.
One of the most effective energy efficient home improvements is double glazing. Double glazed windows seal in energy, reducing energy bills for homeowners and cutting down on waste. The solutions help reduce fuel poverty, as low income households won’t have to spend so much on their heating, and also reduces the burden on energy suppliers throughout the UK.
Replacing single glazed windows comes at a high upfront cost, and this is often the biggest barrier for many. As such, the UK government, through local authorities, offers a range of financial support to help homeowners and landlords pay for double glazing installation.
As leading double glazing suppliers for homes across County Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead and the North East, Bellwood’s Windows And Doors has extensive knowledge of the funding available for energy efficiency improvements. Keep reading to learn more about the financial help available to cover the cost of installing double glazing and how you can apply.
Please note all information is correct at time of writing. Bellwood’s Windows & Doors doesn’t provide double glazing grants, but we can offer this advice to help you understand potential grants for energy efficient home improvements.
Types Of Double Glazing Funding Schemes
There are several types of financial help you can get to cover the cost of upgrading windows to double glazing.
Grants are the most cost-effective for recipients, as they often cover the entire cost of installing double glazing. However, these are costly to providers, so they are often limited and have a lot of barriers to entry.
As well as grants, there are other funding schemes, such as interest-free loans can allow you to get energy efficient upgrades, such as replacement windows, while spreading the cost. While you will still have to pay for your new windows, it will help you get the energy saving home improvements you need faster.
Alongside specific double glazing grants, there are also options that cover other energy saving measures as well. These other energy efficiency improvements, such as cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, clean heating system upgrades, and even solar panels, can help cut energy costs, but they can require a lot of additional work on your home.m your home with new or replacement windows and doors, call 01913230466 to get a quote today.
What Government Grants And Schemes Are Available In The UK?
These are the energy efficient home improvement grants available in the UK that homes in the North East could be eligible for. Please be aware that this information is correct at the time of publication, but may change. For accurate and up-to-date information on the availability of these double glazing grants, check the links to the providers’ websites.
| Grant | What It Covers | Eligibility Criteria |
| ECO4 Scheme | A range of energy saving home improvements, including double glazing, cavity wall insulation, full on and off gas heating systems, gas boiler upgrades, air source heat pumps, insulation upgrades, heating improvements and more. | Available for homeowners and landlords whose properties have an EPC of E or below, and who are on qualifying benefits. |
| The LA Flex Scheme | An extension of the ECO4 Scheme offering the same benefits. | Each council has different criteria, which might focus on health conditions, young children living in the home, or the current EPC rating. |
| The Warm Homes: Local Grant | A variety of energy performance upgrades ranging from loft insulation and double glazing to air source heat pumps and solar panels. | Based in England with a privately owned home (either the homeowner or landlord can apply). You must also have an EPC of D, E, F or G, have a household income of £36000 or less per year or be on qualifying benefits. |
ECO4 Scheme
The UK Government’s Energy Company Obligation, also known as the EC04 Scheme or the Affordable Warmth Scheme in Northern Ireland, is funded by the UK’s largest energy suppliers and designed to help tackle fuel poverty throughout the country.
It is designed to help low income households on a range of benefits, including Universal Credit, Income based Jobseekers Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and more. Recipients of the grant won’t have to pay a penny for the energy efficiency measures they have installed through it, which can include double glazing, as well as other solutions such as new heating systems.
To qualify, the property must currently be have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or lower, and the improvements must raise this by at least 2 SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) bands to D or higher.
Currently, the scheme is set to run until at least 2026, but due to the success of the scheme, there is the chance of an extension.
To find out more, visit the ECO4 Scheme website HERE.
The LA Flex Scheme
The LA Flex scheme, or Local Authority Flexible Eligibility, is an extension of the ECO4 Scheme, designed to take into account more than just income or benefits. By offering local authorities more opportunities to review individuals households on a case by case basis, it means that those with health issues or vulnerable members, such as homes with young children, can get funding even if they’re not on the right qualifying benefits for energy efficient improvements under the ECO4 Scheme.
Every local authority has its own statement of intent, which sets out what they are looking for in applicants. As such, you’ll need to get in touch with your council to find out what the criteria are and if you should apply for the LA Flex Scheme.
To find out more, check out this guide HERE.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is available to low income private homeowners and landlords in England, and offers grants to cover the upfront costs of a range of energy efficiency improvements. These include double glazing, as well as insulation and even solar panels or smart controls.
Since the grant is distributed by local authorities, the exact eligibility criteria depend on your postcode, but most homeowners would need to have an income of less than £36,000 a year or be on income related benefits.
To find out more, visit the Warm Homes: Local Grant website HERE.
Other Local Initiatives
In some parts of the UK, there might be unique double glazing grants available through your local council. Some grants are available only in certain countries in the UK, such as the Home Energy Scotland Grant. You should contact the local authorities to find out what options there are and if you’re eligible for them.
How To Apply For Double Glazing Grants
All double glazing grants are different, and will have unique application processes. However, as a general rule, these are the steps you should follow to get grants for replacing single glazing in your property.
Check Your Eligibility
Most double glazing grants have eligibility criteria, which might include being a low income household with a maximum gross annual income, or being on income related benefits, such as Universal Credit. You may also be able to apply for some grants as a tenant, or you may have to ask your landlord to apply for you. Check the eligibility criteria before you start the application process.
Get A Quote
For many of the government grants available for home improvements such as new windows, you need to have a quote from a supplier. As such, you should read reviews and find local window installation companies that offer double glazed windows and can provide you with a free, no-obligation quote.
Submit Your Application
Make sure you take the time to fill out the application as accurately as possible. Most government grants for double glazing have large forms that require a lot of information, which can be frustrating. However, if you don’t fill the application out correctly, you probably won’t get the grant, so it’s important that you take the time to provide all the information required.
Communicate With The Organisation Providing The Funding
Many of the double glazing grants available in the UK are highly competitive and have a lot of applications, so you should be patient. However, if you’ve not heard anything after a few weeks, or the time specified by the provider, then you should reach out to them to check that they received your application.
Other Ways To Cut Double Glazing Costs
If you’re not eligible for any double glazing grants or funding schemes, there are other ways to save money on your installation costs, including:
- Payment Plans: Ask your window company if they offer financing or payment plans to help you spread the cost of your double glazed windows.
- Window Recycling: Some window companies will provide a discount on double glazed windows if you give them your old frames, so ask your installer to see if you could save on new energy efficient windows.
- Choose Basic Designs: Upgrades such as coloured frames and obscure glass can increase the cost of your double glazed windows, so consider choosing plainer designs.
- Consider Secondary Glazing: If you can’t afford to replacement windows, then you could upgrade your windows by adding secondary glazing, which gives you the benefits of double glazing without replacing single glazed windows.
- Find A High-Quality Window Installer: Working with experienced double glazing installers like Bellwood’s, who use only the finest materials, will provide better value and longer-lasting windows than cheaper, less experienced providers.
Get A Quote For Double Glazed Windows Today
For most types of double glazing funding, you need to have a quote before you get the money. Bellwood’s Windows And Doors offers a range of window styles, including UPVC windows, bay windows, aluminium windows, casement windows, sash windows, tilt and turn windows and more.
While we don’t provide the grants listed here, we can give you a quote and provide windows once your grant or interest-free loan comes through. If you don’t get the window grants you applied for, we can still offer cost-effect energy efficient windows that can provide lasting value and will be worth paying for, especially if you currently have single glazing.
To save energy lost through your doors, you could also also explore our range of new doors, including UPVC doors, aluminium doors, French doors, patio doors, composite doors and others.
With these home energy efficiency improvements, you can cut your energy bills as well as improving your property’s EPC, which can increase your property’s value and make it easier to sell.
If you’re ready to make energy saving home improvements to your windows and doors for your North East property, call 01913230466 to get a quote today.