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Decent Homes and Government Assistance

Here are the current options to which a brief explanation is supplied to each area of funding. Funding is provided for CO2 reduction, Fuel Poverty and Sustainability.

You can find further information on funding options at Affordable Warmth, Warm Front & Ofgem.

Carbon Emission Reduction Targets (CERT)

• 8 OFGEM approved Energy Efficiency Suppliers
• European Target Date of 2012
• Primary aim is to assist in reducing Carbon Emissions to existing housing stock that is being refurbished under the Decent Homes and ‘Warm Front’ incentives.

Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP)

• New obligation on electricity generators
• CESP obligation until Dec 2012 (OFGEM Regulated)
• Disadvantaged areas with levels of low income
• Government Index of Multiple Deprivation’s (IMD) income domain.
• Whole-house approach promoting Carbon Reduction measures to effect low carbon energy generation.
• There are two key aims of CESP
  • The first, improving the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock, will support the second
  • The second is to reduce energy demand in the domestic sector.

Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP)

• The Community Sustainable Energy Programme is an open grants programme run by BRE as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund. BRE carries out research, consultancy, training and testing to help create better buildings and communities.
• The Community Sustainable Energy Programme aims to raise public awareness and support for renewable energy.
• The programme will provide £8 million for the installation of micro-generation technologies and energy efficiency measures by community-based organisations in England.
• Capital grants will be awarded on a competitive basis at quarterly selection panel meetings and expect final one of these in December 2010.

Non Gas Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme

• Effected April 2008 running until 2011 (OFGEM Regulated)
• Targets a priority group of low income and elderly consumers over 70 years of age.
• The scheme offers a discount on the connection charge (A Fuel Poor Discount)
• Includes all households within the 20% most deprived areas as measured by the
  Governments IMD.
• There are 2 schemes a) one-off scheme, a premise within 15m of a relevant main and
  b) a community scheme expectation equalling 100 premises.

Warmfront

• The scheme was launched in June 2000 (and was initially known as the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme). Government funding for the 2008-11 period for the scheme is just over £800 million which could help up to 400,000 vulnerable households. Over 1.6 million people in England have already received assistance since 2000.
• Warm Front is the Government's largest scheme designed to combat fuel poverty in the private owner occupied and rented sector in England.
• A household in fuel poverty is one where more than 10% of income is needed to heat the home to an adequate standard of warmth. Fuel poverty can come about as the result of a combination of poor energy efficiency in homes, energy prices and low incomes.

Who Can Apply

• Community groups governed by a written Constitution
• Registered charities and trusts
• Parish Councils
• Schools or Colleges
• Companies that are not registered charities but have a charitable purpose and a community focus (for example, a company limited by guarantee and some community interest companies or social enterprises, where any surpluses are mainly reinvested for community benefit).
• Mutual societies
• Church based and other faith organisations