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Energy efficiency

We’re working towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving energy efficiency and providing affordable warmth for homes and businesses in the city.

Energy at home

How can we help?

We currently provide assistance to vulnerable low-income households suffering ill health and referral to current grant-aided schemes for insulation and heating measures where applicable.

What energy efficiency schemes are currently available?

ECO (Help to Heat) and ECO Flex

ECO (Help to Heat) is a requirement placed upon energy companies to help improve domestic energy performance of the homes of the vulnerable. We can provide householders with assistance and support to access funding for heating and insulation measures.

ECO Flex is where a council can set criteria to assist those who would fall outside the normal ECO qualifying criteria.

Find out more about the ECO (Help to Heat) and ECO Flex schemes.

Warm Homes Fund

The aims of the Warm Homes Fund are to reduce householder’s energy bills, increase levels of thermal comfort in non-gas fuel poor households and to improve the health outcomes for residents in some of the most severe levels of fuel poverty.

The scheme, to install gas central heating systems will be delivered by our partner organisation, City Energy who are currently supporting the delivery of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO3) measures in the city.

Find out more about Warm Homes Funding.

Warmer Homes, Greener Homes

Warmer Homes, Greener Homes fund helps Leicester homeowners who are struggling to afford to replace their broken or faulty heating system. The fund is aimed at helping those who are vulnerable to the cold due to having a long-term health condition or disability. The fund will also provide one-off grants of up to £500 for Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Top-ups to help fund contributions clients have been asked to make. Funding is limited and awards don’t cover 100% of the costs.

Find out more about the Warmer Homes, Greener Homes fund and eligibility criteria.

Green Homes grant: Local Authority Delivery Scheme

A government backed scheme delivered by local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of eligible households. This will help tackle fuel poverty by reducing energy bills for residents across the city and support the installation of low carbon heating. The scheme aims to raise the energy efficiency of low energy performance homes, including off-gas grid homes.  The scheme closes on 31 March 2021.

We have been successful in attracting over £1million of government funding. The scheme will be delivered by our partner, E.ON.

The scheme includes free energy efficient measures, such as:

  • External wall insulation
  • Air Source Heat Pumps (low carbon heating)
  • Door improvements
  • Smart heating controls
  • Cavity insulation
  • Loft insulation
  • Solar thermal

Find out more information and how to apply on our Local Authority Delivery Scheme page. 

Voucher scheme

Homeowners and landlords can apply for a voucher towards the cost of installing energy efficient and low-carbon heating improvements to their homes.

Vouchers to cover up to two thirds of the cost of qualifying improvements to your home are available, the maximum voucher value is £5,000.

Homeowners in receipt of a qualifying benefit could receive a higher level of subsidy, covering 100% of the cost of the improvements. The maximum value of these vouchers is £10,000. (Landlords cannot apply for the low-income part of the scheme.)

This is not a scheme run by Leicester City Council.Questions about the scheme should be directed to The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Full terms and conditions can be found at GOV.UK.

To apply, please visit the Green Homes Grant page at GOV.UK. 

Energy at work

We are working to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions in Leicester. This involves a number of initiatives taking place throughout the city.

Businesses have a large impact on these targets, and we're dedicated to working with them to help them achieve this.

Climate change and energy costs are having a real impact on businesses and a business can benefit from increasing resilience to the rising energy costs. By focusing on energy efficiency, a business can reduce energy use, reduce energy bills, improve the overall efficiency of the businesses and help protect them from rising energy costs. These measures will improve a business’s bottom line and their green credentials, therefore improving their potential supply chain opportunities.

Green BELLE

Green BELLE is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project being run by the Energy Projects Team, which assists SMEs in Leicester and Leicestershire to cut their CO2 emissions and reduce their energy bills.

The project will be running until December 2022.

For more information, visit the Green Belle website. 

Fosse Energy

Fosse Energy's supply partner, Robin Hood Energy, announced on 4 September 2020 that it plans to sell its business to British Gas.

If you're a Fosse Energy customer, you will automatically be moved across to British Gas if you choose not to switch to an alternative energy provider before the transfer is completed.

There will be no disruption to your supply during the change and all of our customers are encouraged to read more about the transfer and FAQs on the Robin Hood website.

Smart Energy Transition to Upgrade regional Performance (SET-UP)

The overall goal of the SET-UP project is to improve energy performance of the six partner regions thanks to enhanced policies on smart grids. On a medium to long term, better energy demand management achieved thanks to SET-UP will lead to reduced energy consumption and greater energy security, with connected socio-environmental and economic benefits.

SET-UP uses interregional exchange to build on regional competencies on smart grids, supported by selected regional policy instruments (ERDF ROP, Axis on energy/low carbon). SET-UP improves policy instruments by identifying efficient energy management tools, with a specific focus on solutions to three main challenges to smart grid deployment:

  • empowering consumers;
  • economic and business models;
  • investment possibilities for smart network infrastructure.

Various activities for interregional exchange, communication and stakeholder engagement (with business sector engagement), help partners to develop regional Action Plans. These plans result in improved policy instruments supporting regions in their attempt to design, implement and direct more and better funding towards integrated smart grid strategies.

You can find out more information on the Interrege Europe SET-UP website.