With energy bills already soaring and the energy price cap set to rise again in October, some people are wondering if there’s anything more that can be done.
One question that seem particularly pertinent this week as temperatures soar is whether it is worth turning to solar energy to avoid rising energy bills – and whether you can get any help towards the cost of getting it installed.
Our expert Gemma Godfrey is on hand to give her advice:
Making your home more energy-efficient can help save money over the longer term, as well as keep your home warmer and potentially increase its value too.
The government used to offer interest-free loans and grants as part of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, but this was closed in 2015.
The good news is that the cost of solar panels has dropped dramatically over the last decade (by 88%), they’re VAT-free and there’s also the chance of getting paid for the energy you don’t use.
Some companies and banks offer homeowners low-interest loans to help make the switch to solar, but check the affordability of the repayment plan.
There’s also the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which requires large energy suppliers to support the installation of energy-saving measures in the homes of people receiving certain benefits. Eligibility can be assessed online.
Gemma is a business advisor, finance expert and TV host, an ambassador for the charity Surviving Economic Abuse, and a former boardroom adviser to Arnold Schwarzenegger on The Apprentice.
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