£80 million for social housing upgrades to cut energy bills

The government has announced up to £80 million for upgrades to social housing in a bid to cut energy bills.

Energy security and net zero secretary Claire Coutinho made the announcement on Monday.

It is hoped the funding will generate energy bill savings of around £240 a year for some of the lowest-income households.

More than 100,000 households in England have already received pay-outs from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the new funding is enough to upgrade an additional 9,500 homes.

The money can be spent on measures including new wall, loft or underfloor insulation or supporting families to switch to low carbon heating.

Eligible tenants will receive the energy efficiency upgrades free of charge through their social housing provider, whether local councils or housing associations.

Coutinho said: "We are delivering net zero in a way that supports the British public and does not burden hardworking families with additional costs.

"Our Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is delivering warmer homes and energy bill savings of around £240 for some of the lowest income families, as well as supporting thousands of jobs.

"We’re already making over 100,000 homes more energy efficient with this scheme, and I’m delighted an extra 9,500 social housing tenants will now benefit too.

Minister for energy efficiency and green finance Lord Callanan said: "The UK is a trailblazer when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, cutting them faster than any other G7 country.

"By supporting families to improve their household energy efficiency, this additional funding will deliver measures such as new insulation and low-carbon heating for even more households – helping them save money and cut emissions."

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