Around a third of carbon emissions in the borough come from residential properties and energy costs can have a significant impact on household budgets. The council is keen to support residents to improve the energy efficiency of properties and, in doing so, reduce carbon emissions. We often run schemes to provide financial support to upgrade homes.
The best way to reduce bills and carbon emissions is to install energy efficiency measures, such as insulation, or by using renewable technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps. Interested residents should note that eligibility requirements differ between the schemes and this page will be updated with new schemes when they are available.
If you are interested in registering for any schemes please click the links below and follow the instructions to register.
Current Schemes
Please check this page regularly for updates on upcoming schemes. You can also find updates on the council's social media on Facebook and Twitter.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is currently supporting two schemes aimed at low-income households with homes that are difficult to keep warm.
Both schemes can help eligible homeowners, private tenants and landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their homes while reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint for free. If you are a landlord, you must have a maximum of four properties.
A survey will identify which scheme and the possible upgrades are suitable for your home. This will include a free updated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessment.
If eligible, you may be offered one or more of the below installations:
- Insulation and ventilation upgrades to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.
- A low carbon upgrade to your current heating system.
- Heating controls which make sure you only use heat when you need it.
- An energy efficient hot water solution to keep your water warm for longer.
- Photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity.
- Energy efficient lighting which has low running costs.
To help you determine which scheme is best for you please follow the flow diagram and then refer to further details on the relevant scheme below. Where you are not eligible for the schemes please check the Here to Help website.
Flowchart steps
A text version of the flowchart for accessibility.
1. Is your home difficult and expensive to keep warm?
No - Not eligible.
Yes - Please go to question 2.
2. Do any of the below bullet points apply to you?
- You live in a household with a combined annual income of less than £36,000.
- You receive certain income related, means tested benefits.
- Your home is a council tax band within A-D.
No - Not eligible.
Yes - Please go to question 3.
3. Are you a homeowner or a private tenant?
No - Not eligible.
Yes - Please go to question 4.
4. Do you live in a home without a mains gas heating system? Such homes could be heated by oil, coal, LPG gas or electric heaters.
No - You may be eligible for the ECO4 scheme.
Yes - You may be eligible for the HUG2 scheme.
Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2)
The deadline for applications for the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) is Monday 31 of March 2025.
Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) is a government funded scheme. The scheme is for homes that do not have mains gas heating systems. You may still be eligible if your home has a gas cooking system but not a gas heating system.
The council are working AgilityEco who will assess eligibility and carry out works on the scheme.
For more information on the HUG2 scheme, please visit www.hugapply.co.uk/author/gsenzh/, or call 0800 1078883.
Energy Company Obligation Scheme Flex Phase 4 (ECO4+)
The deadline for applications for the Energy Company Obligation Scheme Flex Phase 4 (ECO4) is Tuesday 31 March 2026.
Energy Company Obligation Scheme Flex Phase 4 (ECO4) is a scheme funded by medium to large energy suppliers, who fund the installation of energy efficiency measures in households.
The ECO4+ scheme can allow for broader eligibility requirements which are outlined in the councils Statement of Intent document.
The council has partnered with charity, the National Energy Foundation (NEF), who will administer the scheme with a framework of local installers.
For more information on the ECO4) scheme, please visit https www.bhbh.org.uk/make-a-referral/, or call 0800 1070044, or email bhbh@nef.org.uk.
Please note: The BHBH website is being updated and will show Berkshire as an eligible area soon. In the meantime, please continue to apply by completing the online form, calling the phone number or sending an email to the address quoted above.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to ensure adequate time to assess and deliver the works.
If you are an installer and you would like to onboard please visit the NEF’s Supplier Network website, or call 01908 699 992 to apply.
Previous schemes
Sustainable Warmth Scheme
The registration period for this scheme has now closed.
This is a government grant scheme suitable for those who are at risk of fuel poverty.
The Sustainable Warmth Scheme is the follow-on phase of the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) schemes which you can read more about in the "previous schemes" section below.
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead residents may be eligible for the Sustainable Warmth Grant if your household income after tax, council tax and energy costs is £31,000 or less per year or less or if someone in your household receives benefits. The property must also have an EPC rating of D-G.
The Sustainable Warmth scheme at a glance:
- Both on-gas and off-gas properties are eligible.
- Free energy upgrades for both private households and privately rented occupants subject to both the resident and private landlord agreement.
Eligible residents could receive energy efficiency upgrades such as:
- Wall insulation
- Floor and roof insulation
- Double glazing
- Heat pumps
- Solar panels/solar thermal panels
The scheme will not fund any fossil fuel heating sources.
Eligibility
Applicants must be a private home owners or a privately renting. Where privately renting, both the landlord and tenant must agree to take part in the scheme and the landlord must agree to cover one-third of the measure install costs.
Eligibility is then determined by whether the resident is at risk of fuel poverty, such as:
- Whether the household income is lower than £30,000 / receipt of benefits) and;
- Whether the property is difficult to keep warm (generally the properties EPC rating should be D-G)
Upon receiving the residents application and permission, the councils partner for this scheme, City Energy, will assess the applicants eligibility and if eligible they will arrange a suitable date to carry out property surveys to determine which measures are best suited. The resident will then be informed of the result and, upon the residents agreement, a date will be arranged for installation of the measures.
Please note, the scheme does not require any financial contribution from private home owners and the resident can opt out at any time until the point at which they make a final agreement with our scheme partner to go ahead with installations.
Applications should be made by Saturday 31 December 2022 to allow time for the eligibility assessment and the installation before the scheme deadline Friday 31 March 2023.
If you require support in completing the application form please call the dedicated number on 02921 680951 where a City Energy customer service member will be able to help you.
Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LAD)
The registration period for this scheme has now closed.
As part of the Green Homes Grant scheme, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) offer a grant to Local Authorities to fully-fund energy-saving home improvements such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
Households must have an EPC rating of D-G and the scheme is open to private households and private-rented households which have a household income of £30,000 or less after tax and energy bills.
(Page reviewed February 2024)