Tens of thousands of homeowners could get grants of up to £1.5k to help save on energy bills – can you apply?

TENS of thousands of homeowners could receive grants worth up to £1,500 to make their properties more energy efficient under a proposed new government scheme.

Ministers are allegedly consulting on allocating £1billion to a new “eco plus” project which would fund loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and smart heating controls for middle income households.

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The grant reportedly is aimed at middle-earning households who, unlike other schemes, are able to pay.

It will be specifically dished out to cover 75 per cent of the energy efficiency installation costs and could be worth up to £1,500 per household, according to The Times.

The paper also reported that the scheme could begin next April and is likely to cover houses in Council Tax bands A to D.

But today a No10 spokesperson said they don’t recognise claims of any new grants being dished out.

The spokesperson said: “It’s not something that we recognise.”

Insulation works by creating a thermal barrier that traps natural heat within the home, keeping rooms warm and creating less need to switch on heaters.

The Times estimates that installing loft insulation could cost up to £1,100 – but would save £640 a year on energy bills.

Cavity wall insulation could cost as much as £2,500 but would save £525 per year.

Meanwhile, smart heating controls, including thermostats and thermostatic valve,s would be £800 to install savings could add up to £525 a year.

The plans echo the short-lived Green Homes Grant, which provided up to £10,000 to cover the costs of installing heat pumps and insulation materials.

The scheme, which critics described as “badly designed”, “over-complex” and running at a “snail’s pace”, saw only 52,000 households receive vouchers before it closed – despite 600,000 being up for grabs.

For low-income Brits, help with gas and electricity bills will be available through the Energy Price Guarantee.

Ministers have capped average annual bills at £2,500 until March 31 next year.

From then, the cap rises to £3,000, but there is extra help for Brits on benefits.

Hard-up households eligible for universal credit will next year receive a £900 cost of living payment.

Pensioners will also get an additional £300 and there will be a £150 payment for Brits with a disability benefit.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk