Most councils offer grants to complete work such as loft insulation, roof insulation and draught proofing for those on benefits. The measures offered and the size of the grants differ from council to council. Greenwich, for example, offers grants of up to £7,000. Contact your local authority.

Not all London boroughs are signed up to the scheme, but those that are offer rewards of between £250 and £1,500 (depending the borough) towards the installation of a solar-powered hot water system. The rewards are open to all homeowners, regardless of financial situation.
www.solarforlondon.org
Phone: 020 7820 3156

All the main gas and electricity suppliers in the United Kingdom have signed up to the Energy Efficiency Commitment, under which they agree to help households with the cost of making their homes more energy efficient. You do not have to get your gas or electricity from a supplier to take advantage of the offer. British Gas, for example, offers subsidies of 50 per cent on the price of any work undertaken.

Thus, insulating the loft of the average three-bedroom semi-detached house would cost £220 instead of £440.

Energy suppliers signed up to it are:

British Gas. Telephone: 08459 650650 www.house.co.uk

EDF. Telephone: 0800 0969966 www.edfenergy.com

Scottish Power. Telephone: 0800 332233 www.scottishpower.com

N Power. Telephone: 0800 022220 www.npower.com

Powergen. Telephone: 0500 201000 www.powergen.co.uk

Scottish and Southern Electricity. Telephone: 0845 7776633 www.scottish-southern.co.uk

Up to £2,500 in grants is available but only to people on income support, disability allowance, housing benefit or similar. The EST offers grants for loft insulation (can reduce heat loss through roof by a quarter); cavity wall insulation (can provide an annual saving of £100 to £120); installation of new water tank, as well as underheating, converting solid fire to glass-fronted electric fire and pipe insulation. Offers two free energy-efficient light bulbs.
www.est.org.uk
Phone: 0845 7277200