Low Carbon Buildings ProgramDECC's Low Carbon Buildings Program householder stream is due to be open until late 2010 for heat generating technologies (solar thermal hot water, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, wood fuelled heating) or as long as funds last. This funding will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Applications for a grant are welcome from private individuals who own their own home and reside in properties located within England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland (excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).

To be eligible for a grant you must have received a grant offer letter before work starts on your installation.

How will the application process work?

Applications are accepted on a rolling first-come-first-served basis. An outline of the process is as follows:
1.  Complete the energy efficiency measures required by the programme. This is to ensure energy use
     is minimised prior to installing a microgeneration technology to enable the most efficient use of the
     technology. For more details on the required energy efficiency measures please click here.
2.  Obtain planning permission for your installation if necessary or contact your Local Planning Authority 
     to ensure that the installation is classed as a permitted development. Please click here for details on
     planning permission.
3.  Obtain a quote from a certified installer, ensuring that a certified product will be used. Please click
     here for details on certified installers and products.
4.  Make an application online. By applying online you will get an instant response to your request.
5.  After receiving a grant offer letter via email, contact your installer to confirm that they are able to begin
     installing the technology. The grant validity period varies by technology, please see the table below.
6.  After you have completed the installation and you have paid your installer, you should submit your
     grant claim documents to the Energy Saving Trust.
7.  The grant claim will be checked within 25 working days of receipt of all the documentation and, if in
     order, the grant will be paid to you.

Please download a copy of the terms and conditions and the guidance notes to help you when using the online grant application system. Click here

Grant amounts and grant offer validity periods

Technology	Maximum Amount of Grant	Grant Offer Validity Period
Solar thermal hot water	Overall maximum of £400 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower	3 months for existing buildings 6 months for buildings under construction

Please note:
This grant is only applicable on A.O. Smith Solar collectors.

There is a £2,500 grant cap per household. Householders can apply for more than one technology but the funding will be limited up to a maximum of £2,500 per household depending on technologies involved and to one grant per technology type.

Source: www.lowcarbonbuildings.co.uk