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Original poster

Who's paying for all this eco work?

60 replies

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:09

I live in Leicester and heaps of houses are having eco work done, expensive wall insulation and solar panels etc.

You need to be on benefits to receive funding.

I know one local one got solar panels after age extended her house upwards by one level. Massive in investment! She said shes in receipt of UC so can get it.

I don't understand where tens of thousands of pounds to reduce carbon from private homes is coming from and how all the houses which are £350k+ in value are eligible for benefits?

OP posts:
Catza · 14/09/2024 20:14

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:58

Would you rather have your neighbour not have a car or a gas boiler?

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You were the one concerned about who is paying for it. I am asking you to give me some sums which prove that your proposal will be more cost-effective.
Doesn't matter what I think about my neighbours. I don't see how the current state of the public transport makes your proposal even remotely realistic.

WingsofRain · 14/09/2024 20:13

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:53

Why do you think pensioners can't heat their homes?

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Why would you assume we can?

We have had no heating in our house for 30 years and will lose our winter fuel allowance under the new rules. We are lucky enough to be eligible for heating to be installed under the scheme, hopefully our electricity bills will be more affordable with solar panels.

We aren’t all that unusual, many people struggle to heat their homes as they get older.

Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 20:02

HeddaGarbled · 14/09/2024 20:01

Don’t post on Mumsnet in the middle of a conversation with your in laws. How rude 😃

Drinking scots would have a convo with a mop head

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 20:01

Rummly · 14/09/2024 19:59

Oh, if they plan well enough they definitely can keep themselves warm.

An elderly neighbour of mine has a working fireplace and a huge stack of Labour election pamphlets she’s collected to burn for the winter. She’s sorted.

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Lol lol lol

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 14/09/2024 20:01

Don’t post on Mumsnet in the middle of a conversation with your in laws. How rude 😃

Rummly · 14/09/2024 19:59

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:53

Why do you think pensioners can't heat their homes?

Show quote history

Oh, if they plan well enough they definitely can keep themselves warm.

An elderly neighbour of mine has a working fireplace and a huge stack of Labour election pamphlets she’s collected to burn for the winter. She’s sorted.

Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:59

Giving people solar is pointless for electricity as most houses are gas heated.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:58

Catza · 14/09/2024 19:24

So, instead, you propose a reduction in 50% of personal vehicles? How would that work then? How much would it cost in compensation and public transport investment? I'll take your quick napkin calculations

Would you rather have your neighbour not have a car or a gas boiler?

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:54

Arafon · 14/09/2024 19:48

There was some scheme which the Tories brought out in conjunction with the energy companies where you could have subsidised insulation if your house was energy rating D or less. Ours is probably D but we haven't got an EPC and I wouldn't want my walls filled with stuff anyway, my house was built to breathe

Are you going to remove your double glazing, plastic, wall paint, concrete, floor coverings etc? Plus heat via your chimney?

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:53

Rummly · 14/09/2024 19:46

They probably shouldn’t get anything. I’m not against that particular cut in welfare payments. And there will be other even more savage benefit cuts under this government that we should take a sensible view about.

But all governments sweeten the pill in some way. So it wouldn’t surprise me if numb-fingered, stooping, shivering pensioners get some solar panels on the cheap off Mr Miliband.

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Why do you think pensioners can't heat their homes?

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:52

Arafon · 14/09/2024 19:48

There was some scheme which the Tories brought out in conjunction with the energy companies where you could have subsidised insulation if your house was energy rating D or less. Ours is probably D but we haven't got an EPC and I wouldn't want my walls filled with stuff anyway, my house was built to breathe

It's called GBIS

OP posts:
Arafon · 14/09/2024 19:48

There was some scheme which the Tories brought out in conjunction with the energy companies where you could have subsidised insulation if your house was energy rating D or less. Ours is probably D but we haven't got an EPC and I wouldn't want my walls filled with stuff anyway, my house was built to breathe

Rummly · 14/09/2024 19:46

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:40

Why should those pensioners who.have a healthy pension from a private fund get extra money?

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They probably shouldn’t get anything. I’m not against that particular cut in welfare payments. And there will be other even more savage benefit cuts under this government that we should take a sensible view about.

But all governments sweeten the pill in some way. So it wouldn’t surprise me if numb-fingered, stooping, shivering pensioners get some solar panels on the cheap off Mr Miliband.

Mooneywoo · 14/09/2024 19:45

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:28

Another two neighbours have gone it done, one was 15 years ago and she said her house has been fine. Not sure how it's ineffective,,,?

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Cold bridging for one, the huge issues which arise from putting a non breathable surface on a house where the fabric was designed to be breathable for another.

AlwaysKindaKnewYoudBeTheDeathOfMe · 14/09/2024 19:43

The government Eco4 scheme pays for people in receipt of certain benefits to have eco measures in their homes.

That helps.

The LEZ schemes and grants for, say, EV chargers also help with car pollution.

They're two separate prongs of attacking the same problem; conflating the two doesn't really make sense.

Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:42

Letsnotargue · 14/09/2024 19:40

It’s not through the energy companies, it’s through the council but paid for by the ECO. We had big-ish house done for free. Same for cavity wall.

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The loft and wall insulation for those not eligible for Eco4 is via the GBIS and it's loft and wall insulation. Customer contributes alot more than it costs them for loft insulation and only cavity walls are viable due to lack of available fitters for solid

I can only talk about present schemes

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:40

Rummly · 14/09/2024 19:39

I have no idea whether eco measures are being gamed by benefit claimants - although it would seem fair that OAPs get something to offset Labour’s fuel allowance cut.

But I do predict that most of these green ‘innovations’ will be ripped out in 15 years time and will prove to be costly mistakes. We’ll be burning coal and gas again.

I suspect that ‘leccy cars will fade and die too. Petrol will be here for a very long time.

Why should those pensioners who.have a healthy pension from a private fund get extra money?

OP posts:
Letsnotargue · 14/09/2024 19:40

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:30

The energy companies will do loft insulation at £500 (approx). Obviously alot cheaper to do it yourself. Also can't get external wall for solid walls as none of the providers seem to do it.

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It’s not through the energy companies, it’s through the council but paid for by the ECO. We had big-ish house done for free. Same for cavity wall.

Rummly · 14/09/2024 19:39

I have no idea whether eco measures are being gamed by benefit claimants - although it would seem fair that OAPs get something to offset Labour’s fuel allowance cut.

But I do predict that most of these green ‘innovations’ will be ripped out in 15 years time and will prove to be costly mistakes. We’ll be burning coal and gas again.

I suspect that ‘leccy cars will fade and die too. Petrol will be here for a very long time.

Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:31

Puzzlemad · 14/09/2024 19:30

Because if the walls are north facing they're prone to condensation build up. If you trap the condensation between two layers you have a huge mold issue.

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How can condensation get in if the wall is blocked?

OP posts:
Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:31

angelpie33 · 14/09/2024 19:29

You don't necessarily need to be on benefits to get this funded work done though. We recently had energy efficiency works done through a grant. I was eligible for health reasons alone, nothing to do with benefits or income - and I believe a significant number of other people would be similarly eligible on that basis.

These works have significant benefit in terms of energy efficiency, reduction in fuel etc but also for the health and wellbeing of people living in very poorly insulated and energy inefficient homes.

Yes due to health issues or benefits.

Sorry I forgot to include those with chronic illness that are eligible. For you I think it's 100% worth it because your health is helped by a warm home and those on benefits are supposed to be in fuel poverty

OP posts:
Puzzlemad · 14/09/2024 19:30

BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:28

Another two neighbours have gone it done, one was 15 years ago and she said her house has been fine. Not sure how it's ineffective,,,?

Show quote history

Because if the walls are north facing they're prone to condensation build up. If you trap the condensation between two layers you have a huge mold issue.

Original poster
BeLoftyTurtle · 14/09/2024 19:30

Letsnotargue · 14/09/2024 19:27

A lot of energy saving funding comes from energy companies through the Energy Company Obligation. They have to pay into a fund that local councils use to help people pay for energy saving and therefore money saving things.

We are on no benefits but we’ve had loft and cavity wall insulation paid for through the council. They have targets to meet in terms of spending so they are often desperate to get people to take them up on it.

The energy companies will do loft insulation at £500 (approx). Obviously alot cheaper to do it yourself. Also can't get external wall for solid walls as none of the providers seem to do it.

OP posts:
angelpie33 · 14/09/2024 19:29

You don't necessarily need to be on benefits to get this funded work done though. We recently had energy efficiency works done through a grant. I was eligible for health reasons alone, nothing to do with benefits or income - and I believe a significant number of other people would be similarly eligible on that basis.

These works have significant benefit in terms of energy efficiency, reduction in fuel etc but also for the health and wellbeing of people living in very poorly insulated and energy inefficient homes.

Puzzlemad · 14/09/2024 19:28

Mooneywoo · 14/09/2024 19:25

As a side note, I just assume anyone having external insulation put on a period property is a moron.
It’s largely ineffective and is going to cause a huge damp crisis in a decade.

I do too. A lot of the insulation solutions are just damp waiting to happen (I have a large north facing wall which gets VERY cold, lovely in the summer horrible in the winter) all the wall based solutions seem like they will cause more problems than they'll solve.

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