Surrey County Council's Surrey Energy Advice webpage is an online tool that enables residents to source financial support and measures to improve energy efficiency.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The government has also introduced a new scheme to assist homeowners who wish to upgrade from gas/oil/electric heating source to a low carbon heating technology such as heat pumps. Grants are available for:

• £7,500 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
• £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler*
• £7,500 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump

*The grant will only cover biomass boilers in rural locations and in properties that are not connected to the gas grid.

Help with energy bills 

The government's Help for Households campaign website provides information and guidance on a range of topics including details of the latest financial support schemes and energy saving advice.

Remember when planning a building project to ensure the required permissions from the Planning Team have been received.

There is a wide range of resources available. ActionSurrey has lots of ideas on how to improve your property.

The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) website has a wealth of information and could potentially put you in touch with contractors with experience of building sustainably.

If you plan to do the work yourself or want to be better informed before contacting a builder, visit the Centre for Alternative Technology website. The website is an excellent source of free information about a host of sustainable living topics. It also offers free practical courses and workshops.

LETI is a network of over 1,000 built environment professionals working to help the UK on the road to a zero-carbon future. You can view or download the LETI climate emergency Retrofit Guide, from their website.  Endorsed by George Clark, the TV presenter and architect, the Guide gives easy to follow energy targets for existing homes and guidance on how to achieve them, depending on your property type.

Is an independent organisation and has an excellent website aiming to inform homeowners about how they can make better energy choices. They explain more about topics such as heat pumps and solar energy as well as show you ways to reduce your carbon emissions and lower your energy bills.

Surrey County Council is currently consulting on where to locate public access Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points. By taking part in their consultation you can help them plan their EV Charging Network. You can add or comment on a suggested location using the interactive map.

If you own an Electric Vehicle and your property has off-street parking, you may be eligible for a government grant for the installation of an EV Charging Point. More information is available here.