Home energy efficiency advice
The Energy Saving Trust provide up to date and useful advice about how to save energy around your home including tips on reducing heat losses through draught proofing and insulation.
If your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) the report gives step by step recommendations on how you could reduce energy use and potentially save money.
The government Help for households campaign provides details of what financial support is currently available including details of the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Grant funding for home energy efficiency improvements
The Council has successfully delivered several rounds of government grant funding schemes, improving the energy efficiency of both private and social homes across the district.
There is no current grant funding directly available through the Council (February 2023). Properties are in the process of being improved through our Sustainable Warmth allocation.
We are taking expressions of interest from residents who are interested in being kept informed when future funding becomes available.
It is likely that future funding will specifically be to support -
- residents don’t have a mains gas connection and are using oil, LPG, coal, solid fuel or electric for their main heating
- residents who own or rent their homes
- low income households
- residents living in a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated property. The District Council can fund an EPC for householders who don't have one
All work will be fully grant funded for owner occupiers. For rented properties landlords must contribute a proportion of the costs.
Work will be carried out by Council approved contractors and grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Anyone interested can simply contact Derbyshire Dales District Council's partner Marches Energy Agency on 0800 677 1332 (select option 2) or email
A new energy efficiency scheme, Connected for Warmth, is offering free cavity wall and loft insulation to households nationwide. If your Council Tax Band is A-D, then you could be eligible.
Free Air Source Heat Pumps are available to households that don’t currently have a central heating system in any Council Tax Band, if your circumstances make you eligible.
These offers are free for both property owners and landlords. Funding is available on a first come first served basis.
Derbyshire Dales District Council is supportive of this scheme.
Connected for Warmth is an awarding-winning programme, managed by AgilityEco in partnership with Affordable Warmth Solutions, and funded by National Grid.
To find out more visit their website or call 0800 995 6564 for insulation, 0121 592 0162 for heat pumps.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.
The ECO scheme works by placing an obligation on medium and large energy suppliers. Obligated suppliers must promote measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
In order to benefit from ECO funding your property will need to require energy efficiency upgrades. The specific measures that would benefit your home would be determined by a retrofit assessment. You must own your own home or have permission from your landlord, including if the property is owned by a social housing provider or management company.
To find out whether you are eligible, contact any of the obligated energy suppliers to find out how they may be able to help you benefit from the ECO scheme, even if they are not your energy provider.
The Council does not administer the ECO scheme but we have published a statement of intent. This statement sets out our flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 to March 2026.
Home 'retrofit'
Doing more complex works to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes is sometimes referred to as 'retrofit'. Put simply this is the process of making changes to existing buildings so that energy consumption and emissions are reduced. Done properly improvements should lead to a more comfortable, healthier home - ideally with reduced fuel bills.
Making energy efficiency improvements can be complicated, particularly in older properties like many of those in the Derbyshire Dales. Getting the right advice and work done to a high quality standard is key.
The Government endorsed Trustmark website can provide links to competent skilled tradespeople to carry out home energy efficiency improvement work.
If you are considering making changes to your home and unsure whether you will require planning permission you are encouraged to seek pre application advice from the relevant planning authority. The planning portal gives general advice on common projects such as installing solar PV panels or heat pumps.
Staying warm and well
The District Council works with partners to reduce fuel poverty, improve the energy efficiency of homes across the Dales and to help fight the effects of climate change. Being an active member of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authorities' Energy Partnership, helps to ensure that we work effectively towards our goals.
The District Council works with Marches Energy Agency, Derbyshire County Council and local GPs to identify those people who live in energy inefficient houses, who find it difficult to afford to improve their homes and who suffer from chronic health problems associated with living in cold conditions.
You can access free advice and help on staying warm & well at home through our FREE helpline 0800 667 1332 or by emailing
If you have a health condition that is made worse by the cold and you struggle to afford to heat your home, the Healthy Homes Project may be able to help or can direct you to other sources of support: 01629 536919.
Living in a privately rented home
If you live in a privately rented home Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations may apply. This means that the property should have a minimum EPC Band E rating.
The District Council’s Environmental Health Team is in contact with all private landlords within the Derbyshire Dales whose rented properties fail to meet the minimum standard as well as those landlords who haven’t yet commissioned an EPC. Officers will offer landlords the guidance and support they need to achieve EPC Band E or above, and, in circumstances where this can’t be achieved, support landlords who may be eligible to lodge an exemption.
For advice on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations, as a tenant or to understand your responsibilities as a landlord to meet the requirements please contact Environmental Health at
Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA)
Under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA), the UK Government requires all local authorities to publish reports demonstrating what energy conservation measures they have adopted to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation within their area.
These reports are currently submitted every two years - with the HECA report 2021 being the latest available.
