£2million grant scheme will create ‘Toasty Homes’

This is the third year that firmus energy has run the ‘toasty homes’ scheme, which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland Sustainability Energy Programme.

The ‘toasty homes’ scheme gives homes in Ballymena the opportunity to secure a grant of up to £1,500 towards the installation costs of converting to a new natural gas heating system. Anyone who successfully secures one of the ‘toasty homes’ grants can also benefit from up to £800 towards insulating their home, free energy saving light bulbs and a free energy monitor.

Last year more than 500 homes across Northern Ireland received a grant to convert to natural gas, which is a convenient, versatile and more efficient fuel. This year, grants totalling £1,915,000 will be available to over 600 households via the toasty homes scheme and a further 200 households can benefit from the toasty home plus grants.

The grants are available across the firmus energy network in Northern Ireland, on a first-come, first-served basis.

What makes the ‘toasty home’ scheme unique is that it is open to households which currently use oil, LPG, Economy 7, solid fuel or those with no heating system.

New this year, an additional £715,000 worth of grants has been allocated to qualifying homes under the Toasty Homes Plus scheme. Toasty Homes Plus offers qualifying households a free natural gas heating system conversion and up to £800 to help insulate their home.

Given that almost a quarter of heat is lost through the roof of an un-insulated home1, the ‘toasty homes’ scheme, which can also includes insulation, will allow householders in Ballymena to ensure their homes are as energy-efficient as possible.

Customers who secure a ‘toasty homes’ grant will receive financial support to install a high efficiency natural gas boiler which will help reduce household fuel bills and reduce CO2 emissions2.

Adding the savings from more efficient boilers, proper controls and the lower cost of natural gas can create huge savings.

firmus energy natural gas prices continue to be the lowest of any domestic gas supplier in Northern Ireland3. Natural gas from firmus energy remains one of the lowest cost heating fuels for your home.

Shelly Burns, firmus energy, was in Ballymena on Friday, June 1, to help launch the ‘toasty homes’ scheme with the Mayor of Ballymena, Councillor Hubert Nicholl.

She said: “We’re delighted to announce that even more ‘toasty homes’ grants are available this year. It’s a fantastic scheme as the criterion allows us to reach out to those households that may miss out on other benefit schemes. Switching to natural gas from firmus energy makes common sense as it just takes one quick phone call to take advantage of a more versatile and environmentally friendly fuel.

“Our existing customers in Ballymena love the fact that they will ‘never run out’ of fuel and have a constant, instant supply of hot water. Those who qualify for toasty homes will also enjoy these benefits and as there is no need for an oil tank or hot water cylinder, people who switch to natural gas can also have extra space in their gardens or could even ‘splash out’ on a new shower unit inside!”

Mayor of Ballymena, Councillor Hubert Nicholl, added: “We are very pleased to support firmus energy at the launch of this year’s ‘toasty homes’ scheme. The cost-saving benefits to people living in Ballymena are two-fold; initially the substantial discount off the installation but equally importantly, the significant savings on fuel bills gained by installing a highly efficient heating system and by insulating the home.

“I would encourage anyone who is eligible and interested in making their home a ‘toasty home’ to apply for a grant sooner rather than later, as there are a limited number of grants available.”

To qualify for the ‘toasty homes’ scheme, people must:

Own their own home or live in privately rented accommodation

Currently use LPG, oil, Economy 7, solid fuel or have no central heating

Live along the firmus energy natural gas network in Ballylmena

Be single with an income/pension of up to £24K gross per annum

OR couple (with/without children) /single parent family with income/pension up to £35K gross per annum

If you would like to find out if you are eligible or you want to turn your home into a ‘toasty home’ simply contact firmus energy on 08456 08 00 88.