Solar panels, heat pumps and double-glazing are all being offered Households across the UK can take advantage of an offer to have solar panels and insulation installed for free. This is available to low-income households via the Government's Warm Homes: Local Grant. Grants of up to £30,000 are being offered for home improvements such
Home batteries are increasingly marketed as a kind of financial shield. Charge them overnight when electricity is cheap. Use that stored energy when prices spike. Avoid the dreaded 4pm-7pm peak. Maybe even get paid when wholesale prices dip below zero. It’s an appealing proposition in a country still wary of bill shocks. But how
As a writer who specialises in cars, I’ve driven more than 20 new electric vehicles (EVs) in the past year, and while it is difficult to find a genuinely bad car these days, I have been surprised at the gulf between the genuinely good stuff in the electric market and those models that are
Electric cars usually need less routine maintenance than petrol or diesel cars because there are fewer moving parts and no engine oil or exhaust system. EVs still need tyres, wheel alignments, cabin filters, brake fluid, battery coolant, software updates, and 12-volt battery checks. Extra weight and light brake use can speed up tyre wear
Changes to planning rules would limit scope of English councils and prevent them pursuing improvements to low-carbon homes The government has been accused of bowing to lobbying by housebuilders, in proposals that would prevent English local authorities from pursuing improvements to low-carbon homes standards. Under a consultation on planning rules, councils would be issued
A green energy future will require critical decisions on upgrades to the grid and the fossil fuels switchover The government has set growth as its defining mission. Even as it has pivoted to tackling cost of living pressures in the near term. It has argued that a “greener economy” is central to growth. That
Our planet may be heading to a point of no return. Scientists predict that a domino effect of damage is on the horizon without intervention, including “hothouse” level warming. Climate change is likely to worsen, especially as the Trump administration is looking to relax emissions regulations. This could lead to irreparable harm to the
In the Autumn Budget back in November, Rachel Reeves announced a new charge on electric vehicle excise duty of up to at 3p per mile. The Chancellor said this would double road maintenance funding, and offer a further £200 million for new public charging charging points — but has the not so positive side
Many 10-year-old solar systems still work, but quietly underperform. In 2026, repowering outdated 3kW systems can cost less than repairs and deliver far bigger bill savings. If your solar system was installed around 2016, there’s a good chance it’s still switching on every morning. And yet, your electricity bill is still around $800. This
Industry collaboration and performance monitoring is more crucial than ever, MCS says, as it looks ahead to the government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan. It follows a record-breaking year for small-scale renewables – which saw 369,000 certified installations in 2025 – including rooftop solar. MCS, the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewables like solar
