In a time when environmentalism and energy savings are two very current topics, the Green Home Grants is particularly interesting for citizens who want to install lower-consumption systems.

However, let's not forget that a lower energy consumption is not synonym with less comfortable living - quite the contrary, it means higher efficiency.

Indeed, home automation helps us program, control and automatize all the domestic devices integrated within the network, remotely or locally.

The domestic network can be wired or wireless, and it receives and transmit data between the different control points and the devices to be controlled, making your day-to-day life easier and more comfortable.

What tax deductions are included in the Green Homes Grant and how do they work

In September 2020, the British government launched the Green Homes Grant to make homes more efficient energy-wise. Home owners and landlords can request up to £ 10,000 to install energy efficiency measures, including smart thermostats.

This state measure is especially interesting to anyone who wants to improve their home's living comfort, by limiting consumption while improving the energy efficiency.

The voucher covers up to two/thirds of the improvement works, with up to £ 5,000 of government grant.

If you receive certain benefits, the voucher can cover up to 100% of the improvement works.

The overall government grant is worth £ 10,000.

To be eligible for the voucher, you must have applied before 31 March 2021 and:

• Be a home-owner (including long-term landlords and shared properties);
• Be a home-owner within a residential site (including Gypsy and Traveller sites);
• Be a residential landlord in the private or social rented sector (including local and real-estate associations).

The Green Homes Grant does not apply to newly-built homes that have never been occupied.

The costs covered by the Green Homes Grant include:

• works
• materials
• VAT

All the works covered by the vouchers must be completed by an installer registered to TrustMark and to the program. Moreover, the installer must also meet all PAS and MCS standard during installation.

A separate voucher for each one of the measures applied during installation is issued.

In addition, each voucher is valid only for the measure and property requested, for the exclusive use of the appointed applicant, and it cannot be transferred.

Works can be started only after the voucher has been issued. Any works started before such date cannot be claimed.

Vouchers issued until 31 August 2021 will be valid for 3 months after their issuance date.

All works must be completed in a satisfactory manner, and the voucher must be redeemed before its expiration date.

Furthermore, it is not possible to request a Green Homes Grant voucher to cover the cost of a measure that also received funding within the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). On the other hand, they can both be requested, as long as they cover different measures.

Concerning the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), it can be requested alongside the Green Homes Grant to install a renewable heat source, by applying for the Green Home Grant first. The latter will be then deducted from national RHI payments.

If you have already received a grant from the local authority, you are not eligible for a Green Homes Grant voucher.

Measures included in the Green Homes Grant

The Green Homes Grant can be used to carry out certain residential upgrades.

These works are divided into "primary" and "secondary" measures.

Furthermore, the voucher should be used to install at least one primary measures, including:

Insulation

Low-carbon heating

In addition, if at least one primary measure is installed, the voucher can be used to partially cover the cost of a secondary measure.

However, the cost for secondary measures cannot exceed the amount obtained for primary ones.

Vouchers for secondary measures can only be redeemed after installing a primary measure and having redeemed the related vouchers.

They cannot be used to repair secondary measures already installed in one's home.

Secondary measures include:

Windows, doors, insulation and no-pull

Heating controls and insulation

For instance, the vouchers can be used to replace heating controls and hot water tank thermostats, when replaced with a different type to improve energy savings. In this way, a manual thermostat can be replaced with a smart one.

Smart home grant heating devices

If, one the one hand, a good project and a high-quality smart home system can help you bypass many issues, today hybrid systems are to be preferred to completely smart and centralized solutions, as they include multiple benefits - such as central control and device distribution - into a single integrated system, ideally similar to a mixed smart home concept.

IRSAP NOW system ensures just that!

We are talking about an innovative system to transform traditional heating into a smart, wireless and multi-zone system that can be customized for any kind of residential unit.

It is designed to improve comfort, reduce the impact on the environment, and, above all, save by optimizing consumption.

It is compatible with all heater brands and with the main valve manufacturers.

IRSAP NOW system, through advanced algorithms, can learn from your habits, helping you to keep the entire system usage under control.

This way, you lower your electricity and gas bill, and, at the same time, protect the environment, by reducing emissions.

IRSAP NOW smart heating system includes different modes to increase your savings.

• Home/Away Mode: you can change your system's settings manually or automatically, based on your position, whether you are home or not.
• Holiday Mode: sets the entire system on the anti-freeze temperature, to reduce costs and avoid nasty surprises when you get back.

For instance, the system will warn you if your boiler crashes.

• Green Mode: makes your system follow your habits, anticipating the switch-off you set by a little, and thus reducing consumption and emissions.

In particular, a few components of this system allow for immediate savings.

 Smart Thermostat: allows you to set and measure the temperature of the room it is installed in, even remotely, through the IRSAP NOW App. Thanks to its advanced functionalities it also allows you to control humidity and air quality.

Moreover, thanks to the touch commands on the Thermostat, you can manage the temperature of the other rooms connected to the system in just a few simple steps.

It is compatible with all boiler and heat pump models, and, with the help of the installation video-tutorials available on the App, you can install and configure your IRSAP NOW wireless thermostat by yourself.

On the other hand, with  Smart Thermovalves, you can monitor the temperature in a smart way, whenever and wherever you want, from your smartphone, without any masonry works required.

IRSAP NOW smart thermostat valves are compatible with all heater brands and with the main valve manufacturers.

Thanks to an easy installation guide, you can install and configure your system by yourself, and customize the temperature of your rooms according to your needs and your weekly, daily or hourly habits.

Electricity and gas bill savings are a guarantee.

IRSAP NOW smart thermostat valves are designed for your little ones' safety, and can detect if a window is open, to automatically adapt the heater's temperature and prevent useless consumption.

Benefits of a smart home and smart heating system

By installing smart heating systems such as IRSAP NOW, which help to turn your home into a Smart Home, you can save in two different ways.

First of all, the first way comes from the tax benefits you'll obtain by installing this kind of products.

For instance, in the UK, with the Green Homes Grant, you can request up to £ 10,000 to install energy-efficient measures, such as smart thermostats.

However, by installing these systems, you also save over the long term.

Indeed, with IRSAP NOW consumption control systems, you can limit your use of heat, without giving up comfort.

In general, home automation offers an overview of the situation inside your home, and, since it is easier to keep your consumption in check, year-long savings can be significant.

Eliminating wastage is the first benefit for those who decide to install a system or device that monitors consumption.

And there is also another aspect to take into account.

A property oriented toward a Smart Home solution significantly increases its value.

Therefore, renovating is not just a chance to update your home, but also the occasion to save, and an excellent way to increase your property's value, by focusing on innovation and living comfort.