News Update
BUS IS COMING… The government recently announced a significant extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme [BUS]. Whilst Air Source Heat Pumps [ASHP’s] will continue to attract £7,500 grants for installation, soon Air-to-Air Heat pumps, Heat Batteries, and other similar systems will qualify for grant aid. This is expected to be lower [probably £2,500] to reflect the lower installation costs.
This is a significant advancement of the scheme, partly because Air-to-Air heat pumps can be used for different situations and dwellings, and can provide cooling as well as heating.
We have talked a lot about ASHP’s – at our events and here in our retrofit signposts, and will follow with more information in both fora when the details are published. Heat batteries look like a promising technology, too.
Upcoming EventsCheck back for our 2026 Programme [posting January 2026]
About Go Green Widcombe
Go Green Widcombe is a local not-for-profit voluntary group aiming at encouraging Widcombe residents towards saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions.
Our activities focus on:
- Encouraging Widcombe residents in retrofitting their homes with energy and CO2 saving improvements
- For example, we hold a number of public talks and workshops, as shown here
- Publicising other approaches to reducing CO2 emissions
- Offering local households the use of our thermal imaging camera (TIC) in order to help identify areas within their property that have cold spots, draughts etc. There’s more information about the TIC here
- Doing research into local data covering a wide range of topics such as local electricity and gas usage per meter, CO2 equivalent emissions, EPC ratings, air quality, plus information about heat pumps and PV solar panels. All this is in the Information section of the website here
- The research we do will help us to see how our local community progresses on the road to retrofitting their homes, reducing their energy usage and bills, and tackling CO2 emissions.
We also work closely with other statutory and not-for-profit agencies, including:
- Retrofit West: a Community Interest Company offering concise and independent advice and support for domestic retrofit projects in the West of England. Funded by the West of England Combined Authority, Retrofit West aim to help householders make their properties more energy efficient -see here or follow the links from the signpost pages
- Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE): a not for profit Community Enterprise that aims to reduce carbon emissions by increasing local renewable energy generation, supporting residents in making their homes more energy efficient and funding community projects that also aim to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty – see here
- Bath and North East Somerset Council – B&NES – see here
- The Widcombe Association, to which we are affiliated – see here
Go Green Widcombe’s Hub meets up most months as a core group, to plan and implement our strategies. We would welcome interested new-comers who would like to help in this work.
We circulate our mailing list occasionally regarding these issues. Sign up to these by clicking the SUBSCRIBE NOW link below.