Care homes and community organisations across the West of England are being encouraged to apply for a share of £500,000 in grant funding designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and help buildings remain comfortable during increasingly frequent heatwaves.
Backed by Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, the funding is available through the Mayor's Green Energy Fund, with applications closing on 28 August. The scheme offers grants of up to £15,000 for care homes and community buildings to support improvements that make buildings more energy efficient and resilient to rising temperatures.
The announcement comes as the UK experiences another period of exceptionally high temperatures, with experts warning that many older buildings were originally designed to retain heat during winter rather than keep occupants cool during summer.
Eligible organisations can use the funding for a range of improvements, including:
- Better insulation
- Air source heat pumps that provide cooling and heating
- Solar panel installations
- LED lighting upgrades
- Other energy efficiency measures that reduce carbon emissions
Alongside financial support, applicants can access a free energy survey from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority's specialist team. The survey helps identify the most effective improvements for each building, while officers also provide guidance throughout the application process.
The aim is to help essential community facilities remain comfortable during hotter summers while reducing long-term energy costs and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
"As our summers become hotter, it's increasingly important that the places people rely on every day can provide safe, comfortable spaces.
"Through my Green Energy Fund, I’m pleased to support more organisations to future-proof their buildings and use less power. Whether it’s care homes creating a more comfortable environment for residents and staff, or enabling community buildings to become valuable cool spaces for local people, we want to make a difference for our communities and our planet.
“I would encourage everyone to take to take a look at this chance to secure up to £15,000 each of funding on offer."
Previous funding programmes have already demonstrated the impact that energy efficiency improvements can have.
At St George Community Centre in Bristol, support from an earlier scheme enabled the installation of 24 solar panels. The system now generates around 8,500kWh of clean electricity annually, often producing more energy than the centre requires on a typical day.
Projects like these not only reduce operational costs but also help community organisations become more environmentally sustainable while providing valuable services to local residents.
The Mayor's Green Energy Fund forms part of a wider programme to accelerate decarbonisation across the region.
The initiative also supports the West of England Clean Power Pilot, delivered in partnership with Act 1.5, Bristol City Council and other regional partners. The project is helping festivals, TV and film productions, and outdoor events replace diesel generators with renewable battery-powered alternatives.
By cutting diesel use, the pilot is reducing air pollution and carbon emissions while supporting a cleaner events industry across the region.
Organisations wishing to benefit from the latest grant round are being urged to register as soon as possible, with the application deadline set for 28 August.
Image credit: iStock
