Asset managers Schroders and global advertising firm Havas are the latest employers to partner with provider Heat Scheme to offer employee benefits designed to help cut their bills at home and reduce their carbon footprint.
The scheme works by providing access to one-to-one consultations for heating efficiency and home improvement work.
The employer then provides interest-free loans and/or grants to help staff with the upfront cost of switching to clean energy. This can include green retrofits and the installation of heat pumps.
Employers already partnered with the scheme include UK Power Networks, Clear Bank and NHS Professionals.
Staff wellbeing
Patrick Dougherty, director and founder of the scheme, said: “One of the reasons large employers have chosen to adopt Heat Scheme is the positive impact we can have on staff wellbeing at home.
“The advantages of working with employers are clear: they provide a platform to drive staff awareness and offer financing to help them cover the upfront cost of switching to clean energy.”
Dougherty launched the scheme, backed by a government green homes efficiency grant, after he learned that 44 percent of households rationed their heating last winter.
Improving energy efficiency also helps to reduce people’s carbon footprint as data from the Energy Saving Trust shows that around 22 percent of total UK carbon emissions come from our homes.
Net zero transition
Mark Norman, head of environment and sustainability at UK Power Networks said: “UK Power Networks has set tough environmental, carbon and social targets across the business and as part of our vision statement aims to enable the net zero transition for all.
“It is critical that we also support our staff in their own decarbonisation journeys. A key area of action for the UK is to decarbonise our domestic housing, so we are very pleased to partner with Heat Scheme to assist our staff in improving the efficiency of their homes.”
