The Government has announced that charities and organisations such as schools and hospitals have until June 2009 to apply for grants through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to install green energy generating equipment like solar panels, wind turbines or biomass boilers.

Through the scheme charities and public sector bodies can apply for 50% of the costs of installing small scale energy generating equipment such as solar panels, wind turbines or biomass boilers.

To date 367 schools have benefitted from Low Carbon Buildings Programme funds.

Not only do schools have the opportunity to cut their fuel bills by generating their own energy, but pupils can learn about climate change. For example, Sandwich Technology School in Kent, was given a grant of £9,000 from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to install a wind turbine.

Homeowners can also apply for grants of up to £2,500 to help towards the cost of installing small scale energy generating equipment.

Homeowners have until June 2010 to apply.

For more information, go to:  http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=389255&NewsAreaID=2