Finance Options for Green Roofs in the UK

Written-by

Janet Richardson

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett-Gardiner

Updated on

Sep 04, 2024

Finance Options for Green Roofs in the UK

There are several potential sources of grants and subsidies currently available to the UK market, both domestic and commercial. 

Financing a green roof installation can be expensive, especially for companies looking to install on large, commercial properties. There may be help out there but often the best way forward is to contact a long standing installation company for a chat. 

Local Authority Grants: Many local councils offer grants for green infrastructure projects, including green roofs. For example, Cornwall Council has various energy efficiency programs that can support such installations.

Government Funding: The UK government provides funding through schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) and the Sustainable Warmth Competition. These grants focus on improving energy efficiency in homes, which can include green roof installations for eligible properties​.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO): This scheme requires energy suppliers to help households reduce heating costs by installing energy-saving measures, potentially including green roofs, ​although it may be difficult to access. 

Business Grants: For commercial properties, the UK government offers various funds to help businesses become greener, including the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), which supports energy efficiency and decarbonization projects​.

To find specific grants and check eligibility, you can use the UK government’s "Find a Grant" service, which allows you to search for available funding opportunities.

For commercial buildings it might be a good idea to contact your local council to see if there are any schemes running that will reward installing a green roof, particularly in a city center. There are quite a few initiatives in major cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and London that are being rolled out to improve offices and residential blocks.

Financing your own Green Roof

If you have the savings then you could pay for the green roof installment yourself. The benefits you will get from it in the long term will be a reduction in fuel bills due to the better insulation, and the greener impact you have on the environment around you. Taking on a DIY installment of a small roof can also help you to reduce the cost.
Find out more about the cost of green roofing here.

Taking out a loan

If you don’t have the finances readily available then the next option is to take out a loan with your bank and building society. Many now offer competitive rates for green improvements and, particularly if you are getting a designer in, it can help you afford a better garden roof. There may also be an opportunity for larger properties to incorporate the cost into a re-mortgage.

Financing for Commercial Premises

Businesses may well have a good chance of attracting local government funding if they are helping to improve the environment, particularly if they have a decent sized roof top that is suitable for development. For commercial concerns, having a green roof installed can also provide other benefits such as:

• Giving a place where people can go and relax.
• Lowering the Urban Heat Island temperature of the local area.
• Lowering heating costs in the office.
• Demonstrating your company’s green credentials.

Crowd-sourcing and Other Funding Options for Green Roofs

It’s not beyond imagination to find other options for financing your green roof. You can make it a community priority by getting your neighbours onside and run fund raising events. Or you can latch onto the craze for crowd-sourcing and get contributions from like-minded people all across the world as this US couple are by signing onto Indiegogo have tried to do.