Energy-saving devices worth a total of £75,000 are to be installed in homes.

Wychavon District Council has agreed to install solar water heating in some of its rural homes as part of a joint pilot project with Rooftop Housing Group.

The money, which has been set aside from the Wychavon affordable housing grant, will be divided up into 50 £1,500 grants designed to act as an incentive to private householders. The average cost of installing solar water heating in a standard home is about £3,800, so the remaining £1,300 would have to be paid for by the occupier of the property.

Rural homes without cavity wall insulation or gas that are occupied by older people will be targeted, but priority will not be given to households in receipt of benefits.

Councillor Judy Pearce said: “I think there are a lot of families out there who don’t get benefits and are very careful with their money who might want something like this.”

However, Councillor Charles Tucker was less than enthusiastic. He said: “If we don’t give priority to people who are on benefits, what’s to stop someone on a millionaire’s wage getting this? It’s just throwing money away.”

Residents with solar thermal water heating can expect to make average savings on water heating costs of about £200 every year.

In a report given to councillors, housing services manager Elaine Salter said that would benefit the most vulnerable households, such as those on a low income, the disabled or the elderly.

“At a time when fuel costs are increasing this pilot will have a positive impact and help to reduce the incidence of fuel poverty,” she said, but added there were some concerns about whether the scheme would be realised.

“There is a risk that eligible customers are not enticed to have these installations given the current economic climate and the amount of grant on offer,” she said. “In this event the resource would be returned to the council’s affordable housing pot.”

The scheme fits in with the council’s local area agreement target to provide funding towards the installation of 60 renewable energy measures every year.