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Confused by grant schemes and their eligibility rules? Or are you repeatedly being turned down for energy efficiency help such as home insulation grants, even when you feel you could most definitely warrant the assistance? If this applies to you, then there is good news in the form of the Great British Insulation Scheme which opens up insulation grant funding for many more households.
Previously known as the ECO+ scheme, the £1 billion funded Great British Insulation Scheme aims to help eligible households in England, Wales and Scotland to insulate their homes so they can reduce their energy consumption and save on their heating bills. As the name suggests, the funding is intended strictly for the purpose of helping households through home insulation measures, such as loft insulation and wall insulation, in an attempt to reduce the amount they are spending on heating their home.
What is different with this scheme is that the eligibility criteria potentially opens it up to many more households, including many that may have previously been ineligible under the various iterations of the ECO scheme. Whereas ECO provided support largely to low-income, the GB Insulation scheme extends it to energy-inefficient households in lower Council Tax bands.
GB Insulation Scheme funding is aimed at helping low-income households, as well as extending support to homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below. You can find out the EPC rating of your home through the EPC register.
It will also assist those in the lowest low council tax bands, with the criteria differing across the nations, and being relevant to the following council tax bands:
If you are not sure, you can find out your Council Tax band here.
Funding is available to households who haven’t previously received government funding energy efficiency home improvements.
The main energy suppliers are obligated to help households become more energy efficient through measures such as loft insulation and wall insulation in an attempt to help them reduce their heating bills. The cost of the insulation measures may be covered in full through the scheme, or you may be expected to make a contribution. All grant funding is free and does not have to be re- paid.
Since the scheme aims to help as many households as possible, the focus will largely be on less expensive insulation measures such as loft/roof insulation and cavity wall insulation. However, funding or part-funding could be provided under the GB Insulation Scheme or the ECO4 scheme.
The full range of insulation measures that could potentially be covered by the scheme include:
Most homes built since the 1920s are likely to have a cavity wall space, meaning there is a gap between their internal and external walls, which can be filled with cavity wall insulation to prevent heat loss and improve thermal efficiency. Some properties may never have had these cavities filled, while in other others, the insulation may have failed over time.
Perhaps the most cost-effective way in minimising heat loss is through loft insulation, which is the least expensive to install, yet can reduce heat loss in the home by as much as 25%. If you are eligible for funding then you will usually receive one single insulation measure.
As the intention of the scheme is to help households reduce their energy bills through home insulation measures, you will inevitably be wondering how much you potentially could save with the installation of these types of energy efficiency measures.
When the UK Government first announced the scheme, it was suggested that the average household could save around £310 annually on their energy bills with new insulation. Your savings will depend on a number of different factors, including the type of insulation being installed, as well as matters relating to your property and current energy prices.
After applying, you’ll be informed of the grant amount that you will receive. In some cases this will cover the entire cost of your insulation, including installation. This will likely be the case with a straightforward install of loft insulation. For some other types of insulation, or where the installation is more complex, you will be expected to make a contribution towards some of the costs.
Yes, it is possible for funding to be awarded to insulate privately rented and social housing properties, but only in instances where the tenants meet the criteria. Since many homes in the private rental sector have low EPC ratings of D or lower, it could be that many landlords could benefit in terms of seeing their properties insulated, either for free or at subsidised cost. The tenants, on the other hand, will benefit in the form of lower energy bills.
The GB Insulation Scheme started in April 2023 and is expected to run for 3 years. With carbon neutral targets to meet in future, it is possible that the scheme may be extended, or at least replaced by something of a similar nature.
You can submit an application for Great British Insulation Scheme funding via our application form and we’ll put you in contact with a top-rated certified installer for the scheme.
Whereas most income-related benefits will tick the qualifying benefits requirement for the ECO4 scheme that covers home energy efficiency measures as a whole, those that don’t qualify for ECO funding may have better success with the GB Insulation Scheme. If you are eligible, you will then be contacted about arranging a survey at your home, after which a date will be agreed to carry out your new insulation measures.
