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Blog Post 7 December 2022 Updated 8 July 2024

The Great British Insulation Scheme (ECO+) explained

Location notice

Please note that this page contains information and links most relevant for people living in England, Scotland, Wales.

We're waiting to hear from the new UK Government on the future of this funding. We'll update this page as soon as we get any new information.

The Great British Insulation Scheme (previously the ECO+ scheme) aims to upgrade the least energy efficient homes in England, Wales and Scotland. The scheme helps you get free or cheaper home insulation, which will:

  • keep your home warm for longer
  • reduce your energy bills
  • limit unnecessary heat loss

The Great British Insulation Scheme isn’t available in Northern Ireland. But there are other energy efficiency grants available. For more information, visit the Northern Ireland Housing Executive website.

What can I get with the Great British Insulation Scheme?

If your application is successful, you could get one of the following energy efficiency upgrades either for free or at a reduced cost:

You don’t get any money to buy the insulation yourself. Your energy supplier manages the whole process for you.

Depending on the outcome of any assessments, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of installing these measures.

These are the most common measures installed between March and December 2023:

Installation measurePercentage of total measures installed
Cavity wall insulation58%
Heating controls18%
Loft insulation15%
Solid wall insulation7%
Other insulation eg floor insulation, roof insulation2%

Who is eligible to apply to the Great British Insulation Scheme?

To qualify for a home insulation grant, your home must:

The scheme is available to homeowners, landlords and tenants. If you rent your home, speak to your landlord and get their permission before you apply.

How do I apply for a home insulation grant?

You don’t apply for the grant directly. Instead, your energy supplier will apply for funding on your behalf. You may be asked to pay for some of the work, but they’ll make this clear to you before any work starts.

1

Check if you’re eligible

Use the scheme’s eligibility checker to find out if you can apply for a home insulation grant. You’ll be asked about:

  • where you live
  • your energy supplier
  • whether you own or rent the property
  • your property’s council tax band
  • what benefits you’re getting, if any
  • the number of bedrooms in the property
  • what type of walls and loft your property has
  • any existing insulation

The tool will tell you immediately if you’re eligible.

If you qualify for funding, the scheme makes a referral to your energy supplier, who’ll contact you to confirm the referral.

2

Your energy supplier assesses your home

Your energy company will visit your home and carry out an assessment. They’ll decide what sort of insulation you need and give you additional energy saving advice while they’re with you. They’ll also let you know if there are any installation costs that you’d need to contribute to.

Due to demand, it could be a few months between your initial referral and the home assessment.

3

Book an installation date and work starts

Once you’ve agreed on what measures are to be installed, you can agree an installation date with your energy supplier. The energy supplier applies for funding and works with you on how to pay any additional costs.

Should I apply to the Great British Insulation Scheme?

Yes, absolutely. We encourage everyone who is eligible to apply.

Improving the energy efficiency of your home is a vital part of addressing both the energy crisis and climate emergency.

Adding proper insulation and heating controls to your property could save you money on your energy bills too.

  • cavity wall insulation – save £240
  • heating controls – save £110
  • loft insulation – save up to £230
  • solid wall insulation – save £320
  • floor insulation – save £70

How is the Great British Insulation Scheme different to ECO4?

The Great British Insulation Scheme is designed to be complementary to ECO4. They’re different schemes, but this is sometimes confused as some still refer to the it by its previous name – ECO+.

The scheme mostly focuses on delivering single lower-cost insulation measures. This is so that as many households as possible get support through the scheme quickly.

The ECO4 scheme, however, focuses on improving the whole house, where possible. 

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Last updated: 8 July 2024