The government has launched its £1 billion Great British Insulation Scheme in efforts to save money on bills for 300,000 homes across the country.
Families in lower council tax bands with less energy-efficient homes will be offered vital upgrades – such as roof, loft or cavity wall insulation – which could cut their annual energy bill by an average of between £300 to £400.
Those eligible for support under the Great British Insulation Scheme include families in council tax bands A-D in England, A-E in Scotland and Wales, with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below.
These customers can find out if they can get support to make their homes more energy efficient by using a new online checker tool.
The scheme will help build on the government’s progress in improving energy efficiency in the country’s homes – in 2010, just 14% of homes had an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47% in 2022.
This support will run alongside the existing Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which offers free home energy efficiency improvements, such as insulation, heat pumps and solar panels to families on low incomes.
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “We are determined to help families keep their homes warm through the winter months and save on their energy costs.
“Our Great British Insulation Scheme will help hundreds of thousands of people, including some of the most vulnerable in society, get the upgrades their homes need, while cutting their energy bills.”
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, added: “Boosting the energy efficiency of homes creates the best long-term protection against fuel poverty for the most vulnerable.
“That’s why we are helping families with extra support to make their homes warmer, while saving hundreds on energy costs.”
Mike Thornton, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, commented: “Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a vital part of addressing both the energy crisis and climate emergency.
“By reducing demand for fossil fuels, it provides a triple win long-term solution for cutting energy bills, decreasing carbon emissions and improving energy security.
“The launch of the Great British Insulation Scheme is therefore a welcome development as it will mean more households are eligible for financial support for insulation measures and comes at a crucial time as we approach the colder winter months.”
