Insulation Grants Scotland
Free insulation grants in Scotland are available through the government backed ECO4 scheme. Homeowners and private tenants can reduce energy bills by up to 70% with non-repayable funding.
Insulation grants in Scotland
Free insulation grants are available in Scotland through the ECO4 scheme.
Insulation grants in Scotland are available through a variety of government-led energy efficiency schemes. Scottish homeowners, private tenants and landlords can claim grant funding and interest-free loans to insulate their homes and reduce energy bills.
The type of grant or loan that you are entitled to depends on your circumstances. Firstly, lets look at some of the partially funded grant schemes and interest-free loans available:
- Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme
This scheme provides homeowners with grants and interest-free loans to support the installation of energy efficiency measures, including various types of insulation. Scottish omeowners can receive up to £7,500 for energy efficiency improvements, including various insulation measures, and an additional £7,500 for renewable heating systems like air source heat pumps. - Warmer Homes Scotland
Aimed at assisting households struggling with energy costs, this program offers funding for insulation and heating systems. Eligible homeowners and private sector tenants who have lived in their property for at least six months may qualify. In certain cases, a customer contribution may be required, for which an interest-free loan is available. - Great British Insulation Scheme
This UK-wide initiative aims to enhance energy efficiency in homes through insulation measures. Homeowners, landlords, and tenants in Scotland may be eligible if their property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D to G and falls within Council Tax bands A to E. The scheme primarily focuses on insulation measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation. - Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme
The ECO scheme obligates energy suppliers to help lower income households escape fuel poverty. Under the latest phase, ECO4, 100% grants are available to helps to install insulation and other energy-saving improvements like solar panels. Grants are available for households off the gas grid where someone claims a means-tested benefit. ECO grants are free and the money does not have to be paid back.
More About ECO insulation grants in Scotland
Insulation grant funding is aimed at low income households in Scotland that are deemed to be living in fuel poverty. This is when a family spends more than 10% of total household income on heating costs. Households that spend more than 20% of total income on heating are considered to live in extreme fuel poverty. Scottish government.
Installing home insulation is broadly seen as one of the quickest and most effective ways of reducing energy costs, and therefore lowering your heating bills. Up to 70% of the heat you generate with through your boiler or electric heaters escapes through the roof and walls of your house. If your home is not insulated correctly, you are literally burning 70% of the money you spend. Home insulation is designed to prevent heat loss and means your boiler can be operational for less time, or function at a lower temperature and still provide the same warmth.
Image showing percentages of heat loss in a house with no insulation
Why are there insulation grants in Scotland?
The image above shows how heat escapes from a building if it is not insulated. Upwards of 60% escapes through the roof and walls. This increases if your property is of a solid wall construction type.
Insulation grants have been introduced in Scotland to address this waste of heat and energy, and to save money on energy bills. In addition, effectve roof and wall insulation also helps our carbon footprint by lowering the amount of harmful CO2 emissions your heating system omits into the environment.
Who pays for the insulation grants?
Although ECO is a government scheme that is funded by the major utility companies in the UK. This includes British Gas, Scottish Power etc. These companies have been told to provide money to cover the cost of the insulation grant scheme in Scotland and across Great Britain.
In addition they have been told to provide funding for other energy saving products like solar panels and heating systems. It is all part of the drive to reach Net Zero. Domestic heating systems account for around 30% of all carbon emissions. So if you insulate your loft and walls correctly, not only will you save a lot of money, you will also be helping the environment.
The best way to help vulnerable and low-income households in escaping fuel poverty is to upgrade central heating systems and insulation.
What is the Energy Company Obligation?
ECO is a government-led energy efficiency program designed to help reduce energy bills and help meet the country meet net zero targets by cutting the amount of harmful emissions we release into the environment.
The scheme is funded by medium and large utility companies who operate in Scotland. This includes British Gas, Scottish Power etc. The government has ruled that these companies have an obligation to help the most vulnerable households reduce energy costs, amnd to set aside grant funding for the following energy saving measures:
- cavity wall insulation
- internal solid wall insulation
- roof & loft insulation
- solar panels
- air source heat pumps
The recent rise in energy prices means that more and more people are struggling with the cost of gas and electricity and find it difficult to heat their home properly. For some it is a choice between eating and heating. If at any time your household is facing this type of choice you are deemed to live in fuel poverty.
ECO4 changes
The program’s most recent iteration is geared towards lower-income households and those who use inefficient heating systems like electric heaters, oil boilers, and LPG central heating. Presently these homes are spread out across rural areas.
To be eligible for an ECO4 grant, you do not need to be a customer of one of these energy providers. Any one of these service companies can complete the work necessary in your home as long as you live in Scotland and meet the other grant eligibity criteria.
Solid wall insulation grants are available in Scotland for homeowners and private tenants
ECO Scheme Eligibility
Find out if you are eligible for a free insulation grant in Scotland
Who qualifies for an insulation grant in Scotland?
Free insulation is available for homeowners, private tenants in Scotland, who live in a property with a low energy rating of between E and G and are off the gas grid. Rural properties and properties heated by electric heaters, oil boilers and LPG are often the least energy efficient. This type of property also often has the most room for improvement.
Additionally, a resident of the household must also claim one of the following means-tested government benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credits
- Working Tax Credits
- Income Support
- Income Based JSA
- Income Related ESA
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
Free Insulation Grants in Scotland
How do Insulation grants work?
Getting a free insulation grant in Scotland is easy. If you are eligible for the ECO4 Scheme and you live in a Scottish postcode area we do all the work for you. We work directly with the funders and insulation installers so there are no complicated forms etc. for you to fill out.
Step
01
Grant eligibility
Use our contact form to provide us with a few details about you and your property’s heating and construction type.Additionally we can check your current EPC rating as a benchmark for future home improvements.
Step
02
Free home survey
One of our accredited surveyors will contact you and arrange a free energy assessment of your home. They will check your insulation and current heating system.
Step
03
Insulation Upgrade
We install the required home insulation measures and claim the grant from our funder. We can also install free solar panels and a new heating system if required.
Are insulation grants still available in Scotland?
ECO Insulation Scheme Scotland
Why insulate my home?
Installing insulation correctly is seen as the most effective way of preventing your home losing heat. Under the ECO grant scheme all measures are carried out by government approved installers.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Up to 35% of your heat escapes through your external walls. Free cavity wall insulation can both be installed with 100% grant funding in Scotland.
Solid Wall Insulation
Loft Insulation
Around 25% of the heat you generate with your boiler escapes through your attic or loft. Free loft insulation grants are available under ECO for Scottish households on benefits.
Room in roof insulation
Insulation grants in Scotland – FAQ
Free insulation grants in Scotland are available for homeowners and private tenants who claim an income-based benefit. Properties which are off the gas grid are given priority under the ECO4 grant scheme.
Check Insulation Grant Eligibility Now
Start your journey towards an energy efficient home a with free insulation grant Scotland. Insulate your home correctly and save up to 70% on energy bills immediately .