This guide was last updated: February 2024‍

Making your home energy efficient can reduce your heating bills, reduce your carbon emissions and even increase the value of your home.

But some efficiency improvements, such as solar panels and heat pumps, require you to spend a lot up-front before seeing a return on that investment in the coming years.

To help cover some of that cost and encourage more people to make their homes more energy efficient, the UK Government - whose goal is to make energy bills more affordable and cut carbon emissions - offers a number of grants. Grants can also be provided by energy providers and local authorities.

There are many types of grants, each with its own eligibility criteria. So it can be hard to find a grant that’s suitable for your specific circumstances.

In this guide, we cover:

• What is a grant?
• Why might you need a home energy efficiency grant?
• What types of energy efficiency grants are there?
• How can you tell if you’re eligible for a grant?
• Where can you find home energy efficiency grants?
• How do you apply for a grant?
• Home energy efficiency grant FAQs

What is a grant?

A grant is a free financial contribution that you don’t have to pay back. It could be paid by the government, a local council or an energy provider depending on who runs the scheme.

Several different grant schemes have been set up to help fund the cost of home energy improvements in the UK. These grants are designed to help reduce energy bills, make homes more comfortable and lower carbon emissions.

Each grant scheme has its own unique set of eligibility criteria, meaning you can only apply for grants that you qualify for. Funding amounts can also vary depending on the specific grant scheme, with some covering the full cost of measures and others only partially.

Why might you need a home energy efficiency grant?

Making your home more energy-efficient can save you a lot of money in the long run. But some types of installation can have a high up-front cost. Heat pumps start at around £8,000, for example. It may then take several years to earn that money back. A grant can help reduce that up-front cost to a more affordable level and help your investment pay for itself sooner.

If you're struggling to afford to heat your home adequately, a home energy efficiency grant can also provide funding for energy-efficient measures that can help reduce your energy bills and make your home more comfortable to live in.

Currently active grant schemes

The following details are correct as of 20/02/2024. Check the scheme’s website for the latest details, or create a free Snugg energy efficiency plan to see which grants you could be eligible for.

• ‍Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales and Scotland)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)
• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• Warm Home Discount Scheme (England, Wales and Scotland)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• ECO4 (England, Wales and Scotland)
• Sustainable Energy Programme (Northern Ireland)
• Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (Scotland)

Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales and Scotland)

The Great British Insulation Scheme (previously known as ECO+) is a government-funded scheme in England, Wales and Scotland. It helps homeowners and tenants improve the energy efficiency of their homes by providing free or subsidised insulation.

Installation types supported:

• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Flat or pitched roof insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Solid floor insulation
• Park home insulation
• Room-in-roof insulation

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, your home must:

• have an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G
• be in Council Tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland or Wales

The amount of support you receive will also depend on the level of benefits you receive and your annual income.

Maximum grant:

Part or all the installation cost will be funded by your energy supplier. No maximum grant amount has been published.

How to apply:

To apply for the Great British Insulation Scheme, visit the Great British Insulation Scheme website to check your eligibility. If successful, you can request for your energy supplier to contact you to assess your home.

Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan is a Scottish government-funded scheme that offers either a grant or an interest-free loan to homeowners for installing energy-efficient improvements.

Installation types supported:

• Boilers and heating systems
• Draught proofing
• Cavity wall insulation
• Floor insulation
• Solid wall insulation
• Roof insulation
• Solar panels and other renewable energy
• Windows (to replace single glazing but not double glazing)

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• be a homeowner in Scotland

There are other requirements specific to the type of installation you choose.

Maximum grant:

You could receive up to £7,500 (£9,000 for rural households) depending on the type of installation you choose.

How to apply:

To apply for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme, contact Home Energy Scotland by email or phone to speak with an advisor who’ll help assess your needs. You’ll then need to complete an online application form and provide a quote from an installer.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a UK government grant scheme that helps homeowners in England and Wales replace fossil fuel boilers with low-carbon heating systems.

Installation types supported:

• Air source heat pump (ASHP)
• Ground source heat pump (GSHP)
• Biomass boiler

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• be a homeowner in England or Wales
• be replacing a fossil fuel heating system (e.g. oil, gas or electric)

There are other requirements specific to the type of installation you choose.

Maximum grant:

You could receive up to £7,500 depending on the type of installation you choose.

How to apply:

To apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, appoint an MCS certified installer to get a quote for the work. If they confirm that you’re eligible to receive the grant, they’ll apply for it on your behalf and deduct the amount from the quote.

Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)

The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme is the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty scheme. It offers grants and support to eligible households struggling with heating their homes adequately, high energy bills and fuel poverty.

Installation types supported:

• Wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Draught-proofing
• Central heating
• Air source heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps
• Renewable and micro-renewable heating systems

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• be a homeowner or the tenant of a private-sector landlord in Scotland
• live in a home with a poor energy rating
• live in a home where the council tax band is A-F
• be over 75 (or live with someone over 75) with no central heating, or receive one of several benefits

There are other requirements too.

Maximum grant:

Part or all the installation cost will be funded by the grant. No maximum grant amount has been published.

How to apply:

To apply for the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, contact Home Energy Scotland who’ll check if you’re eligible. If you are, they’ll refer you to Warmworks (the organisation that delivers the scheme). Warmworks will assess your home and recommend improvements. If you’re happy to continue, they’ll arrange for the installation to be done.

Warm Home Discount Scheme (England, Wales and Scotland)

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off discount given to your electricity bill between October 2023 and March 2024. It’s automatically paid by your energy supplier.

Requirements:

To be considered for the discount, you must:

• receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• be on a low income and have high energy costs
• meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme (if you live in Scotland)

There are other requirements too.

Maximum discount:

The discount is fixed at £150.

How to apply:

If you’re on a low income in Scotland, you’ll need to apply via the Warm Home Discount Scheme website. Otherwise, you’ll automatically receive a letter from your energy provider if you meet the eligibility criteria. The discount will be applied directly to your bill by your energy provider.

Home Upgrade Grant (England)

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is a government-funded program that helps eligible homeowners in England improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their energy bills. It focuses specifically on homes that are off the gas grid and have low energy performance ratings.

Installation types supported:

• Wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Air source heat pumps
• Solar panels
• Double glazing
• Electric radiators
• Electric storage heaters

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• own a home in England
• not use a gas boiler as your main heating system
• have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D-G
• earn a low income
• live in one of the approved local authority areas

There are other requirements too.

Maximum grant:

Part or all the installation cost will be funded by the grant. No maximum grant amount has been published.

How to apply:

You can apply for the Home Upgrade Grant scheme by contacting your local council. But since not all councils in England support the scheme, you’ll need to check that your area is covered first. Your council may arrange a home survey to identify which installations are suitable, before progressing with arranging the installation.

Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)

The Affordable Warmth Scheme (AWS) helps low-income households in Northern Ireland improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Installation types supported:

• Loft insulation
• Roof/loft/eaves ventilation
• Hot water cylinder jacket
• Cavity wall insulation
• Door and window draught proofing
• Boiler replacement
• Single glazed window replacement
• Solid wall insulation

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• own and live in your own home in Northern Ireland, or rent from a private landlord
• earn less than £23,000

There are other requirements too.

Maximum grant:

You could receive up to £7,500 (£10,000 if your home has solid walls) depending on the type of installation you choose.

How to apply:

To apply for the Affordable Warmth Scheme, you’ll need to contact the NI Energy Advice Service (NIEAS) to arrange a home inspection. The inspector will assess which installations are most suitable for your home. You’ll then be able to get quotes from an installer.

ECO4 (England, Wales and Scotland)

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) grant scheme helps homeowners, private tenants and landlords improve their homes’ energy efficiency. It’s funded by utility companies and backed by the UK government. The scheme is planned to be active until 31 March 2026.

Installation types supported:

• Solid wall insulation
• Roof insulation
• New heating system
• Air source heat pump
• Solar panels
• Central heating

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• live in England, Wales or Scotland
• live in a home with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E-G
• receive one of various benefits (such as Child Benefit or Universal Credit)

There are other requirements too.

Maximum grant:

You could receive up to 100% of the cost of the installation. No maximum grant amount has been published.

How to apply:

To apply for the ECO4 scheme, visit your utility provider’s website to complete an application form. If you’re eligible, they’ll arrange a free home survey to identify which efficiency improvements are suitable for your home. They’ll then arrange for the improvement to be installed and cover the full cost.

Sustainable Energy Programme (Northern Ireland)

The Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) is a collection of grant schemes that help homeowners in Northern Ireland improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. It’s run by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator.

Grant schemes include:

• Make It Cosy
• Energy Plus Provincewide
• Housing Association Energy Saver

There are many other schemes.

Installation types supported:

• Boiler upgrade
• LED light bulbs
• Hot water tank jacket
• Water widget
• Remote smart heating controls
• Radiator panels
• Draught proofing

Requirements:

To be considered for one of grants within this scheme, you must meet criteria set by the scheme you apply for.

Maximum grant:

The maximum grant amount varies depending on which scheme you apply for.

How to apply:

To apply for one of the Sustainable Energy Programme schemes, browse the list of schemes to see which one is suitable for you. You’ll then need to contact the scheme provider. If you’re not sure which scheme is right for you, contact the Northern Ireland Energy Advice service.

Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (Scotland)

The Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan is a Scottish Government-funded scheme. It offers interest-free or low-interest loans to private landlords for improving the energy efficiency of their rental properties.

Installation types supported:

• Wall insulation
• Heating systems
• Single glazing replacement
• Insulated doors
• Flat roof or room-in-roof insulation
• Loft insulation
• Floor insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Solar panels
• Air source heat pumps
• District heating connections
• Energy storage systems

Requirements:

To be considered for this grant, you must:

• own a rental property in Scotland
• rent the property as a primary residence (not a holiday home)
• have a tenant currently occupying the property (or within 30 days of receiving the loan)

There are other requirements too.

Maximum loan:

You could receive up to £15,000 per property, depending on the type of installation. The loan must be paid back within up to eight years. Most landlords won’t be charged interest, but other fees and conditions apply.

How to apply:

To apply for the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan scheme, contact Home Energy Scotland to discuss your options. You’ll then need to complete an application form to be considered for the loan.

Inactive grant schemes

Green Homes Grant

The Green Homes Grant was launched in 2020 to help UK homeowners make energy-efficient home improvements. It offered vouchers covering up to two-thirds of the cost of installations (or 100% for low-income recipients). This included insulation, heating systems and solar panels. However, the scheme closed in March 2022.

Warm Front Grant

The Warm Front Grant ran from 2000 to 2013. It helped low-income households and those receiving benefits improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce heating bills. It offered free grants for efficiency measures including insulation, boiler upgrades and heating controls.

Green Deal Scheme

The Green Deal Scheme launched in 2013 aiming to help homeowners in England and Wales make energy-efficient upgrades without upfront costs.

It offered:  

• Finance plans: Homeowners could repay the cost of improvements such as insulation, double glazing and renewable energy over 10-25 years through their energy bill.
• Cashback: This was initially available to incentivise take-up but was quickly discontinued in 2015.

Government funding ended in 2015, and the Green Deal officially closed in July 2022.

Warm Homes Nest (Wales)

The Warm Homes Nest scheme launched in 2011. It was a demand-led scheme in Wales offering free energy-saving advice and home improvements to low-income and vulnerable households. Improvements included insulation, heating system upgrades and renewable energy technologies such as solar. Focused on individual needs, the scheme aimed to reduce fuel poverty and improve health outcomes. Notably, studies showed a reduction in respiratory GP events and infection prescriptions for some recipients. The Nest scheme closed in March 2024.

Warm Homes Arbed (Wales)

The Warm Homes Arbed scheme launched in 2009. It was an area-based scheme targeting specific neighbourhoods in Wales. Unlike Nest’s individual approach (see above), Arbed focused on improving energy efficiency across social housing. The scheme offered similar home improvements as Nest, such as insulation and heating system upgrades. Arbed also aimed to reduce fuel poverty and achieved positive results, including a decrease in respiratory GP events for recipients. However, the scheme closed in 2021.

Grants sorted by improvement type

Scroll up the page for more details about each scheme.

Cavity wall insulation grants

You could receive support to help install cavity wall insulation through the following schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales and Scotland)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (Scotland)

External wall insulation grants

You could receive support to help install external wall insulation through the following schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• ECO4 (Wales)

Windows and doors insulation grants

You could receive support to help install window and door insulation through the following schemes:

• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)

Heat pump grants

You could receive support to help install a heat pump through the following schemes:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)
• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• ECO4 (Wales)

Loft insulation grants

You could receive support to help install loft insulation through the following schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)

Oil boiler grants

You could receive support to help replace an oil boiler through the following schemes:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• Sustainable Energy Programme (Northern Ireland)

Solar panel grants

You could receive support to help install solar panels through the following schemes:

• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• ECO4 (Wales)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)

• Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (Scotland)

EV charger installation grants

The Electric Vehicle (EV) chargepoint grant can cover 75% of the purchase and installation costs (up to £350). It’s available across all UK nations.

To get it, you must either own and live in a flat or rent a property. You must also own an approved electric vehicle and have private off-street parking at the property. You can apply for the grant via the Gov.uk website. If you’re a landlord, you can for a similar grant scheme apply here.

Gas boiler grants

You could receive support to help replace a gas boiler through the following schemes:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)  
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)  
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)  
• Sustainable Energy Programme (Northern Ireland)

Central heating grants

You could receive support to help install central heating through the following schemes:

• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• ECO4 (Wales)

Storage heater grants

You could receive support to help install a storage heater through the following schemes:

• Home Upgrade Grant (England)

Floor insulation grants

You could receive support to help install floor insulation through the following schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (Scotland)

Internal wall insulation grants

You could receive support to help install internal wall insulation through the following schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• ECO4 (Wales)

Biomass boiler grants

You could receive support to help install a biomass boiler through the following schemes:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales)

Grants sorted by social group

Scroll up the page for more details about each scheme.

Grants for pensioners

If you’re a pensioner, you could be eligible for the following grant schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)  
• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• Warm Home Discount Scheme (England, Wales and Scotland)  
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• ECO4 (Wales)

Grants for disabled people

If you live with a disability, you could be eligible for the following grant schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• ECO4 (Wales)

Grants for landlords

If you’re a landlord, you could be eligible for the following grant schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• ECO4 (Wales)
• Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan (Scotland)

Grants for tenants

If you’re a tenant, you could be eligible for the following grant schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)  
• ECO4 (Wales)

Grants for rural homes

If you live in a rural home, you could be eligible for the following grant schemes:

• Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (Scotland)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)

Grants for low-income households

If you live in a low-income household, you could be eligible for the following grant schemes:

• Great British Insulation Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Warmer Homes Scotland (Scotland)
• Warm Home Discount Scheme (England, Wales, and Scotland)
• Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• ECO4 (Wales)
• Home Upgrade Grant (England)

How can you tell if you’re eligible for a grant?

Every home energy efficiency grant is designed for people with different circumstances.

Some of the circumstances considered include:

• Where you live
• The type of home you live in
• How much you earn
• Whether you receive benefits
• Your state of health

You can find out if you’re eligible to receive a grant by visiting the grant’s website. In some cases, the installer who’s fitting the installation can tell you when you ask for a quote.

Where can you find grants?

Unfortunately, there’s no central government website that displays all the grants currently available. Instead, each grant scheme has its own website. This can make it difficult to find out which grants you might be eligible for.

A simple way to find out which grants you’re eligible for is to sign up to Snugg. Once you’ve entered your address, and chosen the types of energy efficiency improvements you’re interested in, we’ll show you a list of grants that could be suitable for you.

You can learn more about the various schemes by visiting:

• The Gov.uk website
• Home Energy Scotland
• Northern Ireland Energy Advice
• Nest if you live in Wales

How do you apply for a grant?

The application process is different for each type of grant scheme.

You’ll need to apply for some grants using an online form. This may be either done directly through the grant scheme’s website, your local authority’s website or your energy company’s website, depending on who runs the scheme.

Other grants can be applied for on your behalf by the installer who’s fitting your energy efficiency installation. In this case, the value of the grant will be taken off the installer’s quoted price, so you’ll only need to pay the remaining amount.