The Great British Insulation Scheme: £1 Billion UK Gov/t initiative for energy efficiency upgrades

The UK Government has embarked on an ambitious £1 billion initiative called the “Great British Insulation Scheme”, set to provide energy efficiency upgrades to over 300,000 households in Wales, England and Scotland.

The move aims to offer families substantial savings, with the potential to cut their annual energy bills by £300 to £400.

The programme specifically targets families in lower council tax bands residing in less energy-efficient homes, with upgrades such as roof, loft, and cavity wall insulation being offered.

The emphasis will be on assisting those within council tax bands A-D in England and A-E in Scotland and Wales, provided they have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below.

This recent drive builds upon the government’s efforts to bolster the country’s energy efficiency. Notably, this new cohort of 300,000 households is in addition to the 2.4 million homes that have already benefitted from similar schemes.

As of today, residents can check their eligibility for this scheme via a new online checker tool. The Secretary for Energy Security, Claire Coutinho, expressed the government’s determination in aiding families during the colder months and underscored the role of the Great British Insulation Scheme in achieving that goal.

“Our scheme will assist countless individuals, especially society’s most vulnerable, by providing necessary upgrades to their homes, concurrently reducing their energy bills,” she said.

Echoing the sentiments, Lord Callanan, the Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, stated that enhancing home energy efficiency is the optimal long-term strategy for shielding the susceptible from fuel poverty. He emphasized the dual benefit of the scheme, making homes warmer while offering substantial savings on energy.

The data is indeed promising. While in 2010, merely 14% of homes achieved an EPC rating of C or above, the number significantly climbed to 47% by 2022.

This initiative will operate alongside the existing Energy Company Obligation scheme, which presents free home energy efficiency improvements, ranging from insulation to solar panels, especially to low-income families.

To streamline the application process, an online checker has been introduced today for the Great British Insulation Scheme.

It will guide residents through a series of pertinent questions.

Additionally, another separate checker has been unveiled for the Home Upgrade Grant, potentially assisting as many as 25,000 off-the-gas-grid homes with EPC ratings of D to G.

Mike Thornton, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, heralded the scheme as a pivotal move in the right direction. ”

“Addressing energy efficiency is paramount, both considering the current energy crunch and the impending climate crisis. The new insulation scheme will offer more households the financial backing needed for insulation, which is particularly vital as we brace for the winter months,” he noted.

More here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme