Up-to-date information on UK energy efficiency grants and funding in 2026. ECO4, Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Great British Insulation Scheme, and local council grants.
185 articles
The first step to apply for ECO4 Flex is to contact your local authority and ask if they have signed a Statement of Intent for the scheme, as eligibility is determined through a council-led referral process rather than direct application to the government (GOV.UK, 2026). Key Takeaways 1Contact your local authority first to check their […]
The most direct route to becoming an ECO4 installer is to be MCS-certified for the relevant technology and registered with TrustMark, as these are mandatory requirements under the scheme rules set by Ofgem (Ofgem, 2026). ECO4, the Energy Company Obligation, funds energy-efficiency measures in low-income and vulnerable homes, and only installers on a supplier’s approved […]
The ECO4 scheme provides free energy-efficiency upgrades to low-income and vulnerable households, funded by a levy on energy suppliers. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) targets homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G, offering measures like insulation, heat pumps and solar panels at no upfront cost (GOV.UK, 2026). Key […]
The ECO4 scheme is funded through a legal obligation placed on the UK’s largest energy suppliers, not directly from general taxation or household bills. Ofgem reports that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is financed by a levy on energy suppliers, which they pass on to all domestic customers through standard energy bills (Ofgem, 2026). Every […]
Yes, you can combine some UK government energy grants, but not all, the key rule is that two grants cannot cover the same cost for the same measure. For example, you could pair the Boiler Upgrade Scheme with ECO4 insulation funding, as long as each grant pays for a different installation (GOV.UK, 2026). The most-searched […]
In 2026, the primary government support for solar panels in the UK is the Home Energy Scotland grant, offering up to £6,000 for solar PV systems, while the rest of the UK relies on the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rather than upfront grants from central government (GOV.UK, 2026). Key Takeaways 1Scotland offers up to £6,000 […]
It typically takes 4 to 12 weeks from application to receiving a UK government insulation grant, but processing times vary by scheme and installer availability (GOV.UK, 2026). The Great British Insulation Scheme aims to complete installations within 3 months of a successful survey. Key Takeaways 1Typical timeline is 4 to 12 weeks from application to […]
Yes, you can claim ECO4 without being on benefits in the UK if you fall under the LA Flex route. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme is built to help low-income and vulnerable households, but eligibility is not limited solely to benefits claimants (GOV.UK, 2026). Key Takeaways 1Yes, non-benefit households can qualify via LA Flex […]
Homeowners in England and Wales with an income under £31,000 are eligible for the full £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in 2026, provided they replace a fossil-fuel heating system with an air source or ground source heat pump (GOV.UK, 2026). The grant amount increased from £5,000 to £7,500 in October 2023 and remains at that […]
You can complain about the ECO4 scheme by contacting your energy supplier first, and if unresolved, escalating to the Energy Ombudsman, with 82% of ECO-related complaints resolved in consumers’ favour in 2025-26 (Ofgem, 2026). Key Takeaways Contact your ECO4 supplier first and allow 8 weeks for a response. 73% of ECO4 complaints are resolved at […]
The first step to apply for the ECO4 scheme is to contact your energy supplier or a government-approved installer, as you cannot apply directly to the government, according to GOV.UK, 2026. The scheme provides up to £25,000 in energy-efficiency upgrades for low-income households. Key Takeaways Contact your energy supplier or a TrustMark-registered installer to apply. […]
The key difference is that GBIS (Great British Insulation Scheme) targets specific insulation measures for a broader income group, while ECO4 is a deeper whole-house fuel-poverty scheme for low-income and vulnerable households. Both are government energy-efficiency obligations on energy suppliers, but their eligibility, scope, and delivery models differ significantly. Ofgem states ECO4 is built to […]
You cannot determine the kVA rating of a Firman ECO4990ES because the manufacturer does not publish a power factor for this model, and kVA is not a standard specification for portable generators sold in the UK. The generator is rated at 4,990 watts (W) maximum output, which equates to roughly 4.99 kVA at a power […]
The Eco4990ES solar inverter has a maximum continuous AC output of 4.99 kilovolt-amps (kVA), which is the same as 4.99 kilowatts (kW) at unity power factor. This figure is confirmed by the manufacturer’s technical specification, which is registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The MCS database lists the inverter under product number Eco4990ES with […]
The ECO4 scheme provides energy-efficiency upgrades to low-income and vulnerable households in Great Britain, funded by a levy on energy suppliers, with eligible homes receiving measures like insulation or heating improvements at no direct cost (GOV.UK, 2026). Key Takeaways ECO4 covers insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps at no cost to you. You must receive […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme is still open for applications in 2026 The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. It is run by Ofgem, the energy regulator. As of 2026, the scheme has not been closed or suspended. Quick Answer No, […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme is not a universal grant The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. Eligibility for the full subsidy is determined by a household’s annual income, with a strict threshold of £31,000 set by the Department for Energy […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme ended in March 2026, here is what replaced it The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) officially closed to new applications on 31 March 2026, as confirmed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in its scheme closure notice (DESNZ, 2026). GBIS was a one-for-one replacement for the […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme is not always free, but most households pay nothing The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. For a significant portion of eligible households, the installation is completely free, while others pay a fixed contribution of between […]
The Scottish Government’s 2026-27 budget allocates around £41 billion in block grant funding from the UK Government, which represents roughly 60% of Scotland’s total public spending (UK Government, 2026). This funding underpins devolved services such as health, education and housing. Key Takeaways Scotland gets £41.3 billion block grant for 2026-27. The Barnett formula links Scotland's […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme is a government grant for cavity wall and loft insulation The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. It was launched in 2023 and is administered by energy suppliers under obligations set by Ofgem (Ofgem, 2026). The […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme closes for new applications on 31 March 2026 The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has confirmed that the Great British Insulation Scheme will stop accepting new applications on 31 March 2026 (DESNZ, 2026). All applications must be submitted before this deadline; no new applications will be accepted […]
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is set to end on 31 March 2026. This article explains what support will be available for home insulation from April 2026 onwards. Quick Answer The Great British Insulation Scheme is not replaced by a single scheme. From April 2026, insulation support comes through the expanded ECO+ and local-authority […]
How to apply for the Great British Insulation Scheme The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. It launched in 2023 and runs through 2026, replacing predecessor programmes under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) framework (DESNZ, 2026). The Great British Insulation Scheme […]
The main grants available in 2026 are the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (7,500 pounds for heat pumps), the Great British Insulation Scheme (free or subsidised insulation), ECO4 (energy efficiency measures for low-income homes), and the Home Upgrade Grant (for off-gas-grid properties). Eligibility varies by income, benefits, property type, and location.
Contact an MCS-certified heat pump installer who will apply on your behalf. You need a valid EPC for your property, and the installation must replace an existing fossil fuel heating system. The 7,500 pound voucher is deducted from the installer quote. The scheme is available in England and Wales.
Yes. The ECO4 scheme and Great British Insulation Scheme can provide free cavity wall and loft insulation if you receive qualifying benefits or live in a property in council tax bands A to D. Contact your local council or an ECO installer to check eligibility.
Government Grants for Home Energy Improvements The UK government offers several grant schemes to help homeowners improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Combined, these schemes can fund £10,000-£25,000 of improvements depending on eligibility. Over 3 million UK homes have benefited from government energy efficiency schemes since 2013. Available Grants at a Glance Scheme Maximum […]
Millions of UK homes remain poorly insulated, with draughty lofts, unlined cavity walls, and solid brick walls bleeding heat into the atmosphere year-round. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It […]
Off-gas-grid homes in England face some of the highest domestic energy costs in the country. Without access to mains gas, millions of households rely on oil, LPG, electric storage heaters, or solid fuel to heat their homes, fuels that are typically more expensive per unit of energy and harder to switch away from without significant […]
Every year, millions of UK households live in cold, poorly insulated homes that cost far more to heat than they should, not because of personal choice, but because the upfront cost of energy efficiency improvements is simply out of reach. The ECO4 scheme exists specifically to change that. It is one of the most substantial […]
The relationship between your home’s energy efficiency and your local council tax bill is one that relatively few UK homeowners think to explore, yet for those in the right local authority area, it can result in a genuine reduction in one of the most unavoidable annual household costs. With energy costs still a significant concern […]
More UK households than ever stand to benefit from government energy grants in 2026, yet a significant number of eligible homeowners never claim them, simply because they do not know where to look or assume they will not qualify. The UK’s main energy efficiency programmes have distributed billions of pounds worth of support, and yet […]
