In the UK, there are several energy companies which are providing free insulation grants. They are backed by the UK government to help reduce energy consumption and energy bills. You can also enjoy these free insulation grants by qualifying for these grants.
In the following blog post, you will find the eligibility criteria and benefits of free insulation grants.
What are Free Insulation Grants?
Free insulation grants install free of cost insulation in the homes to make the energy efficient. The purpose of these grants is to make the homes of low income people energy efficient. There are several government backed grants which offer insulation services. However, these grants are only for those people who are eligible for their services.
Some of the most famous free insulation grants are the following:
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
- Affordable Warmth Scheme
- Home Upgrade Grant
Which Type of Insulations are Covered in Insulation Grants?
Loft Insulation
In this type, they provide insulation in the loft of homes. Through this insulation, you can save up to 25 % of heat energy. However, they consider your home’s loft eligible for this scheme only when there is no existing insulation or the existing insulation has a thickness less than 270mm.
Cavity Wall Insulation
If the home has a cavity wall, the free grants will provide the insulating material to fill the gap between these walls. This insulation is very effective and saves up to 35% of heat energy.
Solid Wall Insulation
In solid wall insulation, they install an extra layer of insulation around the solid walls. This insulation can be installed on both exterior and interior of solid walls. However, when they are installed on the exterior side, they will need an extra water resistant layer on them. This type of insulation is about 45% efficient.
Underfloor Insulation
To prevent the heat loss through the floors, these are also insulated with the underfloor insulation. For such insulation, the homes need to be slightly above the ground. This will not only block heat transfer but also keep the draughts out of your home.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for Free Insulation Grants?
Every free insulation grant will have its own eligibility criteria. If anyone wants to have free of cost insulation in their home, they need to research the eligibility criteria of these schemes. The ECO4 is the most famous free insulation scheme. Check eligibility criteria for eco4 insulation scheme:
Financial Conditions
The objective of this scheme is to help the households which are low income and struggling for their expenses. They will not be able to upgrade their homes’ insulation to increase their energy efficiency. In such cases, the government obliges different energy companies to provide free of cost insulation services.
Generally, if the household has annual income lower than £31,000, they will be eligible for this scheme. However, to ensure that the households are low income, they check whether the homeowners are receiving any of the government benefits or not. Only those households are eligible for this scheme who are receiving any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker Allowance
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
Property Condition
Along with financial assessment, the energy companies also check the condition of property. The very first thing in property assessment is its energy efficiency. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is used to check the energy efficiency of buildings.
If your home doesn’t have a previous EPC rating, you will need to hire an assessment team to check the energy efficiency. Moreover, if your property has a rating but you don’t know, you can know this rating by putting your postal code in the official website of EPC.
The eligible EPC rating lies between D and G. Additionally, they will check the insulation requirements of property. They will install the type of insulation according to these requirements. While assessing the property, they will check its ownership.
If owners are applying for free grants, they must show their ownership documents. The tenants need approval from the owner and tenant agreement to apply. Moreover, if people in social housing schemes are applying for this scheme, they need to be 50% ownership of their property.
Vulnerabilities and Health Conditions
The ECO4 considers several vulnerabilities to check the eligibility of homes. Some most common eligible vulnerabilities are the following:
- Health Vulnerabilities include respiratory disorders, cardiovascular conditions, mental health conditions, immune and mobility conditions, and cold sensitive conditions, etc.
- The homes which have aged people above 65 and kids below 5 years of age are also in the list of eligible homes.
- If someone is disabled and faces difficulties in mobility, they will also be considered as eligible.
LA Flex Eligibility
LA Flex is a part of ECO4 eligibility criteria in which local authorities refer homes to energy companies. However, they consider the homes which are facing fuel poverty and struggling for their energy bills.
What are the Benefits of Free Insulation Grants?
The free insulation grants install high quality insulation according to the requirements of your home. These insulations will reduce the loss of heat energy to almost zero. In this way, whatever the energy is produced will be completely used to heat up the home.
This will not only reduce your energy bills but also decrease the wear and tear of the heating system. Moreover, this maintains the comfortable temperature in the room for a longer timespan.
This insulation will reduce the draughts and sudden temperature change. This will maintain the health conditions of your family members. Moreover, this insulation will increase the value of your home.
Conclusion
With the help of above mentioned eligibility factors, you can easily judge your eligibility for free insulation grants. Moreover, you can take help from the online eligibility checkers. You just need to put your data in them and they will share the result whether you are eligible for this scheme or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Qualifies for ECO4 Insulation Grants?
The low income people with energy inefficient homes are eligible for ECO4 insulation grants.
What is Loft Insulation?
When the loft is covered with an insulating material, it is called loft insulation.
Why to Insulate Home?
Home insulation is necessary to improve its energy efficiency and reduce energy bills.
Wesley Jack 
House closing