A Guide to Government Grants for Insulating your Home
Having a well-insulated home is a huge factor in keeping your home at desired temperatures during all seasons, it keeps it warm in winter and cool in summer. As well as this, it can save you money by making your home very energy efficient. Not only does it make your energy bills more cost-effective, there’s a chance that you could get it for free through the government-backed Energy Company Obligation (ECO) energy efficient scheme.
So what is the ECO?
The ECO is a government scheme that helps reduce energy emissions and tackle fuel poverty. Under the ECO, energy companies are required to pay for energy-efficient methods such as loft and room in roof insulations in homes across Great Britain. Each energy supplier, such as British Gas, EON, and Npower to name a few will have an overall target to meet its obligations based on its share of the energy market.
How does the ECO work?
These energy companies work with suppliers like us to install loft and room in roof insulations as an efficient method. The main aim of the scheme is to help you reduce your heating bills whilst also saving your energy usage. There are two main obligations of this scheme which are described below:
- The Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO) promotes the installations of energy efficient measures such as roof insulation to help reduce bills for low-income households. Check your eligibility for this scheme here.
- The Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation (CERO) doesn’t have as such eligibility requirements as the HHCRO, but that there should be a focus on homes in rural areas.
Why does my home need insulating?
Without insulation, your home is costing you more money in energy bills. Installing loft insulation is a cost-effective way of keeping your home warmer during winter, and cooler in the summer months. It can also reduce mould and damp by reducing the condensation in the home. The ECO recognises that homes need to be well insulated to save homeowners money whilst also reducing carbon emissions.
What’s the difference between room in roof and loft insulation?
As part of the ECO, we install both room in roof and loft insulations. If you use your loft space as an extra room in the house, you’ll benefit from insulation to make it warmer. The sloping roof surfaces will be insulated using sheet insulation to keep cold air out and warm air in which will then be covered by plasterboard for an even finish. Loft insulation has a similar effect but is a more traditional form of insulation, where the loft floor would be insulated using soft rolls of mineral wool. This makes it more difficult for the loft to be used as an extra room or space for storage.
Whether you need roof in roof or loft insulation and are unsure if you classify to make the most of this 100% free ECO scheme, get in touch with us today for a free consultation. You’ll be saving money on your energy bills in no time.