[Update: Although the Green Deal has now finished, some people are still eligible for funding under ECO. Find more information here.]
Why bother installing loft insulation?
Loft insulation is a great way to increase the energy efficiency of your home – and increased energy efficiency means lower energy bills.
Although many homes have already had their lofts insulated over the years, there are still many out there that really need it, or could do with a top-up. Despite the old schemes finishing, there are still ways to get free or subsidised loft insulation.
In this blog we are going to look at how you get it, and the various options open to you.
How to ensure you are getting good quality free loft insulation
The number one thing you need to do to ensure you are getting a highly rated installer is to check whether the company offering you free loft insulation has the Green Deal Quality Mark and PAS2030 processes in place.
PAS2030 is the certification that any company needs to carry out work under ECO and the Green Deal and will provide you with the guarantees and piece-of-mind that the work will be carried out to a high standard. For any company to achieve the PAS2030 mark of quality, they will need to have gone through rigorous testing to ensure their work is of the necessary standard.
How do you go about getting free loft insulation?
Whilst you may get installers knocking on your door to offer you the insulation, you can always call us on 0208 144 0897 and we can see if you are eligible. It would also be really useful if you can send us a photo of your loft space, as this will help us help you.
Why is the loft insulation free?
The insulation is mainly funded through the ECO scheme (Energy Company Obligation), where the energy companies provide funding to carry out various energy saving improvements.
In this section we are going to look at the various ways that you can qualify. The Carbon Saving Community Obligation (CSCO) – for example, is a part of ECO, and is directly related to your postcode area. Under ECO you will qualify for insulation if your current level is below 50mm. Anything more than 50mm will not qualify.
Postcodes and free loft insulation
Some houses in the UK fall into CSCO postcodes. These areas are eligible for free or partially financed loft insulation by the energy companies. This is a really straight forward process – you just need a Green Deal Assessment and a certified Green Deal Installer to do the job.
Currently, around 25% of properties fall into the postcode area, so there are plenty of properties in the UK who could take advantage of this, whether it be for a top up or a completely virgin loft.
To find out if you are in an ECO postcode, please get in contact with us on 0208 144 0897 or email us at mailbox@thegreenage.co.uk.
Qualifying for free loft insulation through Income
There is another avenue of funding based on your circumstances; this is called the ‘Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation’ (HHCRO). If the householder is on income support (with related top-ups), receives pension credit or tax credits, you could be eligible for free insulation.
In this instance, all that is required is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on the property, and you will also need to provide proof of your entitlements.
Everyone is entitled to insulation!
Even though you may get more funding through these two schemes, any home with a loft or cavity walls is now eligible under the CERO scheme. This is another part of ECO that was originally designed for solid wall insulation, but has since been extended to loft and cavity wall insulation.
There are no restrictions on this funding, but it is much harder to come by and you will likely have to make a contribution towards the cost of the job. We currently offer this funding through our partners, Network Energy Services, but you will have to make a small contribution towards the cost of the job.
Loft insulation is really worth installing
Loft insulation is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to save on your energy bills. It pays back really quickly and there are lots of ways to get funding towards the costs. Please do get in touch with us if you feel loft insulation could benefit you.
Think we missed something? Do you have a different opinion?
Comment below to get your voice heard…
I would like to get free loft insulation, but I assume they just throw lots of mineral wool up there. Is there a way of making a small contribution and being able to get some boarding up there for storage.
I live in very cold flat and upstairs rooms is very freesing cold. We spoke to housing officer and said we dont have right roof for insulation. Would your company be able to come and have a look at it sometimes soon? thank you Mrs Amina Zakaria
We are looking to see if we could get our loft insulated. Thanks.
Thanks for the post on insulation. really helpful, but can I still get some subsidy towards the cost as I am hearing conflicting advice.
Thanks for the post on loft insulation.Really helpful