Free loft insulation: Ways to cut your energy bills
Free loft insulation is available for some households in the UK and is a great way of improving the energy efficiency of your home and reducing how much you pay.
Loft insulation creates a barrier against cold and damp, trapping any heat generated in your property while warming up your home from the inside and reducing the amount of energy you use in the winter months.
This free service is available to lower-income households and those on benefits and can be accessed through your energy supplier or via a local Government scheme.
What could you get?
You could receive up to £1,100 worth of cavity wall and loft insulation and also shave off an incredible £480 from your energy bills every year. It’s definitely something worth looking into before winter sets in this year.
Am I eligible for free loft insulation?
You are deemed eligible if you receive certain benefits, such as disability living allowance, income support, universal credit and carer’s allowance.
Head to this website, enter your postcode and fill in some details to determine if you are likely to be accepted for free loft insulation. Some areas in the UK aren’t currently covered and if this is the case, it’s worth checking with your energy supplier to find out if they can support you.
As part of a Government scheme called ECO, energy suppliers have also been encouraged to put money into improving energy efficiency across households in the UK to reduce carbon emissions and battle fuel poverty. The idea was to support people who may not have the funds to hand to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Energy providers currently offering free loft insulation, subsidised boilers or cavity wall insulation
Here, we’ve taken a look at the big six energy suppliers and whether they offer this scheme to their customers. If you are signed up with Eon, EDF or Npower you could get free loft insulation!
| Energy provider | What you can get | How to apply |
| Eon | If you are eligible for the Affordable Warmth Scheme, then you could get free loft insulation or cavity wall insulation. You could also get a new boiler for just £240. | You can apply online or by calling 0330 400 1083. |
| EDF Energy | Via the Government ECO scheme, you could get free loft insulation or cavity wall insulation. You could also get a subsidised boiler. | Call EDF on 0333 200 5119 |
| British Gas and Scottish Power | This energy provider no longer offers free loft insulation. | |
| Npower | If you are eligible for the ECO scheme, you could receive free or subsidised loft insulation or a new boiler with Npower. | You can apply for this online. |
| SSE | SSE is no longer accepting applications for energy-efficient installations. |
What if I can’t get the free loft insulation?
You can still insulate your home or look into other ways to save some money on your energy bills over the year. Here, we’ve considered some other options to consider:
DIY loft insulation
You could consider installing loft insulation yourself. DIY stores such as B&Q, Homebase and Wickes sell loft insulation by the roll or boards. This could cost around £150 and can be fitted in a weekend. Take a look at this guide to installing loft insulation.
Have a smart meter installed
These handy devices allow you to track your gas and electric in real-time, down to the last penny, so you can monitor what is using more energy and cut back on your usage to save money. With its traffic light system, you’ll be able to see which appliances and items around your home are using the most energy and look into more eco-friendly models.
Find ways to save energy around the home
- Use draught excluders – These ensure no cold air gets into the room you’re using, making it warmer and cosier.
- Keep all doors closed – Closing doors throughout the house traps the heat in each room.
- Don’t leave your heating on low all day – This sounds like a good idea, but in fact, it’s best if you set your heating to come on at certain times instead of running all day while you’re out. You can set the timer to come on a little earlier to ensure you’re returning to a toasty house after work or if you’re out for the day.
- Have your chimney stuffed – An open chimney flue that isn’t being used gives cold air easy access to your home. Plus, any heating you have will exit your property through this opening. Have it closed up if you aren’t using it to save wasting energy.
- Use reflective radiator panels – These ensure any heat created by your radiators doesn’t escape through the external wall and is bounced back into the room.
- Choose insulated curtains or insulate them yourself – Swap your regular curtains for thicker, insulated ones that trap the cold and keep it out. Alternatively, you could line your current curtains with affordable fleece that you can pick up in the form of blankets from supermarkets or bargain stores.
- Keep curtains open during the day – The winter sun may not feel all that warm when you’re outside but allowing it into your home during the day means it will heat up the room and can help reduce the need for having the heating on for extended periods.
- Put another layer on – Before you reach for the thermostat, pop another layer on and see how you go. If you’re sitting on the sofa in a vest and shorts with the heating on max, you’re not being energy efficient.
Look into your eligibility for free loft insulation or follow our tips that could help you cut back on the cost of your energy bills. Let us know how you’ve saved money on your energy or any tips and tricks in the comments below.
