Funding and support to make your home more energy efficient

Home improvements such as a new climate friendly heating system or insulation can make your home more energy efficient and warmer and they could save you money off your energy bills. Home Energy Scotland have got a range of funding and support available to help you make these valuable changes.

The Scottish Government funded Home Energy Scotland service provides clear, free, and impartial advice on how you can make your home more energy efficient.

They'll check what funding you're entitled to, such as an interest-free loan with cashback or help worth up to £5,000 to cover the cost of installing energy efficiency and zero emissions heating measures. Call them free on 0808 808 2282 to find out how you can reduce your heating bills and save energy. Or you can see what grants, discounts, and funding schemes are available by visiting homeenergyscotland.org/find-funding-grants-and-loans/

What are renewable energy and zero emissions heating systems?

To reach net zero, we need to move away from using fossil fuels to heat our homes. One was to do this is by installing renewable energy systems, such as heat pumps, solar water heating, or biomass boilers. These systems are powered by sources that naturally replenish, such as the sun or the wind.

What funding and support is available?

There are loans and schemes on offer to help with the installation of energy efficiency and zero emissions heating measures, which you can read more about below.

Interest free loans

Interest-free loans with cashback of up to 75% are available for a variety of measures:

• Solid wall insulation, which can cut your heating costs considerably and make your home more comfortable.
• Double glazing, which reduces heat loss through windows and means fewer draughts and cold spots.
• A new renewable energy system, such as a heat pump or solar panels.

Loan offers are valid for 6 months.

What you can borrow depends on what improvement or installation you want. They’re grouped into two types: energy efficiency improvements and renewables systems (including energy storage systems and district heating scheme connections) and must be recommended on your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Interest-free loans are available of up to £15,000 for home energy efficiency improvements, up to £17,500 for up to two home renewables systems per home, plus up to a maximum of £6,000 for an energy storage system. Homeowners can also receive 40% of their loan (up to a maximum of £6,000) in cash back for certain energy efficiency improvements once the measure has been installed.

If the loan is for under £5,000 you can choose a repayment time period of up to 5 years. If the loan amount is £5,000 to £9,999 you can spread the repayments over up to 10 years and if the loan is more than £10,000 you can spread the repayments over up to 12 years.

To apply for an interest-free loan, call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or request a call back. You’ll need to contact Home Energy Scotland personally to get free, impartial advice about your home and the best options for you. Bear in mind that third parties, such as installers or letting agents, won’t be able to apply on your behalf. Find out more by visiting https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/funding/grants-loans/

How Home Energy Scotland helps with installations

When Louise got in touch with Home Energy Scotland, they carried out improvements in her home that made life better - and warmer - for her and her family. Hear about the support Louise received in the video below.

Warmer Homes Scotland Funding and Grants

Warmer Homes Scotland offer funding and support to households that need financial help to make their home more energy efficient and warmer. They can help you to take action to make your home more comfortable and affordable to heat by installing a range of energy efficient measures, including:

• Wall insulation
• Loft insulation
• Draught-proofing
• A new renewable energy system

This also helps reduce carbon emissions and gets us on our way to becoming net zero.

Help is offered to homeowners and some private rented sector tenants who are struggling to heat their homes, provided they have lived in their property for at least 12 months and meet the qualifying criteria. 

Even if you’ve previously received support from a Scottish Government energy efficiency programme, you may still be eligible for help from Warmer Homes Scotland.

For more information about Warmer Homes Scotland, and to check if you qualify, contact Home Energy Scotland for free on 0808 808 2282 and an energy advisor will be happy to assist you.

Area Based Scheme

Every local council in Scotland designs and delivers their own Area Based Scheme to reflect local housing and tackle fuel poverty. You may be invited to have solid wall insulation installed in your home as part of a local project or contacted about a range of other improvements suitable for your home. The Scottish Government are working with your local authority to improve and extend the help we provide through local schemes, offering whole house retrofits for those households in the least energy efficient properties.

Who can apply?

Local authorities update their plans each year and whether you can participate in a local scheme will depend on your area and postcode. Many local authorities are able to offer help to households throughout their entire council area, others will focus on local projects benefitting whole communities, such as blocks of flats and terraced homes. 

How do I apply?

To find out what support is on offer in your area and when, call Home Energy Scotland for free on 0808 808 2282. Home Energy Scotland is a free and impartial advice service that is backed by the Scottish Government to provide advice and help people have a warmer and more comfortable home with lower energy bills.