Solid Wall Insulation Grants Explained
- Last updated date: March 4, 2024
The UK government has committed to a number of energy efficiency grant schemes to help it reach its Net Zero 2050 target. The two main schemes that include grants for solid wall insulation are the Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO) with £4 billion worth of funding, and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) with £1 billion worth of funding. Both of these schemes are administered by Ofgem, and in most cases are free to eligible applicants.
The basics of Solid Wall Insulation Grants
The two main insulation grant schemes available to applicants in the UK have different eligibility criteria. It’s important to understand the differences between the ECO4 and GBIS schemes to ensure you get the most out of your energy efficiency grant funding.
The fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme, ECO4 takes a whole-house approach to increase the energy efficiency of homes. Eligibility for the ECO4 scheme may include other heating measures as part of the grant application. Solid wall insulation is compulsory as part of ECO4 if the home doesn’t have it already installed. ECO4 is the most generous grant scheme currently available, and Energy Saving Genie can check your eligibility in as little as 23 seconds. For more information on the ECO4 grant scheme, you can visit our dedicated ECO4 grant scheme page.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (formally called ECO+) can offer eligible applicants a single measure installation, where no other heating measures can be installed at the same time. This means that if you are eligible, solid wall insulation can be installed, but no other insulation measure can be installed (e.g. loft insulation, cavity wall insulation or underfloor insulation). For more information please visit our dedicated GBIS page, or check your eligibility using our free grant checker.
What is Solid Wall Insulation?
Exploring Solid Wall Insulation
If your home was built prior to 1920 it was most likely built with solid walls. If your house was built after the 1920s it is likely to have cavity walls, which is basically 2 separate walls with a gap in between.
A quick check to see if you have solid walls is to check the outside of your building. If the bricks are all the same size and are laid lengthways, it’s likely that you have a cavity wall. If the brickwork is different sizes, this usually indicates that you have solid walls.
Types of Solid Wall Insulation Available
Solid wall insulation work falls into two categories; internal wall insulation and external wall insulation.
Internal wall insulation (IWI) – Involves fixing rigid boards to your internal walls, or building a stud wall and filling this with insulation material.
External Wall Insulation (EWI) – External insulation for solid walls involves fixing insulation material to the outside walls of your home. You can then either render or placing cladding over the insulation material,
If you are eligible for a home insulation grant, a registered installer will determine the best option when they survey your property. It’s worth noting that in most cases internal wall insulation is installed under the ECO4 grant scheme (due to a number of factors).
Understanding the importance of insulation
Insulation is an important energy saving measure to be installed, as it helps to trap heat inside your home in the winter months (as well as cool air in the summer). The different types of insulation could include installing loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, internal or external wall insulation and underfloor insulation. The energy saving trust estimates that about a third of all heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the walls. This means that your heating system needs to work hard to keep your home warm, increasing your costs and carbon footprint. Check your eligibility today for free solid wall insulation using our free grant checker.
Why Install Solid Wall Insulation?
Benefits of Solid Wall Insulation
The three main reasons to install solid wall insulation is to save energy, cut your heating bill and to reduce your carbon footprint
Given how much heat can escape your home with uninsulated solid walls, there are significant energy savings when installing solid wall insulation. According to the Energy Saving trust, your annual bill savings can be anywhere from £170 for a Mid-floor flat to £620 for a Detached house*.
Another benefit of installing solid wall insulation is a reduction in your carbon footprint. The energy saving trust estimates that solid wall insulation saves 415kg of CO2 per year for a Mid-floor flat, up to 1,500kg of CO2 for a detached house*.
*based on properties in England, Scotland and Wales
How does Solid Wall Insulation reduce heat loss?
Solid wall insulation increases the core temperature of your home by stopping heat escaping through your walls. If you have a home with solid walls, placing an insulation layer on the inside or outside walls of your home creates a thermal barrier, keeping you warm and cosy inside your home in the winter months (and reducing your heating bills!).
Government Funding Available
Up to £20,000 in funding from energy companies
One of the benefits of the ECO4 and GBIS grant schemes is that the funding comes from the energy companies, not the taxpayer. ECO4 is the most generous grant scheme available, with funding amounts for individual applicants ranging from £7,000 – £20,000 depending on the number of energy efficiency measures installed.
Because the GBIS only offers installation of a single insulation measure, it is not as generous as ECO4. However, given it is a free grant scheme, it is definitely worth checking if you can cover your solid wall insulation cost using our free grant checker.
How to apply for this funding
Energy Saving Genie has developed a simple and free grant checker to help you check if you’re eligible for any government energy efficiency grants. We have a deep understanding of the eligibility criteria and differences between the available grant schemes.
We also have access to 30+ registered installers covering the whole of the UK, who in turn cover he major energy companies who provide funding. if you’re are eligible for an energy efficiency grant, one of these registered installers will contact you within 48 hours to review your application (usually by phone, text or email).
Case Studies – Real-life Examples of Grant Applications and Savings
It can be insightful to consider real-life examples to understand how loft insulation grants can be transformative:
- Case Study 1: Sharron H, Benefits Applicant: Sharron, an applicant claiming benefits lived in an old, inefficiently insulated home in Yorkshire. She found it increasingly difficult to keep her house warm during the winters. After applying for a grant under the ECO4 scheme, she had solid wall insulation (internal wall) installed at no cost, as well as first time central heating. These energy efficiency measures improved Sharron’s EPC rating from a Low E to a Low C.
- Case Study 2: ECO4 Grants for Lydia H: Lydia was living off the gas grid and struggling with high energy bills. After finding out she was eligible for an ECO4 grant, she applied and successfully had solid wall insulation (internal wall), loft insulation and an air source heat pump installed free of charge. This increased the EPC rating of Lydia’s home from a Low F to a Low C.
These are just a couple of examples of how internal wall insulation grants have had real-life impacts. Your specific savings may vary based on factors like the house’s existing insulation level, the insulation installed, and individual usage of heating systems. However, rest assured, the difference will be significant, making your home substantially more energy-efficient.
Who Is Eligible for Free Solid Wall Insulation
Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO) – ECO4 is the latest round of the ECO scheme, and any funding you receive is part of a ‘whole-house’ approach to increase energy efficiency of a home. An ECO4 grant may include other heating measures as part of the grant application. The amount of funding you receive is based on factors such as the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of your home, which benefits you receive and whether you are considered vulnerable. Visit our dedicated ECO4 page to find out more about this generous grant scheme, or apply now using our free grant checker.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) – GBIS is different to the ECO4 scheme included as only a single insulation measure is installed. There are two categories for the GBIS, the ‘general; group and the ‘low-income’ group. For further information on the Great British Insulation Scheme you can visit our page dedicated to the scheme.
Impacts and installation of Solid Wall Insulation
How long does the installation take
Depending on the size of your property, installations are usually completed within 5-10 working days. The insulation work can include extending window sills, replacing external pipework and even extending the roof line to account for the new insulation.
Impact on the appearance of you property
Internal Wall insulation will reduce the floor area of a room by around 100mm-150mm (depending on the thickness of the insulation). The other consideration is that any fittings, skirting boards and door frames will need to be removed and then put back in place after the insulation is installed
External wall insulation will require a protective layer of either cladding or render to be applied over the insulation. This means that you could change the appearance of your property, or you could opt for a finish that matches the current appearance of your external walls.
FAQs – Solid Wall Insulation Grants
Are solid wall insulation grants really free?
Absolutely, if you qualify for either an ECO4 or GBIS grant you could be eligible for free government solid wall insulation grant. Check your eligibility now via our free grant checker.
How will a registered installer insulate your walls?
If your home was built with a solid wall there are two insulation options, either external wall insulation or internal wall insulation. A registered installer will determine the best solid wall insulation option for your home under the scheme rules.
What if I’m not eligible for a solid wall insulation Grant?
Grant rules are changing all the time and new schemes are being introduced. Register your details with us, and we will let you know if any scheme changes impact your eligibility.
Do I have to own my property to be eligible for a solid wall insulation grant?
No, but if you are a private tenant or housing association tenant you will need to get your landlords consent.
Can I get solid wall insulation installed under the ECO scheme?
Yes, solid wall insulation is included as a energy efficiency measure under the ECO4 scheme. The government insulation grants that include solid wall insulation are the ECO4 grant scheme and GBIS grant scheme. Check your eligibility now using our free grant checker.
