Energy efficiency support. Get help to make your home more energy efficient

If your home has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below, you might qualify for one of these government schemes.

What schemes are available?

1) ECO4

The ECO4 scheme can help with all sorts of energy-efficiency home improvements – ranging from loft and wall insulation to air source heat pumps.

To qualify, you’ll need to be a homeowner claiming one of the benefits listed below. Your home will also need an EPC rating of D or lower.

  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support
  • Tax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit Saving Credit

2) Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

GBIS can sometimes provide a single insulation measure for free, most likely cavity wall insulation. Other types of insulation are also possible, but you’ll probably need to contribute towards the cost.

To qualify, you’ll need a home with an EPC rating of D or lower. You’ll also need to be in one of the council tax bands listed below.

  • Council tax bands A-D in England
  • Council tax bands A-E in Scotland and Wales

The scheme is open to homeowners and tenants – but if you rent, you’ll need permission from your landlord or housing provider.

How to apply

If you meet the criteria, you can apply for either scheme or both schemes. Just click below to start your application. Our partners will review your details and then get in touch with you about the next steps.

We’ll be in touch once your application has been processed. Please be aware that GBIS is very popular – so you might be placed on a waiting list before being contacted by our partners. This can sometimes take a few weeks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EPC and how do I find it?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) tells you how energy efficient your property is. The most efficient homes get an A rating and the least efficient get a G rating.

It’s a legal requirement to have an EPC if you are selling or renting out a home, and an EPC is valid for 10 years once it’s issued.

To qualify for ECO4 or GBIS, you need an EPC of D or lower. You can find out if your home has an EPC at www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

Don’t worry if you don’t have an EPC – your home will be surveyed by our partner if you qualify for either scheme.

How much will I need to contribute for GBIS improvements?

It depends on a number of factors, but you’ll always be told the level of contribution you need to make before any work is started.

If you’re getting cavity wall or loft insulation, you might not have to contribute anything at all. But for other installation measures, you can be asked to make a significant contribution to the costs.

For an average 3-bedroom semi-detached house, your typical contribution would be:

Less than £1,000

  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Loft insulation (where there is less than 100mm of loft insulation already present)

£1,000 - £10,000

  • Loft insulation (where over 100mm is already present)
  • Roof insulation (flat or pitched)
  • Underfloor insulation 
  • Solid floor insulation 
  • Room-in-roof insulation

More than £10,000

  • Solid wall insulation (internal or external)

Ensuring good ventilation is essential when installing insulation. If you need extra work to improve your home’s ventilation, this could be an additional cost.

Do I need to be a British Gas customer to get ECO4 and GBIS help?

No, you can apply for ECO4 and GBIS through us even if you’re not a British Gas customer.  

How long does it take to apply to GBIS and ECO4?

It usually takes a little while for us to review your application and pass your details to our partners. They will then get back to you as soon as possible.

GBIS in particular is very popular, so you might be waiting several weeks before you hear anything about your application.

If you don’t qualify for a scheme you’ve applied for, we’ll send you an email explaining why.

Where can I find my council tax band?

If you live in England or Wales, you can find your council tax band by visiting the gov.uk website. If you live in Scotland, you can find the information on the Scottish Assessors website. 

Can I get a boiler grant from ECO4 or GBIS?

Not usually, no. GBIS is only for insulation measures, so boilers are not included. The ECO4 scheme looks at your whole home and offers a range of measures that will cut carbon and increase energy efficiency. In some circumstances, a new boiler might be part of the recommended package – but this is far from common.

What about Nest Wales and Warmer Homes Scotland?

If you live in Scotland or Wales, you might be able to apply for help with energy-efficient home improvements from the Nest Wales or Warmer Homes Scotland. To find out more about the funding available, eligibility and how to apply, please visit our Nest Wales and Warmer Homes Scotland pages.

Does my home have enough ventilation to install insulation?

Our partners will check the level of ventilation in your home, to make sure you have enough for the insulation they install. If your home needs extra ventilation, they might recommend things like extractor fans, trickle vents in window frames, or vents in doors. In some circumstances, the cost of the ventilation will be covered by the scheme, but you may be asked to make a contribution towards the cost.

Useful links:

  • Visit Ofgem for information about the ECO scheme
  • Visit Ofgem for information about Great British Insulation Scheme