- Three-fifths of households (60%) say they can’t afford to make home improvements that would help them reduce their energy bills[1]
- Nearly seven million households (24%) are unaware of government grants that fund energy-saving upgrades for eligible households[2]
- Half of households (52%) would apply for a government-backed grant if they knew they were eligible[3]
- Only three in ten households (29%) know their EPC rating, while one in ten (11%) have never heard of an EPC certificate[4]
- Bradford has the highest rate of households claiming supplier-funded ECO4 energy grants at 379 per 1,000, while Battersea in London has the lowest, at just nine per 1,000[5]
- Uswitch.com is raising awareness of the energy grants by launching an easy-to-use grant checker tool so households can find out which they might be eligible for
Three-fifths of households (60%) say they can’t afford to carry out home improvements that would save them money on their energy bills[1], reveals research by Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
The UK has millions of older homes that were built before modern energy efficiency standards, with many suffering from poor insulation, outdated heating systems and single-glazed windows[6]. Half of households (52%) say they would like to make changes to improve their home’s energy efficiency to reduce their gas and electricity bills[7].
90% of the nearly nine million UK homes with solid walls don’t have solid wall insulation, according to government data. More than eight million homes are lacking the recommended amount of loft insulation, and over three million properties are without the cavity wall insulation they need[8].
A number of government schemes are available to help households become more energy-efficient, with 420,600 measures installed in 2024 in 120,900 homes across the country[8].
But a quarter of UK households (26%) aren’t aware that these schemes are available – nearly seven in ten (68%) have no knowledge of the Energy Company Obligation scheme, one among the most commonly available nationwide schemes[3].
Government energy schemes available
| Scheme name | Countries available | Potential uses | Scheme provider |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | England, Wales | Switching a fossil fuel heating system for a heat pump or biomass boiler. | UK Government |
| Energy Company Obligation | England, Scotland, Wales | Upgrading a heating system, switching to a heat pump, adding insulation, installing solar panels. | Energy suppliers and local authorities |
| Great British Insulation Scheme | England, Scotland, Wales | Adding loft installation, adding cavity wall insulation | UK Government |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | England | Adding insulation, switching to a heat pump, installing solar panels. | Local authorities |
| Warmer Homes Scotland | Scotland | Adding wall and/or loft insulation, draught proofing, upgrading a heating system, switching to a heat pump, installing solar panels. | Scottish Government |
| Nest Scheme Wales | Wales | Replacing a gas boiler, switching to a heat pump, adding insulation, installing solar panels. | Welsh Government |
| Affordable Warmth Scheme Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland | Adding wall and/or loft insulation, draught proofing, upgrading a heating system, replacing a boiler, replace single-glaze windows. | Northern Ireland Housing Executive |
Source: Uswitch.com analysis
Half of households (52%) say they would apply for a grant to improve their home’s energy efficiency if they knew they were eligible[4] – with a third of consumers (32%) saying they didn’t try because they thought they wouldn’t be eligible. One in six who didn’t apply (17%) say it is because they weren’t aware of the schemes[9].
Most UK properties built, rented or sold since 2008 will have an energy performance certificate (EPC) that shows how much energy the home uses for heating, lighting and hot water. An EPC certificate highlights where improvements like insulation can be made to improve the specific home’s energy efficiency.
Unfortunately, fewer than three in ten households (29%) know what their home’s EPC rating is, with one in ten (11%) admitting that they don’t know what an EPC rating is[5].
Bradford West is the UK parliamentary constituency with the most ECO measures – with 379 installed per 1,000 households. By comparison, Battersea in West London has fewer than nine per 1,000[6].
Most installed ECO measures per 1,000 households
| Parliamentary constituency | Nation or Region | Households in receipt of ECO measures per 1,000 households | Households in receipt of ECO measures |
| Bradford West | Yorkshire and The Humber | 379 | 14,896 |
| Bradford East | Yorkshire and The Humber | 367 | 15,246 |
| Birmingham Perry Barr | West Midlands | 307 | 12,093 |
| Leicester East | East Midlands | 294 | 11,667 |
| Blackburn | North West | 286 | 11,514 |
| Blackpool South | North West | 285 | 14,167 |
| Na h-Eileanan an Iar | Scotland | 276 | 3,504 |
| Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley | West Midlands | 263 | 10,233 |
| Birmingham Yardley | West Midlands | 256 | 10,058 |
| Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton | North West | 246 | 10,201 |
Source: DESNZ / Uswitch.com
Uswitch is raising awareness of the energy grants with an easy-to-use grant checker tool so households can find out which they might be eligible for.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Millions of households would like to improve their draughty, uninsulated homes, but too many people can’t afford to make the upgrades that would reduce their energy bills.
“The good news is that there are a number of government schemes that can help households install insulation, improve outdated heating systems and generally make their homes cosier.
“We’re urging households to use our simple tool to check whether they might be eligible for free help to improve their home.
“It only takes a couple of minutes to enter your details, and you could potentially benefit from help worth up to thousands of pounds.
“If it looks like you might be able to access these schemes, our tool will point you to the right place to get your eligibility confirmed and apply.”
Check if you’re eligible for any home energy improvement schemes with Uswitch’s energy efficiency grant checker tool
For more information
Beverley Noble | Energy PR Manager
beverley.noble@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Notes to editors
Research conducted online by Opinium, 15th to 22nd April 2025, among 2,002 UK energy bill-payers, weighted to be nationally representative.
1. Respondents were asked ‘I can’t afford to make significant home improvements to reduce my household’s energy bills’ 60% of respondents who wanted to make improvements to their home agreed.
2. Respondents were asked ‘Which best describes your awareness of each of the following grants / schemes that provide funding for certain households to improve their home’s energy efficiency?’ 68% said they hadn’t heard of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme. 24% of people in the UK hadn’t heard of any of the schemes highlighted.
3. Respondents were asked ‘How likely is it that you would apply for a grant to improve your home’s energy efficiency if you knew you were eligible?’ 52% said they were very likely or likely.
4. Respondents were asked ‘Do you know what your home’s EPC rating is?’ 59% said ‘No’, 29% said ‘Yes’, 11% said ‘I don’t know what an EPC rating is’.
5. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Household Energy Efficiency Statistics
6. House of Commons Library: Energy efficiency of UK homes
7. Respondents were asked ‘Have you, or would you like to make any improvements to your home to reduce your energy bills?’ 29% said they would like to install insulation. 32% said they would like to install draft proofing. 26% said they would like to install a heat pump. 52% said they would like to install at least one of these measures.
8. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Household Energy Efficiency Statistical Release
9. Respondents were asked ‘You said you have not applied for one of the schemes to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Which reason best reflects why this is?’ 32% said ‘I thought I wouldn’t be eligible’. 17% said ‘I didn’t know schemes were available.’
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to find their energy, broadband and mobile deals than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.