The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) provides cavity wall insulation grants to cover the insulation costs for low income households thoroughly.
The goal of these wall insulation grants is to help low-income households and fuel-poor homes to become more energy efficient. This is in line with the UK’s big plans to have net-zero carbon pollution by 2050.
Coverage is based on the applicant’s situation, but most of the time, they will get free cavity wall insulation.
This piece talks about these two benefits and helps you understand why it can be such a good investment for your home.
What is the Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme is a government initiative launched on September 14, 2023, to fund insulation upgrades in homes across UK.
The goal is to help lower-income households cut their energy bills by installing insulation that improves the energy efficiency of their homes. It targets homes with poor insulation and an EPC rating of D or below.
The scheme has £1 billion funding to provide free insulation upgrades like:
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Solid wall insulation (internal or external)
- Underfloor insulation
- Roof insulation (flat or pitched)
On average, households receiving insulation under the scheme are expected to save between £300 to £400 per year on their energy bills.
Primary Features of The Great British Insulation Scheme
- Run from April 2023 to March 2026
- It is expected to benefit up to 70,000 homes
- Grants are funded by the leading energy companies (with at least 150,000 customers)
- Up to £1,500 insulation grants are available to households
- To helping households not currently benefiting from government support for home ECO measures
- 80% of the funding available for households is considered some of the country’s least energy-efficient (including those with an EPC rating of D or below or in the lower Council Tax bands).
- 20% of the funding aims to help the most vulnerable households, including those on benefits or those classed as ‘fuel poverty.’
What is Cavity Wall Insulation?
Cavity wall insulation fills the gaps between two walls. This kind of insulation is used on the outside walls of homes. Many homes made after 1920 have cavity walls because they are better in some ways.
This cavity is a great place to fill with good insulation, which can save you money and help the environment. Your walls are a key area where heat typically escapes from; they account for around 33% of heat loss. By filling enough insulation in this area, you can greatly cut down on heat loss and enjoy the benefits of a well-insulated home.
The main benefits of cavity wall insulation are that it saves money and protects the environment.
What Are The Advantages of Cavity Wall Insulation?
Some of the most amazing yearly savings come from cavity wall insulation when it comes to energy bills and CO2 emissions from homes. One of the best ways to insulate a UK home is to add insulation. This can save up to £405 a year on energy bills and cut the home’s carbon footprint by an amazing 1.1 tonnes.
Not only does cavity wall insulation save you money on bills, it also has many other great benefits. Some of the things that will be better for you after this upgrade:
- Better for the environment: Homes that are insulated keep their temperatures inside much better. This means you’ll use your heating system less, which will lower your carbon footprint and help the environment in the long run.
- Healthier home: Damp, drafty homes are breeding grounds for mould and rot. This puts your home’s structural integrity at risk and greatly harms your health. Mould exasperates respiratory illnesses and can even damage your immune system. Proper insulation boosts a healthy environment and better indoor air quality.
- Less upkeep: cavity wall insulation is one of the easiest and most durable ways to improve the insulation in your home. If fitted by a professional, it can last up to 25 years and doesn’t need much upkeep.
- Increased investment: Insulating your home makes it worth more on the real estate market. This is because the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of your home high. The EPC rating tells you how energy-efficient your home is. If you ever want to rent or sell your home, homes with better EPC rating will be worth a lot more.
Hence, cavity wall insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to insulate your home. It will improve your living, save you money, and help the environment all at the same time.
Free Insulation Grant
Now you can get Loft Insulation and Cavity wall Insulation under the Great British Insulation Scheme
Check your Eligibility Now
Does Cavity Wall Insulation Cause Damp?
Most of the time, dampness issues caused by cavity wall insulation are caused by bad fitting or not knowing that the house shouldn’t have had cavity wall insulation in the first place.
The suitability of installing cavity wall insulation is one area that is often overlooked. Moisture can get into the property through the external walls and into the internal walls through external brickwork. This can cause penetrating damp problems. Before installing cavity wall insulation, you should check to see if it could cause damp problems in the future. Condensation can also happen because of cavity wall insulation. Cavity walls are meant to keep heat inside, but if there are gaps in the walls, the walls will stay cold.
When warm, moisture-laden air starts to build up in the house from carrying out day-to-day activities (e.g., boiling a kettle or having a shower), the warm, moisture-laden air will land onto cold walls, causing condensation, which will start to build up, leading to issues such as black mould in the property.
Who is Eligible For Free Cavity Wall Insulation Under GBIS?
To determine whether you are eligible for free cavity wall insulation, you must first meet two key requirements: the eligibility criteria of the grant you apply for and being a homeowner of a property.
The UK’s Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) provides free cavity wall insulation.
Below is a summary of the most general requirements you must meet to qualify for the GBIS scheme:
Household Category | Low-Income Group | General Group |
Owner Occupiers | If the household owns the home and its EPC is D or below, it can receive any qualifying insulation measure, plus heating controls. | 1. Must be living in a Council Tax band A-D home in England or A-E in Scotland and Wales 2. If the household owns the home and EPC D or below, then the household can receive any qualifying insulation measure. |
Private Rented | Private renters having home EPC rating D or E can receive any qualifying insulation measure. | Private renters with home EPC D or E can receive any qualifying insulation measure other than cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. |
Social Housing | If the household lives in EPC E or below social housing, it can receive any qualifying insulation measure. If the home is EPC E, F, or G, only a qualifying innovation measure is allowed. | All social renters are included in the low-income group. |
Bottom line
When thinking about the best ways to insulate a home, cavity wall insulation stands out because it works so well and quickly. It gives you a better return on your money than loft or floor insulation. Because it stops a lot of heat from escaping through walls, it’s one of the best options for households who want to make their home more energy efficient.
If you meet the criteria outlined above, and you haven’t previously benefited from funding for energy-efficiency measures, there is a good chance that you’ll get free cavity wall insulation grant under the Great British Insulation Scheme. Funding will allow your home to be adequately insulated, minimise heat loss, boost energy efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and impact your heating bills. With the free funding, there’s no reason not to apply today.