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Energy advice for homeowners

Improving your home to help you save energy, stay warmer and protect the planet.

If you own your home, there are many opportunities to retrofit your property and improve its energy efficiency. These upgrades can make your home more comfortable, reduce the risk of damp and mould, and create a healthier living environment. They also offer significant environmental benefits by lowering your carbon emissions and potentially reducing or even eliminating your reliance on gas. 

In addition to this advice for owner-occupiers, you can also see our pages on no-cost energy-saving behaviour tips and DIY energy-saving home improvements for more useful information.

Introduction to 'Retrofit'

Retrofitting means making your home fit for the future. It involves upgrading an existing building to reduce energy consumption, improve heat retention, and adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

Retrofit can include a wide range of improvements, from large-scale upgrades like external wall insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps, to smaller DIY actions such as draught-proofing. It can also involve installing electric vehicle charging points, green roofs, and other features that enhance a building’s environmental performance. 

Our planning team has produced detailed guidance on retrofitting, covering a wide range of energy efficiency improvements. 

A ‘fabric-first approach’ is often a good starting point for people looking to retrofit their homes. This means starting with improvements to the building’s structure such as insulation for walls, doors, windows, and the roof before installing new technologies. This ensures that any heating or renewable systems you add will work more effectively in a well-insulated home. 

Benefits of Retrofitting 

Lower energy bills: by insulating your home, you reduce the need for heating, cutting down on energy use and saving money. 

More comfortable living: retrofitting helps eliminate draughts and creates a more stable indoor temperature throughout the year. 

Healthier homes: better insulation and ventilation reduce the risk of damp and mould. Moving away from gas appliances also improves indoor air quality by lowering air pollution. 

Grants and support for owner-occupiers

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Replace your fossil fuel heating system with a low-carbon alternative and get a grant through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.  

Grants may cover the following:

  • £7,500 for an air source heat pump
  • £7,500 for a ground or water source heat pump
  • £5,000 for a biomass boiler 

Visit Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK to find more information.  

Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

A government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions. In order to benefit from ECO your property will need to require energy efficiency upgrades. The specific measures that would benefit your home would be determined by a retrofit assessment.

What’s available: 

  • Loft and wall insulation
  • Heating upgrades
  • Other energy-saving improvements 

Find more information on eligibility and who to contact on the Ofgem website.

Visit a heat pump near you

A heat pump is a highly efficient home heating system powered by electricity. Visit a real home with a heat pump and discover what it's like to live with one. Get your questions answered directly by someone who owns and uses a heat pump every day. Find a visit near you on the Visit A Heat Pump website.

Green mortgage options

There are now over 60 types of green mortgages available to support energy efficiency improvements in your home. Use the Green Finance Institute’s comparison tool to explore your options.

VAT exemption on energy upgrades

From April 2022 to April 2027, certain energy efficiency improvements are VAT exempt, reducing costs by up to 20%. This will lower the cost of certain measures by up to 20%. Find out more on the Federation of Master Builders website.

Electric vehicle chargepoint grant

Switch to an electric vehicle and reduce your carbon footprint. You can apply for a grant of up to £350 towards the cost of installing a home EV charging point. Find out more about the electric vehicle chargepoint grant on the government's website.

Ecofurb

Use the free Ecofurb Retrofit Tool to discover what energy efficiency upgrades may be best suited for your home and create an energy efficiency plan.  

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

An EPC helps you to understand the energy performance of your property. You can find your latest on the government's website: Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK. Go to The Energy Saving Trust website for a guide to EPCs. 

Net zero planning advice

All Islington residents can access 15 minutes of free planning advice to help understand local planning policy and explore sustainable improvements to their homes.  

Additional Links 

Finding a trusted installer 

Choosing a Qualified Contractor 

Additional Guides to Retrofitting Your Home 

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