Please note that we change names and locations in our case studies to protect privacy. However, the measures and methods described are real examples of grant-funded home upgrades we’ve worked on.
Anne and Timothy were struggling to stay warm without central heating in their West Wight stone cottage.
Towards the end of 2024, we worked with an Island couple to transform their cold West Wight home using one of our trusted contractors and the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) scheme.
Anne contacted Future Isle of Wight because she and her husband Timothy struggled to keep warm in their mid-Victorian cottage. The quaint stone building had plenty of charm, but unfortunately, relied solely on a wood-burning stove as its only major source of heating. Although the stove provided ample warmth when lit, the couple’s advancing age meant that it was rapidly becoming a struggle to manage —especially when it came to sourcing and moving fuel.
After an informal visit, our surveyors knew that Anne and Timothy would need a complete first-time central heating system if we had any hope of keeping them warm without the astronomical cost of supplementary plug-in heaters. In addition, like many of the Isle of Wight’s rural properties, the cottage had no gas supply nearby.
After returning to the property to conduct a thorough survey complete with dozens of photos, we contacted one of our partner contractors certified to fit measures under the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) scheme.
Here’s how we were able to improve Anne and Timothy’s home to keep them warm and cosy without excessive energy bills:
Home upgrade grant-funded measures
First-time central heating system: We commissioned the installation of a complete central heating system, with all associated pipework, radiators and controls.
Air-source heat pump: Our contractors used an air-source heat pump to power the central heating and hot water —a sustainable, low-carbon option that particularly suited this off-gas property.
Hot water cylinder: Rather than relying on an inefficient electric immersion heater, the cottage was fitted with a new hot water cylinder, warmed by the air-source heat pump.
Solar PV panels: Although air-source heat pumps are extremely efficient, we were able to offset some of the electricity demands by installing a 2 KW solar panel array, consisting of five 400-watt PV panels.
Eligibility and costs
Anne and Timothy’s combined household income (in this case from pensions) was below £36,000 per year. Although the couple were not on benefits, their low income meant that they qualified for all of the work to be carried out completely free of charge.
But what about the house? Well, in order to be eligible for the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2), a home must have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) of D or lower. The stone cottage in question only managed an EPC rating of F, so we knew there was huge potential for an upgrade.
Takeaways
After Anne and Timothy took our grant eligibility questionnaire, a detailed home survey and assessment gave one of our trusted mainland contractors the confidence and insight to travel to the Isle of Wight to take on this significant upgrade using the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2) scheme.
The carefully planned measures not only addressed the complete lack of central heating in Anne and Timothy’s home but did so without significant disruption to the fabric of this mid-Victorian cottage. By adding a moderately-sized solar PV installation as well as an air-source heat pump, we have not only lowered the carbon footprint of the building, but also significantly reduced electricity bills.
Would you like more information?
Get in touch with our experts to find out about home upgrades or applying for a free energy-saving grant.