Are You Eligible for Free Wall & Loft Insulation?
A well-insulated home means lower annual energy bills. That’s good for the environment, but it’s even better for your wallet.
We Can Help You Save Money
At Future Isle of Wight, we’re strong believers that helping the environment shouldn’t cost you the earth.
In fact, we think that if we improve the quality of life for Island residents by making sure that their homes are heated and insulated correctly, a big part of the environmental stuff will take care of itself.
So how do we plan on doing that?
We’re Insulation Survey Specialists. If you’re eligible for a grant, we’ll carry out a free survey of your home to identify what extra insulation measures you might benefit from, in line with ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) —government-backed initiatives that aim to reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
What’s more, we work alongside Trustmark-approved and PAS-certified retrofit experts to ensure your project is completed to the highest standard.
And the best part?
If you qualify for a government grant, you could reduce the costs of installing extra insulation, or even have it installed completely free!
That means you’ll instantly start saving money on your fuel bills, without having to wait years to recoup the installation costs.
The main types of insulation that can be installed by our retrofit experts are for lofts, cavity walls and internal insulation:
Loft Insulation
This type of insulation is laid out in rolls on your loft floor, helping to stop the heat from your central heating escaping through the roof.
Modern loft insulation is 270mm deep. That’s just under a foot in thickness, so even if your home already has insulation installed, you might benefit from a top-up, especially if it’s over 15 years old.
If you’re eligible for a Loft Insulation Grant, it can also cover the cost of insulating and draught-proofing your loft hatch, lagging any pipework and even fitting a walk-board to access your water tank.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity walls are made of two layers of bricks, with a gap of 50mm (2 inches) between each layer.
The air gap in older cavity walls was used to stop damp, but it isn’t very good at providing insulation.
It wasn’t until the early 1980s that cavity wall insulation became mandatory, so if you live in a house that was built between 1924 and 1982, you might not have any at all.
If you’re eligible, the entire cost of cavity wall insulation could be paid by a government grant. You’ll also get a 25-year guarantee from the Certified Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA).
Internal Wall Insulation
There are plenty of pre-1920 properties on the Isle of Wight, and many have solid walls. That means it’s impossible to insulate them by filling cavities, as there are none!
Internal wall insulation is one of the most effective ways of retaining heat in homes where other insulation methods are impossible or overly complex. A third of a building’s heat loss happens through the walls, so internal wall insulation could save a tremendous amount of money on energy bills.
Internal wall insulation is simple to install and works by building a stud wall filled with material such as mineral wool fibre, improving comfort and even reducing sound transmission between rooms or adjoining properties.
Is Insulation Worthwhile?
On average, 25% of a home’s heat is lost through the roof and a staggering 35% through the walls. Upgrading your insulation can prevent some of these losses, leading to fantastic savings:
£165*
Yearly Saving
On your heating bill when you add insulation to your cavity walls.
£185*
Yearly Saving
On your heating bill when you add new insulation to your loft space.
610kg*
Yearly Reduction
In carbon dioxide emissions from a home with cavity wall insulation.
*Average Energy Saving Trust figures based on a typical semi-detached UK home.
Do You Qualify for a Government Grant?
There are several grants available to Isle of Wight residents, and each has specific eligibility criteria.
Generally speaking, you’ll need to be receiving certain benefits OR have a gross annual household income of less than £31,000 before housing costs (benefits count towards this figure).
You’ll also need to own or rent a property with a poor Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating (typically D, E, F, or G ). Unfortunately, we can’t assist Council or Housing Association tenants.
Landlords could be entitled to a grant if their tenants are eligible. Those not on benefits but deemed by the local authority to be on a low income or vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home could also qualify.
Eligible Benefits:
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC),
- Child Benefit
What Isle of Wight Residents Are Saying About Us
“The cavity wall team were professional and the job was done with no fuss at all.”
Caroline S. – Wroxall
“I was amazed at how little loft insulation I had compared to a modern build.”
Andrew – Newport
“The survey team were super friendly and gave me loads of advice for my home”
Wendy – Niton
Check if You Qualify
Take our questionnaire to find out if you qualify for a grant. If you do, we’ll be in touch to arrange a free survey of your home. Want to chat with an expert? Call us today on 01983 632662.
Want to Know More?
Get in touch or follow us on Facebook to find out how we’re helping Island communities. If you’d like to join our volunteers, we’d also love to hear from you!