Home energy upgrades
Every upgrade, explained — and who installs it
Whether you're switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump, adding solar panels, or improving insulation, this guide covers the key home-energy works available to UK homeowners — with accurate costs, available grants, and direct links to certified local installers.
Available home-energy works
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BUS grant Air Source Heat Pump
A low-carbon heating system that extracts heat from outdoor air to warm your home and water — eligible for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
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BUS grant Ground Source Heat Pump
Extracts stable heat stored in the ground via buried pipes — highly efficient, very low running noise, and eligible for the £7,500 BUS grant.
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Solar PV
Solar photovoltaic panels generate free electricity from daylight — reduce your bills, earn export payments via the Smart Export Guarantee, and qualify for 0% VAT.
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Battery Storage
Store surplus solar generation or cheap off-peak electricity to use in the evening — maximise self-consumption and reduce your grid bills.
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Solar Thermal
Solar thermal panels use sunlight to heat your hot water — cutting the energy your boiler or heat pump needs to raise water temperature year-round.
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BUS grant Biomass Boiler
Wood-pellet or wood-chip boilers provide carbon-neutral heating and hot water — and qualify for a £5,000 BUS grant in rural properties in England and Wales.
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Home Insulation
Loft, cavity wall, and solid wall insulation reduce heat loss — lowering energy bills, improving comfort, and in many cases fully funded via ECO4 or GBIS for eligible households.
Learn more - BUS grant
Water Source Heat Pump
A highly efficient low-carbon heating system that extracts heat from a nearby lake, river, or borehole — eligible for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant where a suitable water source exists.
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Exhaust Air Heat Pump
An exhaust air heat pump recovers heat from your home's extracted ventilation air to provide space heating and hot water — a compact, low-carbon solution well suited to modern flats and airtight new-build properties.
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Gas Absorption Heat Pump
A gas-driven heat pump that uses an absorption cycle to deliver significantly more heat than a standard condensing boiler — a lower-carbon upgrade for homes where an electric heat pump is not practical.
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Solar Assisted Heat Pump
A solar assisted heat pump combines solar thermal collectors with an electric heat pump to deliver efficient space heating and hot water — with 0% VAT on qualifying installations.
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Micro-CHP
Micro combined heat and power units generate both heat and electricity from a single appliance — cutting your energy bills and earning Smart Export Guarantee payments on surplus electricity exported to the grid.
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Wind Turbine
A small domestic wind turbine generates electricity from wind on-site, reducing grid imports and earning export payments via the Smart Export Guarantee — with 0% VAT on qualifying installations.
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Micro-Hydro
Micro-hydro systems generate clean electricity from a flowing watercourse on your land — one of the most consistent renewable sources available, earning Smart Export Guarantee payments for any surplus exported to the grid.
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Free project assessment
Not sure which upgrade is right for your home?
Every property is different. An MCS-certified assessor will survey your home, review your energy bills, and recommend the most cost-effective combination of measures — including which grants you can access. Normally worth £380, this assessment is free when booked through Renovation Register.
- Independent advice — no obligation to proceed
- Full survey of your property's heat loss and insulation
- Grant eligibility check (BUS, ECO4, GBIS, and more)
- Introductions to vetted, MCS-certified local installers
£380
value — yours free
No commitment, no upsell — just expert advice.
UK government funding
Grants could cover a large chunk of the cost
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £7,500 toward a heat pump. ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme can fully fund insulation for eligible households. The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for solar electricity you export to the grid. Most of the works listed above qualify for at least one scheme.
