Eco home upgrade guides
Everything you need to know before getting solar panels, a heat pump, insulation, an EV charger or battery storage fitted. Plain-English guides to costs, grants, and what to look for in an MCS-certified installer.
How much does it cost?
Solar panel costs
Typical installed cost £5,000–£13,000. Depends on system size, panel brand, and roof type.
Read guideHeat pump costs
Air-source heat pumps typically cost £8,000–£15,000 before the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
Read guideBattery storage costs
A 5–10 kWh home battery costs £2,500–£6,000 installed. Often combined with solar PV.
Read guideEV home charger costs
Installed cost £500–£1,200. The £350 OZEV grant is available to renters and flat owners.
Read guideInsulation costs
Loft insulation from £300. Solid wall insulation £5,000–£22,000. Grants via ECO4 and GBIS.
Read guideAll prices are estimates for 2026. Get free quotes from local installers for an accurate figure.
What grants are available?
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
Up to £7,500 off an air-source heat pump or £5,000 off biomass. Paid direct to your installer.
Read guideECO4
Free or heavily subsidised insulation and renewables for eligible low-income households.
Read guideGreat British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
Insulation help for homes in lower council tax bands with an EPC of D or below.
Read guideOZEV EV chargepoint grant
£350 off a home EV charger for renters and flat owners. Homeowners in houses are not eligible.
Read guideHome Upgrade Grant (HUG2)
Free low-carbon heating and insulation for off-gas-grid, low-income homes in England.
Read guideSmart Export Guarantee (SEG)
Get paid for solar exports: 3p to 24p/kWh depending on your energy supplier.
Read guideIs my home suitable?
Is my home suitable for solar panels?
Roof orientation, shading, planning permission, flat roofs and rental properties.
Read guideIs my home suitable for a heat pump?
Insulation, radiator sizing, outdoor space, property types and the BUS grant.
Read guideWhat insulation does my home need?
Loft, cavity wall, solid wall, floor — the right type for your home's construction.
Read guideIs my home suitable for a biomass boiler?
Off-gas-grid only: space for boiler and fuel store, Smoke Control Areas, BUS grant eligibility.
Read guideTechnology comparison guides
Heat pump vs gas boiler
Full comparison: upfront cost, running costs, grants, carbon and the 2035 boiler ban.
Read comparisonAre solar panels worth it in the UK?
Payback periods, annual savings and honest verdict for UK conditions in 2026.
Read comparisonSolar PV vs solar thermal
What's the difference, which to choose, and when each makes more sense.
Read comparisonBattery storage comparison
Tesla, GivEnergy, Sonnen, Fox ESS and Pylontech compared by capacity, price and warranty.
Read comparisonOther useful guides
Best smart electricity tariffs for solar & batteries
Octopus Agile, Go, Intelligent Octopus — which works best with solar panels, battery storage or an EV?
Read guideHeat pump running cost calculator
Annual running-cost lookup table for ASHPs vs a gas boiler, using home size, insulation level and realistic UK seasonal efficiency.
Read guideHeat pump radiator readiness
Factual guide to radiator sizing, flow temperature, heat-loss assumptions and why 'you need all new radiators' is often an oversimplification.
Read guideHeat pump noise and siting
Practical UK guide to outdoor-unit sound, boundary positioning, neighbour concerns and the siting questions installers should answer before quoting.
Read guideHeat pump grant eligibility
Plain-English guide to BUS eligibility, EPC requirements, insulation recommendations and the checks that commonly delay heat-pump grant approval.
Read guideDo solar panels need planning permission?
Cautious UK guide to when rooftop solar is usually permitted development, and where listed buildings, conservation areas, flat roofs or ground mounts need extra checks.
Read guideDo home EV chargers need planning permission?
Cautious UK guide to when home chargers are usually permitted development, and where listed buildings, flats, shared parking or leasehold consent need extra checks.
Read guideBattery storage VAT and grants
Factual explainer on 0% VAT with solar-linked batteries, the lack of a mainstream standalone battery grant, and what to check on quotes.
Read guideBattery storage smart tariff strategy
Plain-English guide to the real battery value streams: solar self-consumption, off-peak charging, export choices and the questions that keep battery savings claims honest.
Read guideCan home batteries export to the grid?
Factual guide to battery export, Smart Export Guarantee fit, DNO/export limits and why export-led savings assumptions vary by setup.
Read guideWhat size home battery do I need?
Factual guide to usable capacity, evening demand, solar surplus, EV interaction and why oversizing a home battery is a common mistake.
Read guideHow long does installation take?
New guide series covering realistic install timelines for heat pumps, solar, batteries, insulation and EV chargers.
Read guideIs solar worth it in the UK?
Dedicated guide to solar payback, annual savings, battery uplift and when solar is or isn't a smart investment.
Read guideEPC rating explained
What EPC bands mean, how they affect grant eligibility, and how eco upgrades can improve your score.
Read guideWhat is MCS certification?
Why MCS matters for BUS, SEG and ECO4, and how to verify any installer.
Read guideReady to get quotes?
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