Cavity Wall Insulation Grant
Free cavity wall insulation grant for UK homeowners or tenants is available to help lower energy costs and improve home energy efficiency. It is provided by the major energy companies as part of their obligations to reduce the country’s carbon footprints. Those who are eligible include households on certain benefits and those with low incomes, such as those receiving the armed forces independence payment, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, child tax credits, disability living allowance or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.
Homes that were built before 1924 or are solid brick are likely to have a gap or cavity between the internal and external walls, which can be filled with insulating material to improve the home’s energy efficiency. This prevents heat from escaping through the walls and cuts heating bills. It also has the benefit of helping to prevent condensation and damp, as well as lowering the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
If all homes in the UK with cavities were insulated, it would cut CO2 (the greenhouse gas that speeds up climate change) emissions by around 7 million tonnes a year. This is enough to fill nearly 40 million double-decker buses.
The process involves drilling small holes into the exterior walls through which insulating material is pumped. The holes are then sealed, leaving no visible evidence that the work has been carried out. It is important to use a contractor that has been checked by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA), and is registered with CWISC. This way you can be confident that the installer is a competent professional and has a guarantee in case something goes wrong.