The UK government launched new funding in the week before 19 September 2023 for up to 300,000 eligible households to get insulation installed, according to Which?1. The consumer organisation published survey research on 19 September 2023 showing that public engagement with home insulation remains low1.
The survey, carried out by Yonder Consulting for Which? in April 2023, covered 2,673 UK homeowners with bill-paying responsibility1. It found that 46% of UK homeowners had not explored home insulation in the past five years and were not considering it for the future; the most common reason, given by 46% of that group, was that they believed their homes were already adequately insulated or warm enough1. Among the same group, 86% expressed concerns about high energy bills and 69% said they worried about keeping their homes warm during winter1. Only 14% of UK homeowners had undertaken insulation improvements in the last five years1.
Of those who did look for information, 69% who searched online wanted advice more tailored to their property and circumstances, and 46% said it was difficult to know where to start1. Only 21% of homeowners who looked for information online found and used the government information tool, though 81% of those who used it found it useful1. Around 63% of respondents who looked for information chose not to proceed with any work1. More than half, 53%, said the upfront cost or concern about payback times was the main reason they did not proceed, and 11% of those who looked but did not carry out work said they searched for but could not find an available trader1.
Which? said the government should build on its recent announcement of the Great British Insulation Scheme and do more to make homeowners aware of available information and advice1. It also called for reform of Energy Performance Certificates, saying assessments vary in quality, with some providers offering one for as little as £35 on the basis of a 30-minute assessment1. The UK government has set a target for all homes to have an EPC rating of C by 2035 where practical, affordable and cost-effective, with similar targets in Scotland and Wales, but there is no legal requirement for homeowners to meet it1.
"Which? research has found that worryingly few homeowners are making insulation improvements - despite the benefits it offers including reducing a household's carbon footprint and energy bills and keeping homes warmer in winter."
Why it matters for households
Insulation is one of the few home energy measures that reduces demand rather than shifting it, so it bears directly on a household's energy independence: a better-insulated home needs less bought-in energy to stay warm. The survey points to a gap between concern and action. Among homeowners who reported an EPC band of D to G, below the government's efficiency target, 39% said they would not consider insulating their homes in future1. The barriers reported were cost and payback times, difficulty knowing where to start, and, for a minority, finding a trader1. Eligibility for the new funding is limited to up to 300,000 households, so it will not reach most homes1. Details of which measures the funding covers, the rates available and how households apply have not been reported; the site's Great British Insulation Scheme eligibility page covers the scheme's criteria, and insulation and glazing grants in England sets out the wider grant landscape. For households in the devolved nations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run separate arrangements, and Which? noted that Scotland and Wales have their own information services, including telephone advice lines and, in Scotland, a network of drop-in centres1.
What happens next
Which? said its full report would be available from 00:01 on Tuesday 19 September 20231. It called on the government to run public engagement campaigns with targeted messaging based on property type and household circumstances, to create an online hub of independent information providers and One-Stop Shops for larger projects, and to support the recruitment, training and certification of installers1. No government response to those calls, and no further dates for the funding, have been reported1.