Which? launched a free home energy planning service on 30 September 2024, live at which.co.uk/home-energy1. The consumer organisation said the tool lets users enter a postcode and select their address, after which it pulls together property data, suggests improvements, and provides estimated costs and potential savings on energy bills1. It also checks for available grants, sets out ways to pay, and helps users find installers1. Which? said the service is powered in partnership with Snugg, a technology startup2.
The launch came on the day before the energy price cap rose. Between 1 October and 31 December 2024 the cap is set at £1,717 per year for a typical household using electricity and gas and paying by Direct Debit, an increase of £149 per year, or 10 per cent, compared with the £1,568 cap set between 1 July and 30 September 20241.
"Anyone looking to upgrade their home with improvements that could reduce their energy bills should use the free Which? home energy planning service to get a free personalised plan."
Which? set out a range of measures and figures alongside the launch. It said switching to one of the cheapest deals on offer could save over £50 per year for a typical household compared with the price cap, and that some tariffs carry early exit penalties as high as £125 per fuel1. It put the cost of insulating exposed hot water pipes at as little as £15, and said laundry done at 30 degrees instead of 40 is 38 per cent cheaper according to its tests1. On tumble dryers, it said heat pump models cost an average of £50 a year to run, while condenser dryers will average £127 a year from October, with the most expensive condenser model costing £171 a year1. It cited Energy Saving Trust figures that heating controls could save a typical household over £100 per year, and a Heating and Hotwater Industry Council study showing a 6 to 8 per cent saving on gas bills from lowering a combi boiler's radiator flow temperature1. A new boiler can cost around £3,700 including installation and new radiator valves, according to the Energy Saving Trust1.
On grants, Which? listed the following1:
| Scheme | Detail |
|---|---|
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Up to £7,500 for consumers in England and Wales to replace gas or oil heating with low-carbon systems such as heat pumps |
| Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme | Grant of up to £7,500, interest free loan, or a combination, for homeowners in Scotland to install clean heating systems and energy efficiency measures |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Home insulation and low carbon heating for low income households, households on specified benefits or households in specific areas; open to homeowners and private landlords (one property plus 50 per cent reduction on additional properties) |
| Great British Insulation Scheme | Open to homes in council tax bands A to D in England and A to E in Scotland and Wales with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D to G |
| Energy Company Obligation | Help with insulation and energy efficiency measures for those on low incomes |
Which? said local authorities can express an interest in the Warm Homes: Local Grant and that the level of funding will be decided in the spending review1. It also said residential homes are responsible for a fifth of UK CO2 emissions1.
Why it matters for households
The service arrives at a point when the default price for a typical dual fuel household has risen by £149 a year, so any reduction in consumption carries more value than it did over the summer1. The measures Which? highlights split into two kinds: behaviour and settings changes that cost nothing or very little, such as laundry temperature, draught proofing and boiler flow temperature, and capital work such as insulation, heating controls and boiler or heat pump replacement1. For a household weighing up the second kind, the gap between estimated savings and upfront cost is the deciding figure, and the tool's stated purpose is to put both numbers against a specific address rather than a national average1. Grant eligibility varies by nation and by property, with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme covering England and Wales and separate arrangements in Scotland1. Which? has not reported what the tool does for households in Northern Ireland.
What happens next
The service is live from 30 September 2024 at which.co.uk/home-energy1. Funding levels for the Warm Homes: Local Grant will be decided in the spending review, with local authorities able to express an interest in the meantime1.