B&Q has provided tailored advice to more than 1,600 of its customers through its Energy Saving Service since the service was first offered, according to a case study published by Energy Saving Trust on 21 October 20251. The retailer, which the Trust describes as having more than 300 stores and millions of customers, asked the Trust to develop bespoke software to help customers calculate the energy efficiency of their properties and plan home improvements1.
The Trust said it built B&Q a bespoke product using its Home Energy Efficiency Tool and Dynamic Engine technology1. Using a home's address, the tool gathers available data including the building's age, construction and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating; combined with a customer's current energy use, this allows tailored advice aimed at reducing energy bills and carbon emissions1.
Customers receive a bespoke action plan for their home that suits their chosen budget, identifying a range of the most cost-effective energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements, alongside energy saving advice and EPC improvement suggestions1. The B&Q team then matches the improvements proposed by the tool with measures including B&Q products, chosen partners and installation services1. Improvements may include adding loft insulation, installing solar energy, or switching to a more efficient boiler1.
"To make it easy for customers to discover the most effective ways to reduce energy use in their homes, we launched the B&Q Energy Saving Service. By working with Energy Saving Trust, we can ensure customers are getting the most accurate picture possible."
B&Q is also using the Trust's verified facts and figures in its Energy Savers campaign, which the Trust says supports customers and helps community spaces across the country1. The case study does not report how many of the 1,600 customers went on to have any improvement installed, nor what the advice cost them.
Why it matters for households
The service sits in the part of the market covered by the installers and retailers hub, where household energy decisions are increasingly made at the point of sale rather than through a standalone retrofit assessment. The Trust's account describes advice anchored in a property's own data, including its EPC rating, rather than generic guidance, and an action plan shaped by what a household is willing to spend1. For a home's energy independence, the practical question is whether an action plan turns into installed measures: loft insulation, solar and boiler replacement are the kinds of improvements that reduce how much energy a household buys in, but the case study gives no figures on installations, savings achieved or bills reduced1.
What happens next
No further dates or targets are given. The case study does not state when the service was first offered, how many customers it aims to reach, or any planned expansion1.
Sources1 cited
- B&Q - Energy Saving Trust, energysavingtrust.org.uk