Energy Saving Trust published its response to the Scottish Government's call for evidence on the expansion of the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot on 19 February 20261. The charity said it supported the proposal to widen the pilot into a full nationwide support scheme1.
The call for evidence sought feedback on the pilot and stakeholder views to inform the Scottish Government's consideration of future delivery1. Energy Saving Trust's response set out its position on how eligibility for and the scope of any future scheme could be expanded, and on the measures that could be offered1.
"Our response emphasised that the use of equity loans has a role to play not only in supporting people in Scotland to improve the energy performance of their homes but also in supporting independent living and improving wellbeing and noted our support for the Scottish Government's proposal to expand the equity loan pilot to a full nationwide support scheme."
The response document also states that Energy Saving Trust is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (716195), and that it does not provide or run the financial advice, products or services mentioned on the page, which is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice1.
No figures for the pilot's budget, the number of homes it has supported, the value of individual loans or the eligibility criteria for any expanded scheme appear in the published response page1. The Scottish Government's own response to the call for evidence, and any timetable for a decision on expansion, have not been reported1.
Why it matters for households
An equity loan is secured against the home rather than repaid as an unsecured personal loan, so the money is recovered when the property is sold or transferred. For a household weighing up how to fund insulation, glazing or a heating system, that changes the calculation: the improvement is paid for out of the home's value rather than out of monthly income, but the sum is still owed and the property carries the charge.
The pilot being discussed is the closed HEEPS Equity Loan Pilot, which sat alongside the wider Home Energy Grants in Scotland landscape. Households in Scotland currently have access to the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme, which combines a grant element with an interest-free loan, and to Warmer Homes Scotland; the differences between the two routes are set out in our comparison of the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan vs Warmer Homes Scotland. Anyone weighing a grant against a loan can read Home Energy Scotland grant vs loan, and the application route is covered in How do I apply for the Home Energy Scotland grant?.
A nationwide equity loan scheme would widen the set of ways a Scottish household can pay for energy performance work without upfront capital. Because the loan is tied to the property, it also affects what happens at sale, and it sits alongside rather than replaces the grant funding already available. Eligibility for any expanded scheme has not been published, so which households would qualify, and on what terms, is not yet known1. Households approached about grant or loan offers should check the scheme name against official sources; our page on Energy Grant Scams and Fake Government Schemes covers the common patterns.
What happens next
Energy Saving Trust's response is one submission to a Scottish Government call for evidence1. No date has been given for the Scottish Government's decision on whether to expand the pilot, and no draft eligibility rules or measure list for a nationwide scheme have been published1.
Sources1 cited
- Expansion of Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan - Energy Saving Trust, energysavingtrust.org.uk