Start with the problems you notice at home. Are rooms draughty? Does the heating need to stay on for hours? Are your electricity bills high? The answers can help you decide what to tackle first.

Your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates its energy efficiency from A to G, with A the best. It also suggests improvements. Treat it as a starting point and ask a qualified installer what would suit your home.

Small gaps around windows and doors can let warm air escape. Sealing unwanted gaps may make rooms feel warmer without a big building job.

Insulation helps keep heat inside, rather like an extra layer around your home. The best option depends on how your house was built and what is already fitted.

Timers, room thermostats and radiator controls help you decide when to heat your home and which rooms need it.

Better-fitting windows and doors can reduce draughts and heat loss. Full replacement can be costly, so compare it with repairs first.

Solar panels turn daylight into electricity you can use at home. A home battery can store electricity for later, such as in the evening. Some batteries can also charge from the grid when electricity is cheaper, if your tariff and system allow it.

A heat pump uses electricity to move heat from outside into your home. Some take heat from the air; others use pipes in the ground. The right system needs to be sized and fitted for your property.

A heat pump does not automatically mean lower bills. Your home, system design, tariff and how you use the heating all affect the result.

For more detail, see the Energy Saving Trust’s home energy advice.

There is no single savings figure that fits every home. A quote should explain what you could save, how it has been worked out and what could change it.

The Budget on 28th October extended the temporary 0% VAT rate on domestic electricity in Great Britain until July 2027. It also announced a £100 Household Energy Payment for households in council tax bands A–D in England, delivered through local councils from January 2027. These measures support household bills rather than paying for installation work.

Gas standing charges are planned to be removed in Great Britain by the end of 2027, or as soon as possible afterwards. The costs will move into usage rates, so this will not mean a saving for every household.

The Budget also reduces wider Warm Homes Plan capital grant funding by £1 billion, while confirming the Warm Homes Loan Scheme's launch and maintaining Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding at £400 million in 2027–28. This is programme funding, not the amount an individual household can claim. Check the current scheme rules before making plans.

Read the official Budget document.

The Warm Homes Loan Scheme helps homeowners spread the cost of certain energy-saving upgrades. The loans come from participating lenders and must be paid back. Some charge no interest; others offer a reduced rate.

These are maximum scheme limits, not amounts everyone will be offered.

Check the provider’s process before booking work. Some loans are arranged through approved installers rather than through a broker or directly with the lender.

Read the government factsheet and participating provider list for the latest options.

Check for grants before borrowing. A grant can pay towards eligible work without adding loan repayments, as long as you meet its conditions.

For eligible properties in England and Wales, the current grants include:

Until March 2027, an extra £1,500 is available for eligible air-to-water or ground-source heat pump installations where the property uses oil or LPG heating and has no mains gas connection. That could bring support to £9,000.

Not every property or heating system qualifies. Ask your installer to confirm the grant and what you would still need to pay. Check Boiler Upgrade Scheme details before booking.

This England-only scheme can pay for agreed improvements such as insulation, solar panels, heating controls or a heat pump. The council checks your home and arranges eligible work, subject to funding.

If you do not know your EPC rating, you can find out during the application. Use the official eligibility checker and application service.

Separate support is available in other parts of the UK. Check Home Energy Scotland, the Welsh Government’s Nest scheme or energy-saving grants in Northern Ireland.

You might be planning insulation, replacement windows or a wider renovation alongside renewable technology. If some work falls outside the scheme, compare ways to fund that part separately.

Being declined for scheme finance doesn't automatically mean another loan is suitable or that you will be accepted. Other lenders will carry out their own assessments.

A secured loan may be an option for homeowners funding a larger project. It is secured against your property and, where you have an existing mortgage, is usually repaid alongside it.

The amount and terms available depend on factors including your income, commitments, credit history, property value and the value of your home left after any borrowing secured against it.

For a broader renovation, it may allow you to fund different types of work together. However, it may cost more than a grant-supported or subsidised option. Include interest and all applicable fees when comparing quotes.

A longer repayment term can reduce the monthly payment but increase the total interest paid. Also consider whether you'll still be repaying the loan when equipment needs replacing.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.

Find out more about secured loans and compare the full cost before deciding.

Check grant support and loans available through the scheme first. If you need funding for a wider project, Norton Finance can help you compare home improvement borrowing based on your situation.

Compare home improvement loans

Borrowing is subject to eligibility, affordability and the lender’s rules. Consider the full cost and any fees before applying.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.

Or call us on 0800 694 5566 to discuss your options.