Save money on energy through home improvements

Last updated: February 2026

Investing in energy-saving measures in your home can reap big rewards!

Check your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for guidance on its current performance and how to improve it. If the EPC is more than 10 years old, or your property has been upgraded since the last assessment, a new assessment could help to increase the EPC accuracy.

Watch a video about how to choose which retrofit measures are right for you and your home.

Use our Trading Standards Checked service to find a legitimate, reliable, and trusted trader in your area. You should also make sure that your contractor is  Trustmark approved.

If you live in a designated area or listed building, you may need planning permission for home improvements. Search the Historic England website for advice.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps are around three times more efficient than gas boilers, and are powered by electricity to heat your home. The government’s ‘Boiler Upgrade Scheme’ offers grants for domestic properties and small businesses to replace fossil fuel-based heating systems with heat pumps or biomass boilers. You can apply for either:

• £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump (cheaper, easier to install for smaller properties, and can offer heating and cooling. You will need a separate system for hot water, such as an immersion heater or cylinder)
• £7,500 towards a hydronic heat pump (known as an air-to-water heat pump. An example of a ‘wet’ heating system which heats water for your radiators, underfloor systems and taps)
• £5,000 towards a biomass boiler.

Find out more information about boiler upgrades on GOV.UK. If you are concerned about noise, reliability, or anything else heat-pump related, resources such as the Octopus Energy heat pump myths busters may help.

Generate your own energy

Investing in insulation, solar panels or other measures at home can save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Watch our short video to hear from Kent residents who have benefitted from ideas you'll find on this page.

Window glazing

Window glazing can help reduce heat loss, improve sound-proofing, and help reduce condensation build-up on the inside. Triple-glazing is not always better than double-glazing. While costs vary, window glazing can save you up to £150 per year. For more information, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.

Insulating walls, lofts, roofs and floors

The average home loses most of its heat through the walls and roof. Walls, lofts, roofs, floors and heating systems can be insulated to reduce heat loss and, therefore, your energy bills. For example, increasing the thickness of loft insulation from 120mm to the recommended 270mm could reduce your energy bills by around £20 per year.

Insulation can wear down over time. For example, loft insulation should have a lifespan of around 40 years.

You can install insulation yourself, but you should speak to a professional installer if you use your loft as a living space, have a flat roof, or have concerns about structural issues such as damp. If you get a professional to do the work, try to get at least 3 quotes from local installers.

Solar panels: thermal and PV

Solar PV, usually with panels installed on your roof, allow you to generate electricity from sunlight.

A Solar PV system may eventually cover its own costs when installed with battery storage and the  Smart Export Guarantee is utilised efficiently. It can also help power your heat pump.

Read more about the competitive prices offered through Solar Together Kent, a group-purchase opportunity that has been available to Kent residents since 2020 and continues to offer competitive prices.

Solar thermal systems, usually with panels installed on your roof, heat your water using sunlight. This can save you money on your heating bills while lowering your carbon footprint.

Further advice

Find advice on reducing your energy and water consumption on our household energy page.