Frequently asked questions

What is the aim of the Home Insulation Scheme?

If you live in one of the ten Home Insulation Scheme areas, the scheme will make it easier for you to stop wasting energy, reduce your fuel bills and save money. The scheme will contribute towards meeting Scotland's challenging targets for reducing carbon emissions and fuel poverty.

What does this scheme offer?

You will be offered a home energy audit, advice on making your home more energy efficient, and information on other advice and services from the Energy Saving Trust. If your home is suitable, you will be offered cavity wall and loft insulation at a specially negotiated price, or free of charge to certain eligible households (principally households in receipt of qualifying benefits or those aged 70+). Top-up loft insulation will be free of charge if you already have some loft insulation, irrespective of the size of your loft.

Are loft insulation top-ups free of charge?

On Monday 9th November the Scottish Government announced that top-up loft insulation is free of charge if you already have some loft insulation, irrespective of the size of your loft (and you live in an area to benefit from the scheme).

How will the scheme work?

Teams of qualified home energy assessors will knock on up to 100,000 doors between November 2009 and the end of March 2010 providing a free home energy audit, advice on making homes more energy efficient, and offering suitable insulation through the Home Insulation Scheme, if properties are suitable. If you live in one of the ten areas to benefit from the scheme you will be given prior notice of when Home Energy Assessors will be in your area.

How easy is it to go through all the stages of the scheme?

From providing advice and completing the Home Energy Check form, to installing the insulation… we will guide you through the whole process. We have appointed delivery partners who will organise the technical insulation survey and installation with you, which makes going through the steps of the scheme easy.

I'm interested – what's the next step?

It's easy - you can fill out a Home Energy Check form online, over the telephone, or wait for a Home Energy Assessor to visit your home.

When will the Home Energy Assessor come to my doorstep?

Teams of Home Energy Assessors will work their way across each of the areas from November 2009 to 31 March 2010 (inclusive) providing a home energy audit, advice on making homes more energy efficient, offering suitable insulation through the Home Insulation Scheme, and directing householders to other advice and services from the Energy Saving Trust. Householders will be given prior notice of when Home Energy Assessors will be in their area.

What questions will the Home Energy Assessor ask on the doorstep?

The Home Energy Assessor will go through a home energy check form with you, which asks questions about your property type, the heating system of your property, energy efficiency and funding eligibility. The answers to the questions will be used to prepare your home energy report, and will also highlight if you could benefit from loft or cavity wall insulation, or loft insulation top ups.

What if I'm not at home when the assessors visit?

To maximise engagement with the scheme, Home Energy Assessors will visit each property in each area up to three times. Calling cards will be left if no one is home to prompt you to sign up online, telephone your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, or make alternative arrangements for a Home Energy Assessor to visit.

How long will the home energy assessment take?

The visit from our Home Energy Assessor will take less than twenty minutes.

What safety procedures are in place for the scheme?

For peace of mind, all our Home Energy Assessors will be Disclosure Scotland approved, and will be easily identified through wearing a Home Insulation Scheme uniform and carrying an ID card. For extra reassurance if required, you can also telephone 0800 512 012 to check the validity of the caller at your door.

Will the Home Energy Assessors be specially trained?

All assessors will undergo intensive bespoke training on the Home Insulation Scheme complemented by City and Guild Training in Energy Efficiency and Customer Relationship Management.

Will Home Energy Assessors require access to the home?

Home Energy Assessors will not require access to the home and will make no attempt to do so unless invited by you.

What time will Home Energy Assessors call?

This depends on the area you live in. Home Energy Assessors will call mainly between 9am and 5pm, but also early evening and Saturdays. In some areas they will also work on Sundays.

What happens when I call the 0800 512 012 number?

When you call the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, one of our local advisors will take you through a series of questions about you and your home, including your current heating system and insulation measures already installed. Your answers to these questions will be used to prepare your home energy audit, and will be sent to you in the form of a home energy report. If you live in one of the ten areas to benefit from the Home Insulation Scheme and your home is suitable, you will be offered cavity wall and loft insulation. Where you are entitled to the Energy Assistance Package services, the advisor will refer you for these.

I have filled in a Home Energy Check form with a Home Energy Assessor. What do I do next?

Please refer to our What Happens Next document, which explains what you should do.

How do I know I’m getting a good price?

If you live in one of the ten areas to benefit from the scheme, we want to provide you with a good value deal. We have therefore undertaken a procurement exercise to provide specially negotiated prices for cavity wall and loft insulation in each Home Insulation Scheme area. Top-up loft insulation will be free of charge if you already have some loft insulation, irrespective of the size of your loft.

How much is the Home Insulation Scheme costing the Scottish taxpayer?

The scheme is using £15 million of Scottish Government funding in 2009/10, and this amount will be combined with funding sought through fuel companies' CERT (Carbon Emission Reduction Targets), an initiative introduced to oblige energy companies to take steps to ensure that the amount of CO2 emissions from homes is reduced.

How long will the scheme run for?

Depending on the success of the first phase, the scheme may be rolled out in further areas across Scotland next year.

I’m not in a Home Insulation Scheme area. Is there any support to help me heat my home?
The Energy Saving Scotland advice network provides free impartial and tailored advice to all. You may be able to get help from the Energy Assistance Package, which is available across Scotland. We can inform you of other schemes and grants that you may qualify for. Call 0800 512 012 to speak to a local energy advisor.

What is cavity wall insulation, and how do I know if I need it?
If your home was built from 1920 onwards, the chances are that its external walls are made of two layers with a small gap or 'cavity' between them. This means they are 'cavity walls', and insulating your cavity walls means filling that gap. When you fill in your Home Energy Check form we can assess from the information you supply whether your home needs cavity wall insulation.

Why should I think about getting loft insulation, or a loft insulation top up?

It's never been more important to think about insulating your loft. Without proper insulation a lot of the valuable, expensive energy you use to heat your home will be lost through the loft. And if you only have a certain depth of insulation it could mean that you need a top up, so it’s worth filling in a Home Energy Check form to see if your household requires it. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm however there are other materials which require different depths.

How is the scheme being promoted?

To maximise engagement and to reassure householders that this is a bona fide scheme that is Scottish Government funded and local authority endorsed, a marketing campaign will run from late October 2009 for the duration of the scheme. This will include direct mail to each householder in the ten areas, an online presence on all stakeholder websites, local PR in each area, and specially organised local community events.

Does the Home Insulation Scheme apply to private landlords?

The Home Insulation Scheme offers landlords the same opportunities as homeowners. For privately rented properties the specially negotiated price for insulation will be available to the landlord. Landlords can either make their tenants aware of the scheme or get in touch directly by telephoning 0800 512 012 to undertake the home energy assessment over the phone.

How will private landlords benefit from the scheme?

It could make renting their property easier. Improving the quality of their properties through installing insulation could help landlords attract and retain tenants. Installing insulation may help tenants live in greater comfort and warmth, reduce their fuel bills and save money.

I would like to act now.

Once you've filled out a Home Energy Check form, find out What Happens Next.

Home Energy Assessor visits finish in your area on 31st March so act now to benefit from the scheme.