Martin Lewis urges UK households to do simple check and save £1,470

Finance expert Martin Lewis has urged UK homeowners to check if they are eligible for nearly £1,500 worth of freebies under schemes to improve the energy performance of domestic properties.

Advice published by Money Saving Expert, founded by Mr Lewis, pushed households to use the government’s online eligibility checker to see if they qualify for either of two ongoing insulation schemes.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme and the Great British Insulation Scheme are funding home improvement measures such as insulation and boiler upgrades.

Households who take advantage of the scheme could save an estimated £1,470 on energy costs annually, in addition to receiving thousands of pounds worth of home improvements for free.

The ECO scheme is designed for those on low income, defined as a total household income below £31,000, and living in a property with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or below.

The scheme requires larger energy companies to help provide energy efficiency measures, which could include upgrades to existing heating systems or structural changes to reduce heat loss.

The Great British Insulation Scheme is available for a further 400,000 homes in the UK with an EPC rating of D to G.

Through the government-backed initiative, households can get funding to install a range of insulating materials, including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and underfloor insulation.

Households who benefit from the schemes and make improvements to the energy efficiency of their property can save close to £1,500 a year.

Research conducted by the Centre for Sustainable Energy found loft insulation can slash energy bills by up to £600 per year when compared to a completely uninsulated loft.

The Energy Saving Trust reports cavity wall insulation can reduce costs by a further £690 for a detached house, and floor insulation can cut between £70 and £180.

Households who believe they may be eligible for the ECO scheme are advised to contact their local council or they can choose to contact an energy supplier directly for an assessment.

For the Great British Insulation Scheme, the government operates a simple online eligibility checker.