The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS): Your Guide to the Best Energy Efficiency Grants in the UK
The Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is one of the most important energy efficiency grants UK homeowners can access in 2025. Designed to help households lower their energy bills, reduce heat loss, and move toward a greener future, the GBIS grant provides vital support for people looking to improve their homes with better insulation. Whether you’re a homeowner, tenant, or landlord, understanding how the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) works, and how it links with other energy efficiency grants UK, could save you thousands of pounds while improving your property’s comfort and value.
In this article:
- The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) helps UK households improve their homes with free or discounted insulation, reducing heat loss, energy bills, and carbon emissions.
- The GBIS grant, alongside other energy efficiency grants UK like ECO4, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and HUG2, supports upgrades such as loft insulation, heat pumps, and efficient heating systems to boost home performance.
- Funding for GBIS runs until March 2026, so homeowners are encouraged to apply early through approved providers like Cucumber Eco to secure support before the scheme ends.
What Is the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)?
Launched by the UK government in 2023, the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is a national initiative that helps households upgrade their homes through insulation improvements. It focuses on key measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, and floor insulation, all designed to keep homes warmer for longer and reduce overall heating demand. The GBIS is part of a wider commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, working alongside other energy efficiency grants UK such as the ECO4 Scheme, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2).
The GBIS grant targets both low-income households and those in homes with poor energy performance, ensuring help reaches those who need it most. By reducing energy waste and improving the home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, the scheme not only benefits individuals but also contributes to the UK’s wider sustainability goals.
How the GBIS Helps Improve Home Energy Efficiency
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) offers a simple but powerful solution: improve your home’s insulation, and you’ll need less heating to stay comfortable. With better insulation, heat loss through walls, roofs, and floors is reduced, meaning your boiler, air source heat pump, or renewable energy system doesn’t have to work as hard. This leads to major reductions in both energy bills and carbon emissions.
When combined with other energy efficiency grants UK, such as the ECO4 scheme or Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the results are even more impressive. For example, homeowners can pair a new air source heat pump installation with upgraded cavity wall insulation under GBIS, achieving a dramatic boost in home heating efficiency. This “whole-home” approach ensures every component, from insulation to heating, works together to deliver maximum savings.
Who Qualifies for the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)?
Rating and Location
Benefits
Why the GBIS Is So Important for the UK’s Energy Future
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is not just another energy efficiency grant — it’s a cornerstone of the UK’s plan to make homes warmer, greener, and cheaper to run. According to the UK government, around 90% of British homes are not adequately insulated, which means billions of pounds are wasted every year in lost heat. By providing free or heavily subsidised insulation, the GBIS scheme directly tackles fuel poverty and helps the country move closer to its net zero targets.
The benefits extend beyond lower heating bills. Improving insulation enhances thermal comfort, boosts property value, and reduces strain on the national grid during high-demand winter months. When combined with renewable technologies supported by other energy efficiency grants UK, such as solar panels, air source heat pumps, or low-carbon boilers, homes can become almost self-sufficient in energy use.
The benefits of these schemes and the energy upgrades they provide are already being seen. To see the record breaking energy achivement, follow the link below.
How to Apply for the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
Applying for the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is simple. Start by contacting an approved GBIS installer like Cucumber Eco, who can guide you through the full process. After an initial home energy assessment, we’ll determine which insulation measures your property qualifies for and handle the grant application on your behalf.
Most households will not need to pay anything upfront, as the GBIS grant covers most or all of the installation cost. This makes it one of the most accessible energy efficiency grants UK currently available. By acting now, you can ensure your home benefits before the scheme’s scheduled end date in March 2026, when funding is due to be reviewed.
Other Energy Efficiency Grants UK Homeowners Should Know About
While the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) focuses on insulation, several other energy efficiency grants UK complement it perfectly. The ECO4 scheme helps fund free boiler replacements, heating system upgrades, and air source heat pump installations for low-income households. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides grants of up to £7,500 for renewable heating systems like heat pumps or biomass boilers, running until 2028. Meanwhile, the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) supports off-gas-grid properties by funding insulation, double glazing, and low-carbon heating.
By combining these programmes, homeowners can transform their properties into highly efficient, low-carbon homes, reducing bills and emissions while improving comfort all year round.
Final Thoughts
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) represents a major opportunity for UK households to make lasting energy improvements at little or no cost. Alongside other energy efficiency grants UK, it gives homeowners the tools to create warmer, greener, and more cost-effective living spaces. With government funding available only until March 2026, now is the perfect time to act.
At Cucumber Eco, we make the process simple; from eligibility checks to installation. Take advantage of the GBIS and related energy efficiency grants UK today and future-proof your home for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
