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Transitioning your home to low-carbon energy is one of the most significant steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and protect yourself from volatile energy prices.

However, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We recommend a “Whole House” and “Fabric First” approach—improving the building itself before installing new heating technology.

Your energy transition roadmap

Following this journey in order helps ensure that your new systems are correctly sized, efficient, and cost-effective.

1. Assessment

Before making any changes, you need to understand your home’s current performance.

2. Quick wins

Start with low-cost or no-cost actions that provide immediate benefits.

  • Lower your boiler flow temperature
  • Install LED lightbulbs
  • Bleed your radiators See our full list of energy saving quick wins.

3. Insulation (Fabric first)

Stopping heat from escaping is the most effective way to lower bills. A well-insulated home stays warmer for longer and allows for a smaller, cheaper heating system later.

  • Top up loft insulation to 270mm
  • Fill cavity walls or insulate solid walls
  • Seal gaps around windows and doors Explore insulation options.

4. Smart controls

Understand your usage in real-time and gain better control over your heating.

  • Install a smart meter to track usage
  • Use a smart thermostat to zone your heating
  • Monitor appliance usage with smart plugs Explore smart controls.

5. Low-carbon heating

Once your home is efficient at holding heat, you can replace your fossil fuel boiler with a cleaner alternative.

6. Renewable generation

Generate your own clean electricity to power your home and heat pump.

  • Solar PV panels for the roof
  • Battery storage to use solar power at night
  • Electric vehicle (EV) charging Explore solar and batteries.

Why the order matters

If you install a heat pump before insulating your home, you will likely need a larger, more expensive unit that costs more to run. By insulating first, you reduce the “heat load” of the building, making low-carbon heating much more viable and efficient.

Support and funding

There is significant financial support available for UK households to help with these costs:

  • Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): Grants of £7,500 towards a heat pump.
  • ECO4 & GBIS: Full or partial funding for low-income or vulnerable households.
  • VAT Reduction: 0% VAT on many energy-saving installations until 2027.

Find out more about grants and funding.

Ready to plan?

If you’re ready to look at the long-term view, see how to plan your roadmap.