If you’re applying for a Home Energy Scotland Grant or Loan, find out more about the specific requirements installers need to have, as well as certain things you must do before applying.
Energy efficiency improvements
If you’re installing solid wall, underfloor, flat roof or room-in-roof insulation, your installer is required to be TrustMark registered. You can find installers on Trustmark’s website and on the Green Deal Oversight & Registration Body website. If you are unable to locate a TrustMark registered installer, you may use a Green Deal certified installer.
For all other energy efficiency improvements there is no requirement to use a specific installer.
Whatever the improvement or installation, we strongly recommend you do the following:
- contact at least three installers for quotes to give you choice and to ensure good value for money
- make sure your chosen installer is fully qualified and, if possible, accredited with a relevant industry body and/or trade federation
- ask installers what guarantees they will provide for the quality of their work and what warranties they supply with the products.
Renewables systems
If you’re using a Home Energy Scotland Grant and/or Loan to install a renewables system, including zero and low emission heating and electricity generation, your installer and the product must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for the system they're installing (except for micro-hydro systems).
You can search for MCS-certified installers in your area and read customer reviews on Energy Saving Trust's Renewables Installer Finder. For a full list of MCS-certified installers, visit the MCS website.
If you are applying for a Home Energy Scotland Loan to replace an existing heat pump, you will need to provide a letter from an installer detailing why a replacement is the most suitable option for your home, including details of the fault with the existing system.
Applications for hydro systems will instead be assessed on a case-by-case basis and we recommend using an installer accredited by the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or recommended by the British Hydro Association.
Energy storage systems
If you’re using a Home Energy Scotland Loan to install an energy storage system, the installer must:
- be MCS certified for the renewables system that will be connected to the battery
- be a member of the Trading Standards Institute accredited consumer code which covers energy storage
- meet all manufacturers' guidelines for the system being installed, and have undertaken all relevant manufacturer training available in the UK
- meet the Institute for Engineering and Technology’s code of practice (for electric batteries only).
- Please note: Funding is only available for this measure if taken as a package of measures. Please see our grants and loan page for more detail
Heat network connections
For heat network connections, the installer of the connection must be approved by the scheme owner/operator.
Grants and loans are administered by Energy Saving Trust. Successful loans are subject to an administrative fee of 1.5%, up to a maximum of £150. There is no administrative fee for grant only applications. Work must not commence before a funding offer has been made. For certain improvements, you will need to use a certified installer.
Find out more
Grant and Loan overview
Find out if you can apply, how much you can borrow, and what types of improvements you can make.
Grant and Loan in detail
Find out about repayment periods and other important conditions of the grant and loan.