The fabric-first principle
Before you generate or pump a single kilowatt, reduce how much your home needs. That is the fabric-first principle: insulation, draught-proofing and glazing come first, because every watt of heat you stop losing is a watt you never have to pay to produce.
A fabric-first approach also means a smaller, cheaper heat pump and a smaller solar array, so the savings compound. You do not need a passive-house standard — sensible loft, cavity and draught improvements go a long way in a typical UK home.
Sequencing the upgrades
Order matters. A logical retrofit sequence is:
1. Fabric — insulation and draught-proofing to cut heat demand. 2. Heat pump — sized to the now-lower demand, so it is smaller and cheaper. 3. Solar — to offset the heat pump’s electricity and your general consumption. 4. Battery — to store solar and exploit cheap time-of-use tariffs. 5. Controls & monitoring — to tie it together and keep it efficient.
Doing it in this order avoids over-sizing anything and gets the most from each pound spent.
How grants and funding stack
The centrepiece is the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant towards an air source heat pump, plus 0% VAT on the installation. Eligible off-gas-grid homes can claim an enhanced £9,000 grant between 21 July 2026 and 31 March 2027.
Depending on your circumstances and location, other schemes may apply to insulation or low-income households. We help you identify what you qualify for and handle the BUS application end to end — you never chase the paperwork.
One installer for the whole system
The biggest advantage of a whole-home approach is having one MCS-certified team design the heat pump, solar and battery as a single, coherent system — rather than three contractors each optimising their own box.
We use our own accredited engineers (no subcontracting), so one team owns the quality of the finished result. The systems talk to each other, the sizing is coordinated, and there is a single point of accountability if you ever need us.
Live monitoring and low-disruption install
Once your system is live, we monitor its performance so we can confirm it is hitting its design efficiency — and spot anything before it becomes a problem. Real data, not guesswork.
Our ZeroDisrupt install process is designed to keep your home warm, clean and liveable throughout the work, with a clear day-by-day plan and a proper handover at the end. A whole-home retrofit is a big step, and our job is to make it feel manageable.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I upgrade my home in?
Fabric first (insulation and draught-proofing), then a heat pump sized to the lower demand, then solar, then a battery, then smart controls and monitoring. This avoids over-sizing and maximises value.
Can I get a heat pump, solar and battery installed together?
Yes — that is the whole-home approach. Having one MCS-certified team design and fit all three as a single system gives better coordination, sizing and accountability than separate contractors.
Do I need to insulate before getting a heat pump?
It is strongly recommended. Better fabric means a smaller, cheaper heat pump and lower running costs. You do not need perfection — sensible loft, cavity and draught improvements make a big difference.
What grants are available for a whole-home retrofit?
The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant and 0% VAT apply to the heat pump; eligible off-gas-grid homes can claim £9,000 between 21 July 2026 and 31 March 2027. Other schemes may apply to insulation — we help you find them.
Will a retrofit disrupt my whole house at once?
It does not have to. We sequence the work and use our ZeroDisrupt process with a clear day-by-day plan to keep your home warm and liveable throughout.
Related pages
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