Honest numbers for your home's energy
Heat pumps, solar, EV charging and grants, with calculators built on government data and every rate checked with the people who set it. What do you want to do?
The numbers right now
What energy costs this quarter
Price cap 1 October to 31 December 2026. Checked against Ofgem, DESNZ and each supplier on 11 October 2026. How we check
Where the savings are
Three upgrades worth doing the maths on
The median heat pump installed under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cost £12,908 in spring 2026, and the £7,500 grant comes straight off. At the October cap, a decent heat pump also beats gas on running cost.
A typical 4kWp system in central England makes around 3,800kWh a year and pays back in roughly 7 to 10 years. There's 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, and some households can get panels free.
On a 7.6p night rate, an average 7,100 miles costs about £164 a year to charge at home, against about £1,254 in petrol. On public rapid chargers it costs more than petrol.
Free tools
Calculators built on official data
Heat Pump Size Calculator
Estimate your home's heat loss on the coldest design day and the heat pump size worth looking at, using the official EPC default values and the design temperatures MCS installers must use.
EPC Calculator: What Each Upgrade Does to Your Rating
See which energy upgrades will improve your EPC rating the most. 11 measures ranked by SAP impact with costs, savings, grants, and product recommendations.
Heat Pump vs Gas Boiler Running Cost Calculator
See the true total cost of ownership: heat pump vs gas boiler over 15 years. Includes tariff comparison, visual cost curve, and break-even analysis.
Solar Panel ROI Calculator
Work out how much solar panels will save you and how long until they pay for themselves.
EV Charging Cost Calculator
What a year of driving costs on each way of charging an electric car, against a petrol car, using rates checked with each supplier and official source.
Grant Eligibility Checker
Answer a few questions about your home and circumstances to see which energy grants you could claim.
This winter
Buy smarter: kit compared on running cost
ProductsBest Electric Heater UK 2026: 10 Compared, and What They Really Cost to Run
The honest guide to electric heaters: why no electric heater is more efficient than any other, what each one actually costs per hour at the October 2026 price cap, and the 3p-an-hour option that beats all of them.
ProductsBest Electric Blanket UK 2026: 8 Blankets and Heated Throws Compared
The cheapest warmth you can buy: the best electric underblankets and heated throws, what they really cost per hour at the October 2026 price cap, and how to use them safely.
ProductsBest Thermal Curtains UK 2026: Do They Actually Save Energy?
Thermal curtains are worth £15 to £30 a year on a single-glazed house, not the £90+ you'll see claimed. Here are the best ones.
ProductsRadiator Booster Fans: Do They Work? (Honest UK Review)
A £38 fan that sits on your radiator and pushes warm air into the room. Here's whether it actually works.
ProductsRadiator Reflector Panels: Do They Work? (UK Guide)
A £10 product that saves £20 to £40 per year. Here's whether they're worth it for your home.
ProductsBest Dehumidifier UK 2026: For Damp, Condensation and Mould, Compared on Real-Room Performance
8 dehumidifiers for damp, condensation and mould, judged on what they extract at real room temperatures, with a running cost calculator.
Guides
Most useful guides right now
GrantsSolar Panel Grants UK 2026: Every Scheme Explained
Every financial incentive for solar panels in the UK, including the new Warm Homes: Local Grant, 0% VAT (ending March 2027), SEG export rates compared, ECO4, and schemes for Scotland and Wales.
CostsHeat Pump Costs UK 2026: Price Breakdown & Calculator
A full breakdown of what you'll actually pay for a heat pump in 2026, including installation, grants, and running costs.
GrantsFree Solar Panels UK 2026: Who Really Qualifies, and How to Spot the Scams
Who can genuinely get free solar panels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with an eligibility checker built on each scheme's own rules.
PolicyAre Gas Boilers Being Phased Out? The UK Gas Boiler Ban, Explained
The Future Homes Standard takes effect in March 2027, but it only affects new builds. Here's what it means for everyone else.
GuidesGround Source Heat Pumps: The Complete UK Guide
What it costs, how the ground loop works, the £7,500 grant, and an honest take on whether it's worth it over air source. Plus a cost and payback calculator.
ComparisonsBest EV Tariff UK 2026: The Cheapest Night Rate Isn't Always the Best Deal
Twelve EV tariffs compared on night and day rates, and a calculator that ranks every one for your household.
Who's behind this
Gavin Rogers
Founder and Editor
Gavin founded UK Home Energy and edits every guide on it. He is a director of Limely Ltd, the Chester-based company that runs the site.
About us and how we researchWhy you can trust the numbers
- Primary sources only. Grants from gov.uk and Ofgem, prices from Ofgem and the suppliers themselves, rules from MCS and the legislation, not from other websites.
- One set of figures. Every calculator reads from the same price cap and tariff data, so when the cap changes, the whole site changes with it.
- Automated checks. Every page is scanned for out-of-date rates and closed schemes before anything goes live.
- Honest about the money. We earn from Amazon links and from passing on quote requests. It's all on the about page, and we still tell you what not to buy.
Topics
Everything we cover
Heat Pumps
Everything you need to know about air source and ground source heat pumps in the UK: costs, grants, running costs, and installation.
Solar Panels
Solar panel costs, savings, battery storage, and everything you need to go solar in the UK.
EV Charging
What it really costs to charge an electric car at home, the EV tariffs worth having, charger grants, and charging from your own solar panels.
Home Insulation
Cavity wall, loft, solid wall, and floor insulation guides: costs, grants, and DIY options for UK homes.
Energy Efficiency
EPC ratings, smart meters, whole-house retrofits, and practical ways to cut your energy bills.
Grants & Funding
Every UK energy grant explained: Boiler Upgrade Scheme, ECO4, Warm Homes: Local Grant, and regional schemes in Scotland, Wales, and England.
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