What Affects the Cost of Green Home Improvements
The cost of green home improvements — solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps — varies from home to home. Rather than publish rates or loan amounts that would not reflect your situation, we provide a written quote with a representative example after a no-obligation survey. Loans available, subject to status.
Why we do not show rates on this website
Every Scottish home is different, and so is every installation. A solar array on a large detached house in the Highlands will not cost the same as one on a tenement flat in Glasgow. A heat pump for a poorly insulated property will need more work than one for a home that has already been upgraded. And the monthly cost of finance depends on the repayment term and your personal circumstances as well as the installation cost.
For those reasons, a single rate or loan amount on a website would be misleading. Instead, we give you a tailored, written quote with a representative example after a survey, so the figures you see relate to your actual home and situation.
What affects the total cost of an installation
Several factors determine how much an installation costs:
- The type of improvement. Solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps are different technologies with different equipment and labour requirements.
- The size of the system. A larger solar array generates more electricity but costs more to install. A bigger heat pump or a larger battery likewise costs more.
- Your home. Roof size, orientation and condition; the space available for a battery; your existing heating system and radiators; and the level of insulation all affect what is involved.
- Additional work. Some homes need preparatory work — for example, upgrading insulation before a heat pump is fitted, or reinforcing a roof before solar panels are installed.
- VAT. The installation of solar panels and battery storage for residential properties is subject to 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. Heat pump installation also benefits from a 0% VAT rate. Your quote reflects the VAT treatment at the time of installation.
What affects your monthly payment
If you choose to spread the cost, the monthly payment depends on three things:
- The total cost of the installation — everything above feeds into the amount being financed.
- The repayment term — a longer term lowers the monthly payment; a shorter term means you pay it off sooner.
- Your circumstances — finance is subject to status, so eligibility and affordability checks apply.
Because these are specific to you, the monthly figure you see on your quote is the one that matters — not a number on a website.
What a representative example is
A representative example is a standard, regulated way of showing the cost of borrowing. It sets out the key figures — including the monthly payment and the total amount payable — for a typical agreement, so you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis. A representative example is provided with any quote we provide.
This means that when you receive a quote from us, you get a clear, written breakdown of what the finance would look like, not a vague estimate. You can take it away, compare it, and decide in your own time.
Solar panels and battery storage — cost considerations
For solar panels, the main cost drivers are the number of panels, the inverter, and any mounting or roof work required. Adding battery storage increases the upfront cost but lets you use more of the electricity your panels generate, which affects how the system works for you over time.
Until 31 March 2027, the installation of solar panels and battery storage for residential properties is subject to 0% VAT. Your quote will reflect the current VAT treatment at the time of installation.
Heat pumps — cost considerations
For heat pumps, the cost depends on the type (air source is most common for existing Scottish homes), the size of the unit, and whether your existing radiators and hot water system are suitable. Homes that need better insulation before a heat pump is fitted will have additional work included in the quote.
Heat pump installation for residential properties also benefits from a 0% VAT rate. As with solar, the quote you receive reflects the VAT treatment applicable at the time of installation.
How to find out what it would cost for your home
The only way to know what green home improvements would cost for your home is to have a survey and receive a written quote. The survey is no-obligation, and the quote comes with a representative example showing the monthly cost.
To get started, complete our no-obligation quote form, or call us on 0141 230 0198. We arrange surveys for homeowners across Scotland, and installation is carried out by our MCS-certified partner.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you not show interest rates on the website?
Because the monthly cost depends on your home, the installation, the repayment term and your personal circumstances, a single rate on a website would not reflect what you would actually pay. Instead, you receive a written quote with a representative example after a no-obligation survey.
What is a representative example?
A representative example is a standard way of showing the cost of borrowing. It sets out the key figures so you can see the monthly payment and the total amount payable for a typical agreement. A representative example is provided with any quote we provide.
Does the 0% VAT rate apply to my installation?
The 0% VAT rate on the installation of solar panels and battery storage for residential properties applies until 31 March 2027. Your quote will reflect the VAT treatment applicable at the time of installation. Heat pump installation also benefits from a 0% VAT rate.
Can I change the repayment term to lower my monthly cost?
The repayment term is one of the main factors that affects your monthly payment. Spreading the cost over a longer term lowers the monthly payment, while a shorter term means you pay off the finance sooner. Your quote will show the options available to you.