Think energy grants are a scam? Burnley’s One Energy proves they’re real

Energy saving grants offer real help available for local residents.

Burnley-based One Energy, which recently won the Northwest Green StartUp Of The Year Award, has set the record straight on the way grants can work for you.

If you’ve ever thought that those “free home improvement grants” were just another internet scam or too good to be true—you’re not alone.

In fact, one of the most common things the team at One Energy hears is: “I thought it was a con.” And it’s not surprising. With so many offers floating around online, and unclear government messaging, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not.

But here’s the good news: Energy saving grants are real, and they’re changing lives in East Lancashire—right now.

So, what are these grants?

These are government-backed schemes that pay for home improvements to help people reduce their energy bills. From new insulation and upgraded heating systems to solar panels, these grants are all about cutting carbon and making homes warmer and more affordable to run.

Grants are provided via a range of different schemes, and are funded by both the government and the big utility providers. Ultimately, the government have put an obligation on the large energy providers to invest some of their profits back into the UK housing stock, making it more energy efficient, and to help homeowners and tenants save on their energy bills.

One Energy

There are different schemes for different situations, including:

ECO4 – for households on certain benefits, low income, health issues, or with inefficient homes.

Great British Insulation Scheme – aimed at improving basic insulation in homes across the UK.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme – helping replace fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps or biomass boilers.

Warm Homes Local Grant – now being rolled out via local authorities to tackle fuel poverty head-on.

Crucially, you don’t always need to be on benefits to qualify. That’s one of the biggest misconceptions. Actually, One Energy is qualifying 7 out of 10 people.

Busting the top 3 myths

Myth #1: “It’s a scam.”

Truth: These schemes are officially backed by the UK Government. One Energy works directly with accredited partners and uses data from the national Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) register to determine eligibility—securely and transparently.

Myth #2: “It’ll cost me later.”

Truth: Most energy saving grants are completely free for qualifying households. There are no hidden fees or pay-back clauses. If you qualify, you receive the upgrade—simple as that.

Myth #3: “It’s not for people like me.”

Truth: Many working households are now eligible, especially if their property is inefficient. Landlords and tenants may also qualify, particularly in properties with poor insulation or old boilers.

One Energy: Helping Burnley households get what they’re entitled to

One Energy was set up to tackle exactly this problem: too many people missing out on real support. Based in Padiham, Burnley the company as already helped hundreds of local residents tap into energy saving schemes.

They’ve developed a jargon-free approach and built smart tools that simplify the whole process—from checking eligibility to managing the upgrades.

“We saw that the people who needed the help the most were being put off by confusion or bad advice,” says Harvey Mason, founder of One Energy. “So we built something better. Clear advice. Trusted people. No nonsense.”

Ready to check if your home qualifies?

It only takes two minutes to find out. One Energy’s simple online tool will ask you a few questions, check your EPC, and tell you exactly what you’re eligible for.

Visit www.oneenergy.co.uk and find out if you or someone you know could benefit.

Let’s cut bills, boost home comfort, and tackle climate change—starting right here in Burnley.