A recent survey conducted by 56 Degree Insight for Changeworks found that 41% of Scottish households say they cannot afford retrofitting improvements – a rise of 10% since 2023.

Meanwhile, more than four in ten homeowners (40%) are not confident they could find trustworthy advice, with 15% unsure of where to start or go to for support.

Despite these challenges, households remain positive about the benefits of making changes to their home’s energy efficiency. The survey also showed that 61% of respondents would be motivated by the prospect of lower energy bills, while almost half said access to grants or funding (49%) would encourage them to take action.

This highlights the disconnect between people’s willingness to retrofit and their awareness of funding options and where to find trusted sources of advice and support.

Addressing these barriers will be critical to improving Scotland’s housing stock, with fuel poverty and energy inefficiency now affecting a growing number of households. The survey showed 64% of Scots have concerns about health problems due to damp and mould in their home.

Changeworks has said this highlights the urgency of targeted support for home energy efficiency.

The social enterprise’s Green Energy Helpline service provides free expert advice for households in Central and Southern Scotland, alongside tailored support to make their homes more sustainable.

Josiah Lockhart, chief executive of Changeworks, said: “Switching to low carbon technologies and sustainable heating is essential to tackling the climate emergency and fuel poverty. It also delivers wider socio-economic impacts for the householder, from a better sense of wellbeing to lower energy bills, and a more affordably warm home.

“Our Green Energy Helpline offers expert advice and support to help householders overcome the barriers highlighted in the latest survey. For organisations and community groups, our free Low Carbon Living sessions provide information on living more sustainably, in and out of the home. By giving people the knowledge and confidence they need from a trusted expert, we can help them make positive changes in their homes that benefit both the environment and the individual.”

Between 2022 and 2025, Changeworks retrofitted over 40,000 homes.