The Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires large energy companies to help improve the energy efficiency of domestic homes through reducing the cost of improvement works
The primary goal of ECO4 is to support low-income households, and people who are vulnerable for health reasons, who are unable to upgrade their homes and heating systems.
By doing this, the Government will be able to help vulnerable people power their homes, whilst also helping the Government to reach its ‘Net Zero by 2050’ goal.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 4
ECO 4 is the fourth stage of the Government’s ECO scheme. As part of its Sustainable Warmth strategy, the Government has extended the ECO grant for an extra four years, meaning it will run until March 2026.
The primary goal of the grant is to support low-income households who are unable to upgrade their homes and heating systems.
This scheme is available to households with an EPC rating between D and G.
By doing this, the Government will be able to help vulnerable people power their homes, whilst also assisting the country in reaching its ‘Net Zero by 2050’ goal.
What it covers
The scheme facilitates full retrofits, including the installation of whole-house insulation, air/ground source heating and solar photovoltaics (subject to survey).
It is due run until March 2026, at which point it will probably be replaced by a new scheme.
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
The Great British Insulation Scheme (formerly known as ECO +) is a new Government energy efficiency scheme designed to deliver improvements to the least energy efficient homes in Great Britain.
GBIS complements the ECO 4 scheme, yet unlike ECO 4’s ‘whole-house approach’, this scheme will mostly deliver singular insulation measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation.
Like ECO4, it is aimed at low-income households and people who are vulnerable to the cold.
This scheme is available to households with an EPC rating between D and G that sit within Council Tax bands A-D.
This scheme will also run until March 2026.
Eligibility
The three most common routes to eligibility for funded improvements are:
- A combined household income of less than £31,000 per year (before tax etc.)
- Someone in the house has one of a number of listed health conditions that make them vulnerable to the cold
- Receiving certain, listed benefits
Are you interested?
If you are interested in finding out whether you’re eligible you can fill out our short form containing a few questions about your home and your circumstances. Our team will review this and contact you, usually within two working days.
You can also contact the Housing Standards team below or by downloading our Statement of Intent. This is a document that sets out the our approach to managing the ECO4 and GBIS schemes.