The UK government has launched The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme to tackle fuel poverty, rising energy and heating costs, and climate change. This government scheme is administered through Ofgem and has had four different iterations. The latest version, ECO4, has £4 billion of funding for eligible applicants.
Under the scheme, over 3.1 million home improvements have been made since 2013. The goal of this final phase is to go even further. The UK government has targeted Net Zero by 2050, and to support this target, several energy efficiency grant schemes have been legislated.
Below, you can find how the ECO4 grants are distributed among different energy efficiency measures. ECO4 scheme grants for energy efficiency keep you cosy in the winter and help you save money on your energy costs. The great news is that if you’re a household, you can be eligible for an ECO4 grant.
Funding Distribution
Consider the critical areas of interest below to give you an idea of the support you can get with the ECO4 scheme. The distribution of funding includes various factors like insulating homes, renewable energy measures, installation of green heating systems, and home upgrades. Let’s explore the energy efficiency measures distributed under the ECO4 funding:
Insulating Homes
The ECO4 scheme takes a fabric-first approach, improving the building before installing new heating systems. If your house has an efficiency rating of “D” or lower, you need to insulate the loft, roof, and cavity walls that face the outside before you can improve your heating systems.
Many people want to insulate solid walls, and the government wants to finish 22,000 projects yearly as part of the ECO4 report.
Renewable Energy
To save a lot of money and energy and lower the amount of carbon in the air, use renewable energy.
Giving a fully funded answer for the best environment in the country is the best thing the UK government has ever done.
Using the sun to make energy, the ECO4 Solar Panels are an environmentally friendly choice.
This free installation cuts down on the cost of energy and the amount of pollution in the air.
Green energy is good for the earth and can be a cheaper and more reliable source of energy for everyone.
To reach these goals, the ECO4 target looks at why green energy is important and how ECO4 Solar Panels can help build a society that is good for the environment and climate.
Available Options for Renewable Energy
There is no need to worry. Heating up your home is what you should do if you want it.
- Replace Your Old System: Say goodbye to outdated energy systems and hello to clean, renewable energy.
- Install New: After fulfilling eligibility for the scheme, you can get a new one for installation.
- Free Assessment: Our experts will assess your property for the best renewable energy solution.
- Free Installation: Our skilled professionals will provide you with a hassle-free installation process.
Installing Greener Heating Systems
ECO4 aims to eliminate old, broken boilers and replace them with greener ones.
The ECO3 plan did not include heating systems that use coal so the country could reach its target of net zero emissions by 2050. ECO4 will keep this rule in place, but heating systems that use oil or LPG will be excluded.
Instead, the government will encourage people to replace their boilers with greener alternatives, such as heat pumps and biomass boilers. ECO4 will also continue to install solar photovoltaics (PV) in all electrically heated homes. But only if a biomass machine or District Heat Network has been ruled out.
Home Upgrades
ECO4 can enhance existing homes in several ways:
- The ECO4 plan focuses on improving the building before adding new heating systems. This is called “fabric-first.” It is very important to insulate your home so that the heat you make goes inside. The plan includes floor, room in a roof, hollow walls, solid walls, and loft insulation, all of which can be customised to fit the needs of your home.
- ECO4 encourages using green technologies and heating systems that are better for the environment, such as heat pumps. These devices reduce carbon emissions and help keep energy bills low. Heat pumps get their heat from the outdoor air.
- The government ECO4 scheme claims that “to date, we have seen no boiler or electric storage heater repairs” through the scheme. Instead of upgrading efficient gas boilers, people are replacing them after three to eight years—far before the end of their expected 12-year lifespan.
This is why ECO4 will incentivise upgrading efficient heating systems where possible. Broken heating systems that cannot be repaired can be replaced through the ECO4 scheme, which brings us to our next point.
Conclusion:
The ECO4 scheme is very important for reducing fuel poverty in the UK and making homes more energy efficient. By extending the scheme for four more years, the government is aiming to help low-income families. Who might not be able to afford to update their homes and heating systems. However, the public still has different views. Moreover, This project not only keeps people warm who need it most. However, it will also help the country reach its goal of net-zero pollution by 2050. It is good for both people and the earth.