ECO 4 SCHEME The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

We provide fully funded energy-saving improvements under the ECO4 scheme, including: Air Source Heat Pumps Solar Panels Smart Thermostats Internal Wall Insulation Loft Insulation Room-in-Roof Insulation Flat Roof Insulation Eligibility

To qualify for the ECO4 grant, households must meet one of the following eligibility routes:

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NHS Route: Residents with health conditions made worse by cold homes, such as asthma, respiratory illness, cardiovascular conditions, or someone on regular prescribed medication.

Benefit Route: Receiving qualifying benefits (e.g., Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit).

Income Route: Households with a total income of £31,000 or less. Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LAFlex): Council referrals for households vulnerable to fuel poverty.

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🔎 What Is ECO4?

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The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is the fourth phase of a UK government energy efficiency programme.

• It runs from April 2022 to March 2026 (MAY GET EXTENDED)

• The scheme is funded by energy suppliers and overseen by Ofgem.

• Its goal is to tackle fuel poverty, reduce household energy bills, and cut carbon emissions by upgrading the least efficient homes in the UK.

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🎯 Who Does It Target?

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ECO4 focuses on:

• Low-income households (on certain means-tested benefits or with household incomes below set thresholds).

• Homes with low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings (D, E, F, or G).

• Vulnerable residents—such as elderly people, families with young children, or those with health conditions made worse by cold homes.

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🏡 What Measures Are Included?

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The scheme takes a “fabric-first” approach, prioritising insulation before heating upgrades. Typical improvements funded include:

• Insulation:

  • Cavity wall insulation

  • Internal or external solid wall insulation

  • Loft and roof insulation (including room-in-roof & flat roof)

  • Underfloor insulation

• Heating Systems:

  • First-time central heating systems

  • Heating controls & thermostats

  • Replacement of inefficient electric heating with modern systems

  • Low-carbon heating (e.g., air source heat pumps, biomass in some cases)

• Other Upgrades:

  • New radiators and pipework (where part of a heating upgrade)

  • Smart controls to optimise energy use

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💷 How Is It Funded?

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• Funded by obligated energy suppliers (the “big six” and some smaller providers).

• Households don’t apply directly to government—they apply through approved installers or are contacted via their energy supplier or local council.

• For eligible households, upgrades are often fully funded. Some households may receive partial funding, depending on property type and measures needed.

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📈 Key Impacts

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• Designed to upgrade up to 450,000 homes by 2026.

• Can cut energy bills by hundreds of pounds per year for qualifying households.

• Helps the UK work toward net zero emissions by 2050 by reducing wasted energy.

✅ In short:
The ECO4 scheme is a UK government-backed programme that funds energy efficiency improvements—mainly insulation and heating upgrades—for low-income and vulnerable households. Its purpose is to reduce fuel poverty, improve home comfort, lower bills, and cut carbon emissions.

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