Eco3
Grants
A Government energy efficiency scheme – ECO3 is helping Great Britain tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions.
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What is the Energy Company Obligation?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO3) is a requirement expected of energy suppliers to help reduce household heating costs by installing energy-saving measures within the home.
The expectation is that energy suppliers will focus on ways to enable individuals on a low-income and in vulnerable situations to heat their homes.
Each energy company can choose which energy-saving measures they wish to install, the installers they wish to use and how much funding they provide towards the work.
What Is ECO3 Funding?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy-efficient scheme within the UK to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty and is comprised of one definitive commitment: the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO).
The ECO3 funding scheme is designed to allow certain heating system upgrades when they are delivered alongside certain insulation measures. According to the Energy Company Obligation, larger energy suppliers must fun the installation of energy efficiency improvements within homes across the UK.
These obligated energy suppliers collaborate with installers such as Zerofy to make energy efficiency measurements such as insulation and heating methods accessible to low-income and vulnerable households. ECO is designed to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions, contribute to the maintenance of energy supply, and help to achieve the Governments net-zero emissions target.
The Government firmly set out their fuel poverty commitments which is why the ECO3 scheme will continue to run until March 2022. ECO3 will continue to focus on vulnerable communities that require grants and funding to heat their homes and reduce their energy consumption.
Who can benefit from ECO?
To benefit from the ECO3 scheme, you must own your own property or acquire the permission of your landlord. This is also applicable if your home is owned by a management company or social housing provider. ECO is not a grant scheme so different companies may provide you with varying levels of support towards your home improvement solutions. At Zerofy, we are passionate in achieving the best possible energy improvement measures available and we will always strive to provide you with the maximum level of support to which you are entitled.
What Is Covered Under Eco Funding?
Under ECO, you may be eligible to receive free insulation amongst other energy-efficiency solutions. There are grants and funding available that can cover all or part of the cost required for the installation of these measures. The most common are:
- Loft Insulation
- Boiler Replacement
- Solid Wall Insulation
- Wall Cavity Insulation
Funding can also, where necessary, be used for homes to be connected to district heating systems or for heating controls to be installed. Installation of the above listed measures can be installed and provided by us here at Zerofy.
Use our online eligibility checker and a member of our team will go through your details and contact you to advise whether you qualify.
WANT TO FIND OUT IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE FOR ECO3 FUNDING
Boiler Replacements or Repairs with ECO?
It is possible to get your boiler repaired or replaced under ECO3. For a boiler replacement to be eligible, immediately prior to the installation the premises must have a boiler, which has broken down and cannot be economically repaired. However, the ECO3 scheme includes a cap on the replacement of all broken heating systems. The following measures can be installed outside of the broken heating system cap:
- First Time Central Heating (FTCH)
- A renewable heating system
- A district heating system
- A secondary heating measure when installed alongside a primary insulation measure
- A demonstration action or innovation score uplift measure
- The installation of heating controls
Do I Fit the Eligibility Criteria?
The Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation requires energy suppliers to promote the installation of measures that lead to financial savings on energy bills, such as the installation of insulation and heating measures. You are eligible for ECO if you are a core group customer from scheme year 9 onwards under the Warm Home Discount Scheme or receive at least one of the following benefits and satisfy the relevant income requirements, where applicable:
- Armed Forces Independent Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Benefit
(Household income limitations) - Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Employment & Support Allowance
- Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income Support
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Child & Working Tax Credits
- Universal Credit
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
Will I Have to Pay Anything?
It is up to the energy companies to determine which measures they choose to fund, the level of funding they provide and the installer they choose to work with. The level of funding will depend on several factors. In some cases, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of the installation, our team can advise you further once you complete our online application.
ARE LANDLORDS ELIGIBLE FOR ECO FUNDING?
If you are a landlord, accessibility to ECO3 funding is based upon your tenants eligibility. The measures that can be installed in private rented sector (PRS) properties under ECO funding is dependant on its EPC rating. The below are eligible measures for PRS properties:
- PRS properties that are occupied by a tenant within the help to heat group with an EPC rating of A, B, C, D or E can benefit from any measure. Although it excludes the installation of a new heating system to replace or repair an existing broken system.
- PRS properties that are occupied by a tenant within the help to heat group with an EPC rating of F or G are solely eligible to receive solid wall insulation, first time central heating systems or a renewable heating measure.
A property with any EPC efficiency rating is eligible for First Time Central Heating (FTCH) measures provided they meet the FTCH pre-requisites. The pre-requisites are that any areas of cavity wall and roof space that can be insulated must first be insulated.
We know that it can get a little confusing when discussing ECO funding. Our team are on hand to answer your questions and more tailored advice.