28.11.2022

Households could save £300 in new insulation scheme

News heating funding isolation Rural Vulnerability energy prices energy efficiency

The BBC report how households could save around £310 a year through an expanded scheme to insulate Britain's draughtiest homes, the government has said

The Government have said they will spend £1bn from next spring on grants for homes that have low energy efficiency ratings and are in lower council tax bands.

Households will need to contact their energy supplier or council to see if they are participating, it said.

But critics questioned why the funding would not be available over winter.

The Department for Business, Energy, Industry and Skills (BEIS) said households who currently did not benefit from any other government support would be able to upgrade their homes under the ECO+ scheme.

The grants will help households to fund low-cost measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation, with the average cost per household expected to be £1,500.

A new £18m public information campaign will also offer advice on how to reduce energy use in the home, "without sacrificing comfort", BEIS said.

However, under the expanded scheme, people whose homes have an energy efficiency rating of D or below can get help, whether they are in private, rented or social housing. Energy efficiency ratings run from A-G, with A being the best and G the worst.

Adam Scorer, chief executive of National Energy Action, said the "scheme is not designed to reach the most vulnerable, it's designed to reach people who haven't been able to benefit from previous schemes".

"We believe government focus should be on the worst first, helping people in the greatest risk, the greatest jeopardy, more of this money should be going to help them."

Full article:

The BBC - Insulation: Households could save £300 in new insulation scheme

Gov.Uk - Design of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO): 2023-2026

The Government are seeking views on proposals for the Energy Company Obligation Plus (ECO+) scheme to deliver energy efficiency measures in homes across Great Britain from 2023-2026.

ECO is a programme to deliver energy efficiency measures in homes across Great Britain. ECO+ will be an addition to the current ECO4 scheme to deliver rapid installation of energy efficiency measures to households, including: