Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a legal obligation placed on larger energy suppliers to financially support domestic households to install measures that improve energy efficiency in the home.

Measures covered: 

There is a long list of improvements that energy companies could support to meet their ECO targets but, in practice, most companies concentrate on cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. It may also be possible to get help with replacing an inefficient boiler or other heating system.

Eligibility:

• Either be a homeowner or have permission from your landlord
• Be in recipient of means tested benefits OR
• Be on a low income
• Home energy efficiency is EPC band D - G

Answer some simple questions to check your eligibility here.

Making an application:

You can make further enquiries about ECO measures by contacting any of the obligated energy suppliers.

Additional Useful Links:

• General information about ECO scheme
• Ofgem information about ECO and eligibility 
• East Hampshire District Council criteria for ECO and ECO Flex
• Chichester District Council criteria for ECO and ECO Flex

This funding is administered by local authorities, and provides funding for low income and vulnerable households to install energy-efficient measures such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.

If you are a private rental tenant and meet the eligibility criteria for this grant then your landlord can make an application (they will have to pay a certain amount towards the measure).

Measures covered:

• Solid wall insulation (internal & external)
• Room in roof insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Underfloor insulation
• Loft insulation
• Park external Wall insulation (off gas homes only)
• High Heat Retention Storage Heaters (off gas homes only)
• Air source heat pumps
• Solar PV
• Smart heating controls (when combined with another measure)

Up to £10,000 (single energy efficiency measure) is available for homes that are on the gas grid.

Up to £25,000 (may cover more than one energy efficiency measure) is available for homes that are not on the gas grid.

Eligibility:

• A home with low energy performance: energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings of D, E, F, or G
• A combined household annual income of no more than £30,000 (before housing costs are deducted) OR
• Entitled to a means-tested benefit.

Making an Application:

Apply via the Warmer Homes website or telephone 0800 038 5737.

Additional Useful Links:

• Warmer Homes Scheme website

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems to replace their fossil fuel systems.

Available funding:

• £5,000 off the cost of supply and installation of an air source heat pump;
• £5,000 off the cost of supply and installation of a biomass boiler (off-gas grid properties in rural locations only);
• £6,000 off the cost of supply and installation of a ground source heat pump.

Eligibility:

• Own your property and it must have an installation capacity up to 45kWth
• Have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation 
• Be replacing an existing fossil fuel system (oil, gas, or direct electric)

Making an application:

Installers apply for the grant on behalf of the resident; Ofgem is the scheme’s administrator.  Installers must be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to be able to claim the grant.  

Aim to get a range of quotes from different installers for best value for money.  You can find an installer in your area on the MCS website. 

Additional Useful Links:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme information
• Ofgem information on Boiler Upgrade Scheme
• Get an Energy Performance Certificate for your home

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government-backed initiative which provides the homeowner with a regular payment for surplus low-carbon electricity generated and exported to the National Grid.  For context, you can expect to receive around £100 a year from a typical solar PV system.

The Smart Export Guarantee replaces the Feed In Tariff scheme, which closed to new applicants in March 2019.  You cannot receive both FIT export and SEG payments.

Eligibility:

You generate electricity using one of the following technologies:

• Solar photovoltaic (solar PV)
• Wind turbine
• Micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP)
• Hydro
• Anaerobic digestion (AD)

These installations must be located in Great Britain and have a total installed capacity (TIC) of no more than 5MW, or no more than 50kW for Micro-CHP.

Making an application:

The rates of payment (tariffs) vary by electricity supplier, so you are advised to shop around to find a supplier that is best for your individual circumstances.  The tariff must be greater than zero at all times, and may be a fixed or variable tariff.

Payments are calculated using export meter readings.

Additional Useful Links:

• OFGEM information on the SEG
• Energy Saving Trust information on the SEG  
• Which? article on how much you could earn through the SEG

Interest-free loans towards the costs of installing energy efficiency measures in your home (up to a maximum award of £4,000).

Full details of the scheme, plus links to the application form, are found on the EHDC website.

We asked EHDC some further questions about this scheme, and have published their response on our blog.