Get support from the government in making your home more energy efficient
This government energy efficiency scheme tackles fuel poverty and helps reduce carbon emissions.
What is the Energy Company Obligation?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is funded by, as the name suggests, energy companies, and is designed to help millions of people get free or subsidised loft and wall insulation, as well as repaired or replacement boilers.
So if you own your home (or rent and have permission from the landlord), you may be eligible to get free energy efficiency improvements. Some measures depend on your income or if you receive particular benefits, whilst others just depend on whether your home would be more energy efficient if the improvements were made.
What improvements do I need?
Whenever a property is constructed, sold or let, it’s a legal requirement for the owner to get an Energy Performance Certificate (an EPC), which provides details on the energy performance of the property and what measures can be carried out to improve it. If there is an EPC for your property, you can access it by entering your postcode on the EPC Register website, and it will identify how energy efficient your property is, and what, if any, improvements could be made.
Ok, I’m in. How do I go about getting free improvements?
First of all, you should check out the Simple Energy Advice website or give them a (freephone) call at 0800 444 202 to ensure you receive all improvements you may be entitled to under the ECO. This is a government-funded body who will provide free and impartial advice based on your individual circumstances.
If you know what improvements you are entitled to, you can also apply directly with any of the major energy providers, who can then arrange for a free on-site survey before carrying out the work. You don’t need to be a customer of one of those energy providers in order to apply for them to carry out energy efficiency improvements on your home.
For more information on the insulation carried out by the main energy providers and their eligibility requirements, take a look at the relevant section of their websites: British Gas, EDF, e.on, Npower, SSE
How much could I save?
This depends on the work you have done, but for example, if your house is eligible for loft and cavity wall insulation, getting them installed for free rather than paying for it yourself will save in the region of £700.
Typical fuel bill savings from having appropriate loft and cavity wall insulation and therefore needing less energy to heat your home, are in excess of £200 a year.
Are other types of energy savings available?
As well as taking advantage of available energy efficiency improvements, you should also ensure that you regularly switch energy tariff or provider. The government estimates that UK consumers could typically save a further £200 per year just by ensuring they are on good value energy deals.
Onedox provides a free service to help manage and monitor your energy and other household bills, and notifies you whenever you should switch to a better energy deal.
