Are you eligible for the government’s Eco+ scheme to insulate homes?

Hundreds of thousands of households could receive loft and cavity wall insulation under a new government scheme. Could you?

Take a look at the information below to understand what the new scheme is and how you may be able to benefit.

What is the new Eco+ scheme?

The existing Energy Company Obligation (Eco) scheme focuses on providing energy-efficient measures like loft insulation to low-income and vulnerable households.

However, with the steep rise in energy bills, the government has announced plans to extend the scheme next year and spend an extra £1bn to support 100,000s of the least energy-efficient households that currently don’t benefit from the Eco scheme. If you find that you are eligible, your household could receive up to £1500.

The new Eco+ scheme is part of new government measures to cut household energy use by 15 per cent by 2030.

Who is the Eco+ scheme for?

This Eco+ scheme is for middle earners who have not been able to benefit from any other government support to upgrade homes.

Middle earners are people who earn around the average income. According to Statista, the median household disposable income in the UK was £31,400 in the financial year 2020-2021.

More than 70,000 households are expected to benefit from the scheme. If your home has an energy efficiency rating of D or below you will be able to benefit from the scheme as long as your house is in council tax bands A-D in England, A-E in Scotland and A-C in Wales.

The government is looking to add the option to self-assess eligibility and self-refer for the scheme to its existing Energy Advice page.

What can you get through the scheme?

The measures you could get under the planned Eco+ scheme are mainly various types of insulation, including:

• Cavity wall insulation
• Solid wall insulation (both external and internal)
• Loft insulation
• Pitched roof insulation
• Flat roof insulation
• Under floor insulation
• Solid floor insulation
• Park home insulation
• Room-in-roof insulation

Not every installation is right for every property. When you apply, the installer will advise which insulation is the most appropriate for your home. You can only get ONE of the above installed under the scheme.

In addition, lower income and/or vulnerable households will be eligible to get smart heating controls, such as thermostatic radiator valves, room thermostats, and boiler programmers, after insulation has been fitted.

How much will you save?

Insulating your home is a great way to retain heat and reduce your energy usage.

Installing loft insulation costs between £455 and £640 depending on property time, according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), and can save a household between £330 and £590 per year on their heating bills.

If you have or are thinking about installing a heat pump, we recommend insulating your home to ensure that your pump works as efficiently as possible.

Will you have to pay anything?

It’s likely to be free for low income and vulnerable households, but others may have to pay a portion of the costs for “higher-cost measures”. We don’t yet know what constitutes high-cost or how much these households will be expected to pay. We’ll update you as soon as we know more.

When does the scheme start?

The scheme officially launches in spring 2023, however the government has said that energy suppliers are allowed to begin installations under the new scheme from now if they wish. The scheme will run for three years.

How to apply

You should be able to apply for the grant through any of the participating energy suppliers. it doesn’t have to be your own energy provider – all firms with more than 150,000 customers are obligated to take part in the scheme.

If you’re in the low income eligibility group, you may also be able to get support through you local council.

If you have any questions about the Eco+ scheme or would like to apply, we recommend you contacting an energy supplier.