The Energy Compliance Obligation (ECO)

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The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a scheme that requires energy companies to help households who are struggling with their fuel bills. It is a government initiative that obligates energy companies to reduce carbon emissions and help the UK meet carbon reduction targets.

Under this obligation energy suppliers deliver lifetime savings by installing energy efficiency measures in homes throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) launched in 2013 and according to Government figures, over 3.1 million measures have been installed in over 2.3 million homes The rules have changed from 1 April 2022, and ECO4 has launched.

About Eco

ECO4 is the fourth and final phase of the Government’s Energy Company Obligation. Beginning in April 2022, the scheme is expected to run its course into March 2026.

Each house improvement is backed with a GDGC and a TrustMark guarantee.

Proposed changes that are currently being consulted on in ECO4 include:

3.1. Changes to qualifying benefits (removing a number of disability benefits)

3.2. Changes to the number of measures to be installed under Local Authority Flexible Energy (up to 50% of measures can be installed under council rules whereas it was previously capped at 25%)

3.3 There are proposed additional Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) improvement requirements

3.4. Removal (almost) of boilers from the scheme

The scheme consultation document can be found on the gov.uk website here.

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  • Jobseekers Allowance
  • Employment & Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credits
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit Savings Credit

Child Benefit income thresholds

New government driven standards, that came into effect from the 1st of July, mean that householders who sign up to insulation through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, will benefit from a new requirement to install additional ventilation in their homes, where required.

Additional ventilation: the benefits

Effective ventilation helps keep your home energy-efficient, safe, and healthy as it helps to control the air flow. Great news for householders! Here are just a few of the benefits of improved ventilation in your home:

Regulates air flow in your home

Positive impact on health and wellbeing

Helps to control household temperature

Reduces risk of condensation, residue and mould

Expels air impurities and odours

Types of ventilation

Under the new government driven standards installers will assess whether any additional ventilation requirements are needed in your home during your survey. As well as assessing your homes ventilation needs, they will fit them and fund through the Energy Company Obligation.

There are different types of ventilation that householders may benefit from:

Background ventilation

Background ventilators are vents that can be opened and closed to let fresh air into your home. The most common are trickle vents fitted in your window frames. Occasionally, wall vents are alternative options where trickle vents cannot be fitted

Mechanical ventilation

Mechanical Ventillation is required in all properties which have wet rooms, i.e. bathroom and kitchen. As insulating the building envelope stops the heat from escaping, we need to accommodate a process for unwanted heat gains from activities such as cooking or showering to escape, in order to prevent moisture and damp problems.

Core Ventilation

Controllable core vents are required to be installed in any room in roof area. As heat rises, it is crucial that the roof area does not remain at a high temperature as this would lead to problems with damp and mould. Similarly, a permanent (passive) core vent is required within any area which utilises heating via any solid fuels such as coal fires.

Crossflow Ventilation

In the unlikely event that there is no 10mm gap under each of your internal doors, installers may need to undercut each door to aid airflow. The exception to this is for any fire doors within your home.

Wet Room Heating

In the event of installing Internal Wall Insulation at a property, wet rooms (bathrooms and kitchens) are omitted due to access issues such as tiles and units, and most importantly to avoid moisture build up within those areas. To compensate for heat loss within these rooms, an install of a towel radiator is required, where one isn’t already present.