ECO4 is the fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation scheme, launched by the UK government to improve the energy efficiency of homes. It focuses on low-income, vulnerable households and aims to upgrade the energy performance of housing stock by funding various home improvements, such as insulation and heating system upgrades.

Households must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be in receipt of specific government benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Benefit (subject to income thresholds), or income-related benefits.
• Have a household income below a certain threshold.
• Be classified as vulnerable, including pensioners, people with disabilities, or families with young children.
• Live in a home with low energy efficiency ratings (bands D, E, F, or G).

The scheme supports a range of energy-efficient home improvements, including:

• Loft, cavity wall, and solid wall insulation
• Upgrades to heating systems, such as boiler replacements and installing air-source heat pumps
• Solar panel installation
• Draught-proofing and other energy-saving measures

If you qualify for the ECO4 scheme, the improvements may be provided at no cost to you, fully funded by obligated energy suppliers. However, the scope of funding and specific measures may vary depending on your eligibility and property type.

o apply, you can:

• Contact energy suppliers participating in the scheme (such as British Gas, E.ON, EDF, etc.).
• Use ECO4-qualified installers who assess eligibility and submit applications on your behalf.
• Contact local authorities or check with approved installers online to begin the process.

Energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers are obligated by law to fund the scheme and provide grants for eligible households. They are required to meet specific targets related to the amount of energy savings they help achieve through the scheme.

ECO4 has expanded from the previous ECO3 phase in several ways:

• A greater focus on whole-house retrofits, providing deeper improvements rather than individual measures.
• ECO4 places more emphasis on low-income households and properties with the worst energy efficiency ratings.
• ECO4 also introduces stricter requirements on the energy suppliers, with longer timeframes to ensure substantial and permanent improvements.

The ECO4 scheme is set to run from 2022 to 2026. The government has the option to extend the scheme or make further changes depending on its success and future environmental goals.

Energy savings vary depending on the type of measures installed and the condition of your home. However, homes receiving full insulation and heating upgrades can experience significant reductions in energy bills and carbon emissions, improving the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of the property.

Once your eligibility is confirmed, an installer will assess your property, and the timeframe for installation can vary based on demand and the complexity of the work. Most households can expect to see improvements within a few months after applying.

If you are not eligible for ECO4, you may still qualify for other grants, schemes, or incentives, such as the Warm Home Discount, Green Homes Grant, or local authority energy efficiency programs. Many energy suppliers also offer additional support for households that do not meet ECO4 requirements.

The primary goals of ECO4 are:

• Reducing energy poverty by lowering energy bills for low-income households.
• Improving the energy efficiency of homes to achieve the UK’s carbon reduction targets.
• Reducing overall energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels through efficient home upgrades.