£1 billion ECO+ scheme announced to insulate least energy-efficient homes

Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has announced the launch of the ECO+ scheme, a new government initiative to insulate homes and reduce household energy consumption and bills.

The £1 billion scheme adds to the £6.6 billion Help to Heat energy programmes to support those not currently benefiting from other government support with energy bills. 80% of the funding will be made available for those households in homes with EPC ratings of D or below and in lower Council Tax bands, with the remained targeted towards the most vulnerable including those on means-tested benefits or in fuel poverty.

The ECO+ scheme will run from spring 2023 for up to 3 years by funding low-cost insulation measures such as loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“A new ECO scheme will enable thousands more to insulate their homes, protecting the pounds in their pockets, and creating jobs across the country.

“And in the short term, our new public information campaign will also give people the tools they need to reduce their energy use while keeping warm this winter.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

“Our extensive energy support package is insulating people from the worst of this crisis, but we’re also supporting people to permanently cut their costs.

“In the longer term, we need to make Britain more energy independent by generating more clean, affordable, home-grown power, but we also need more efficient homes and buildings.

“Our new ECO+ scheme will help hundreds of thousands of people across the UK to better insulate their homes to reduce consumption, with the added benefit of saving families hundreds of pounds each year.”

In addition the government has today (28th November) expanded its Help for Households campaign to share advice for consumers on reducing energy bills. Tips include reducing the flow rate of boilers to 60C to make them run more efficiently, turning down radiators in empty rooms and reducing heating loss by draught proofing windows and doors.

Backed by £18 million, this campaign will complement existing government support schemes. such as the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bills Support Scheme.