The ECO4 scheme, or Energy Company Obligation phase 4, is a UK government initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in low-income households and vulnerable communities. Launched in April 2022, ECO4 continues the work of its predecessors by mandating that major energy suppliers fund energy-saving improvements in eligible homes. This scheme plays a crucial role in reducing energy bills, combating fuel poverty, and contributing to the UK's broader goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

ECO4 focuses on installing insulation, upgrading heating systems, and implementing other measures that enhance energy efficiency. Unlike previous phases, ECO4 places a stronger emphasis on whole-house retrofits, ensuring that homes meet minimum energy performance standards. This holistic approach not only helps in lowering energy consumption but also improves the overall comfort and health of occupants, addressing the social and environmental challenges of energy inefficiency.xt goes here

Eligibility for the ECO4 scheme grant

Eligibility for the ECO4 grant is primarily focused on assisting low-income households and those considered vulnerable to fuel poverty. To qualify for the ECO4 scheme, households must meet specific criteria related to income, benefits, and the energy efficiency of their homes. Here's a breakdown of the eligibility requirements:

1. Income-Related Benefits:

• Households where at least one member receives certain income-related benefits are eligible. These benefits include:

  • Universal Credit

  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

  • Pension Credit (Savings Credit)

  • Child Tax Credit

  • Working Tax Credit

  • Housing Benefit

  • Pension Guarantee Credit

2. Low-Income and Vulnerable Households:

• Even if not receiving the above benefits, households considered low-income or vulnerable may qualify if they meet criteria set by the local authority under the Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) component. This part of the scheme allows local authorities to define their own eligibility rules to target those most in need within their areas.

3. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rating:

• The property must typically have a low energy efficiency rating, specifically an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. ECO4 prioritizes homes that are less energy-efficient, as these properties benefit the most from energy-saving improvements.

4. Private Tenants and Homeowners:

• Both private homeowners and tenants can apply for ECO4 grants. However, for rented properties, the landlord must give consent for the improvements.

5. No Previous ECO Funding:

• The property should not have benefitted from significant energy efficiency improvements under previous ECO schemes, ensuring that the funding targets homes that still need major upgrades.

6. Additional Considerations:

• Households facing high energy bills or those with vulnerable occupants, such as elderly people, young children, or individuals with health conditions exacerbated by cold living conditions, are also prioritized under the ECO4 scheme.

In summary, ECO4 is designed to target the households most in need of energy efficiency improvements, with eligibility determined by a combination of income, benefits, property energy performance, and specific vulnerabilities.

The Great British Insulation Scheme is a new government energy efficiency scheme (formerly known as ECO+) administered by Ofgem. It is designed to deliver improvements to the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.

The scheme complements the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme, yet unlike ECO4’s ‘whole house’ approach, this scheme will mostly deliver single insulation measures.

As well as supporting low-income and vulnerable households, it is also available to those living in homes with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D-G, and within Council Tax bands A-D in England and A-E in Scotland and Wales.

The scheme works by placing an obligation on medium and large energy companies to deliver measures that result in reduced energy usage. The scheme began in April 2023 and is scheduled to end in April 2026.

Insulation is an essential, yet often overlooked and undervalued element of any building. Insulation is the materials used to reduce heat transfer between different areas of a building, whether it’s between the indoors and outdoors, or between different rooms. Proper insulation can help to reduce energy consumption, make rooms cozier, and lower heating and cooling costs. In this blog post, we will explore the case for insulation and why it’s so important.

Energy Efficiency

Insulation is a key component in the effort to increase energy efficiency in buildings. By reducing heat transfer, insulation helps to keep the indoor environment at a consistent temperature, regardless of the weather outside. This means that the heating and cooling systems in the building don’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable environment, leading to significant energy savings.

Cost Savings

The energy savings provided by insulation translates into cost savings for building owners and occupants. By reducing the need for heating and cooling, insulation can significantly lower energy bills, saving money over time. Additionally, insulation can help to extend the lifespan of heating and cooling systems by reducing wear and tear, which can further reduce maintenance and repair costs.

Comfort

Insulation not only helps to reduce energy consumption and costs, but it also improves the comfort of a building’s occupants. By reducing heat transfer, insulation can help to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the building, eliminating hot and cold spots. This can lead to a much more comfortable indoor environment, especially in extreme weather conditions.

Soundproofing

Insulation also has the added benefit of reducing noise transmission between different rooms and floors. This is especially important in multi-unit buildings or buildings with shared spaces. Proper insulation can help to create a quieter and more peaceful indoor environment, improving the quality of life for occupants.

Environmental Impact

Finally (and most importantly), proper insulation has a positive impact on the environment. By reducing energy consumption, insulation helps to lower greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Additionally, many types of insulation are made from sustainable materials, making them a more environmentally friendly choice.

In conclusion, insulation is an essential element of any building. Its benefits include increased energy efficiency, cost savings, improved comfort, soundproofing, and a positive impact on the environment. Proper insulation is an investment that pays off in the long run, providing significant returns for building owners and occupants.

It is essential that insulation is included in any building design or retrofit project to maximize the benefits it provides.

Understanding PAS 2030: The industry standard for insulation

What is PAS 2030?

PAS 2030 is a recognised industry standard (Publicly Available Specification) that sets out the requirements for the installation of energy efficiency measures, including insulation.

It provides a framework for ensuring the quality of installations and helps to establish consumer confidence in the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures.

The standard covers various aspects of the installation process, including technical specifications, quality management, and installer certification.

By adhering to PAS 2030, installers are required to follow best practices and meet specific criteria to ensure that insulation systems are installed correctly and effectively.

PAS 2030 certification is essential for installers as it demonstrates their competence and commitment to delivering high-quality work. It gives homeowners confidence that their insulation project will be carried out by professionals who understand the best techniques and have undergone rigorous training.

To comply with PAS 2030, installers must meet certain requirements, such as having appropriate qualifications, maintaining adequate insurance, and implementing quality control measures. Regular audits and assessments are conducted to ensure ongoing compliance with the standard.

By choosing PAS 2030 certified installers, homeowners can be assured of the highest quality installation and the best return on their investment.

In the next section, we will explore the benefits of complying with PAS 2030.

Benefits of complying with PAS 2030

Complying with PAS 2030 offers numerous benefits for both homeowners and installers.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages:

1. Quality assurance: PAS 2030 ensures that installations are carried out to the highest standards, guaranteeing the effectiveness and longevity of the insulation. This gives homeowners peace of mind, knowing that their investment will provide long-term benefits.

2. Access to government incentives: Many government schemes and grants require installers to be PAS 2030 certified. By choosing certified installers, homeowners may be eligible for financial incentives, such as the Green Homes Grant or the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.

3. Increased property value: A well-insulated home with a valid PAS 2030 certification can be more attractive to potential buyers. It demonstrates that the property has been properly upgraded and is energy-efficient, which can positively impact its value in the real estate market.

4. Consumer protection: PAS 2030 ensures that consumers are protected against substandard installations or fraudulent practices. It sets out guidelines and requirements that installers must follow, reducing the risk of poor workmanship and providing recourse in case of issues.

5. Environmental impact: By complying with PAS 2030 and installing energy-efficient insulation systems, homeowners contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. This aligns with global efforts to create a sustainable future.

In summary, complying with PAS 2030 offers a range of benefits, including quality assurance, access to government incentives, increased property value, consumer protection, and environmental impact.

The timeline varies depending on demand, property type, and measures installed. It typically takes 2 to 3 weeks from survey to installation, but this can vary.

The scheme is open to both homeowners and eligible tenants. However, if you are renting, you will need the landlord’s consent for any improvements made to the property.

The purpose of this guide is to very briefly explain and in general terms only, how a standard EWI system is installed.

It should be noted that each manufacturer’s EWI system is slightly different and therefore installation procedures will vary and will be specified accordingly. This guide purely explains the general installation steps and is non-specific.

Preparation For External Wall Insulation

Depending on whether the specified EWI system is to be dry-fixed only or to incorporate an additional adhesive fix the existing substrate should be checked, repaired as necessary, cleaned, dry and as dust free as possible.

It also needs to be cleaned of any substance which may affect the effectiveness of the adhesive and/or primed accordingly.

EWI Starter Track

A starter track is a U-shaped channel sized to match the thickness of the insulation boards so that they can slot in.

They’re typically made from PVC, aluminium or stainless steel and attached above DPC to provide a level for easy installation and to protect the base of the system.

Adhesive Fix

Adhesive typically comes dry packed ready to be mixed with water on site. Once mixed the adhesive needs to be applied around the entire perimeter of each insulation board and typically additionally dot and dabbed with adhesive. Manufacturer’s instructions should be followed. The bards are then attached to the wall in a staggered bond taking care to interlink at the corners and follow instruction around openings to avoid any increased risk of cracking.

Boards should be properly aligned both vertically and horizontally and there should be no gaps greater than 2mm between boards.

Mechanical Fix

The exact fixing will be specified according to insulation type, thickness and substrate. They will typically be ether a nail fixing (masonry) or screw and are designed to pass through the insulation board and embed into the substrate at a depth enough to ensure the boards cannot de-bond.

Holes are drilled through the insulation boards and into the substrate at a thickness and to a depth as specified by the manufacturer and following a specific pattern. Typically, this will mean around 5 fixings per insulation board.

Levelling

The new insulation substrate should be smooth and level. Any uneven areas should be made good by rasping.

Beading

The façade can now be prepared by adhesively fixing (using the reinforcing basecoat) and corner beads, base beads, movement beads etc as specified and required.

Reinforcing Basecoat

The reinforcing basecoat is dry packed for mixing with water on site. It is trowel applied, directly to the insulation boards, typically to a thickness of around 6mm and a fabric (fibre glass) reinforcing mesh is laid into it and trowelled in just below the surface.

Each strip pf mesh is overlapped by around 100mm with additional patches applied to corners of openings and at stress areas.

The Finish

Once the reinforcing basecoat is dry (usually up to 72 hours) it can then be prepared for the chosen finish. This may involve a straight forward primer followed by a thin coat render or it may involve an additional render coat to receive a dashing aggregate or to create a heavier texture or a brick / stone effect, a thick coat render or an adhesive to receive brick slips.

Installing EWI you can expect a reduction in energy usage of up to 40% and the Energy Savings Trust estimate a saving of up to £455 per year (prior to the 2022 energy price rises).

In addition to annual savings on energy the value of your property should increase by an average of £16,000 (in England) due to the improved EPC rate and the aesthetics.

EWI is a long-term investment. Most system designers will be able to provide a warrantee of, or in excess of 25 years. In addition, Ecofit Solutions will also be able to provide an insurance backed guarantee for the installation.

No EWI system is maintenance free but all are described as low-maintenance. Whilst renders and finishes are through coloured and won’t require painting, they will always benefit from a gentle power-wash periodically in order to remove dirt and airborne pollutants.

As a homeowner, the benefits of refurbishing and thermally upgrading your home using external wall insulation are significant – we’ve covered these in more detail in our feature The Benefits of EWI but, to summarise, the main benefits are as follows:

• Improves thermal performance

• Reduces carbon footprint

• Energy bills drop

• Thermal comfort improves

• Adds acoustic insulation

• Reduces condensation and damp risk

• Minimises thermal bridging

• Transforms the look of your property

• Protects the existing fabric

• Adds value to your property