New ECO Energy Companies Obligation helping millions of homes across the UK

ECO or Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) was introduced into the UK to reduce the carbon emissions of the UK’s leaky housing stock. ECO offers energy saving grants to insulate properties, who would otherwise be losing a lot of unnecessary heat and energy. Costing the customer more on their energy bills and also making their properties colder than they need to be.

Millions of homes in the UK are entitled to the Free Cavity Wall Insulation and Loft Insulation and yet many people still do not understand if they qualify for a Free ECO grant under the governments Energy Companies Obligation scheme.

Below are Frequently Asked Questions that a Green Deal Installer kindly provided for us:

1. How can I get a Cavity & Loft Insulation grant?

If you would like to receive a free ECO grant for Cavity Wall Insulation and Loft Insulation then you need to contact a Green Deal Installer in the UK. They can be found on the Green Deal Orb and there are over 500 installers across the UK. They will then send out a surveyor to survey the property and ensure that you are in fact entitled to the Free ECO grant.

2. If I qualify for a Free ECO Grant then what?

Once you have chosen your Green Deal Installer, they will send a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) that will provide you with a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This shows the energy efficiency of your property as it stands and will show how efficient the property will be after the Cavity Wall Insulation and the Loft Insulation has been installed on the property. EPC’s usually cost around £70 for a household to undergo, all Green Deal Installers should provide these Free of charge, be weary of any Green Deal Installer that is charging anything upfront, unless it for External Wall Insulation (EWI) which it is common to receive a part contribution from the customer.

Once you have undergone the EPC, your chosen Green Deal Installer (GDI) will book your install date in for the Cavity Wall Insulation and the Loft Insulation.

3. How long do installs usually take?

Depending on the size of your property, installs can take around 2-4 hours depending on the type of insulation being used.

Heating the UK’s leaky properties is top of the governments agenda, and lowering homeowners Energy bills is vital in reducing overall spending of the UK’s homeowners. Therefore, it is very important that each of the properties that are entitled to the Free ECO grant under the Energy Companies Obligation, actually claim their Free grant and do not wait till they close the Free ECO Grants down.