What is ECO4?

The Energy Company Obligation1, or ‘ECO’, is a domestic energy efficiency funding2 programme to support low-income households to reduce fuel poverty and to improve energy efficiency in communities.

We're working with homeowners and private landlords to help reduce energy bills and make homes more energy efficient by increasing their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Eligible households could get free solid wall insulation as well as other energy efficiency improvements, making these homes a more cosy and comfortable place to live.

If you’re eligible, we’ll carry out a detailed survey of your property to check if solid wall insulation is suitable for your home. We’ll also check if you could benefit from a tailored package of heating and insulation improvements that could help make heating your home much cheaper, easier, and more efficient.

Image of a house with external wall insulation installed
Image of a house with external wall insulation installed

What is solid wall insulation (SWI)?

If you're looking to transform your home into a cosy haven while making a positive impact on the environment, qualifying for funding for SWI could be the solution you need.

SWI is a pioneering, energy-efficient method of upgrading the thermal performance of your home. Unlike cavity wall insulation, which fills the gap between walls, solid wall insulation is applied directly to the walls of your home, either on the exterior, known as external wall insulation, or interior, known as internal wall insulation. This process creates a protective layer, minimising heat loss and reducing energy bills.

The benefits of solid wall insulation

Lower your energy costs

Installing solid wall insulation will save you about £6603 a year on your energy bills.

Check your eligibility

Sustainability

You'll save 1,500kg4 of CO2 a year, doing your bit to help combat climate change.

Check your eligibility

What home improvements are available with ECO4?

Working with you, or your landlord, we’ll carry out a survey of your home to find out if you need solid wall insulation (SWI). This is the first step towards making your home more energy efficient, and it's required to qualify for this scheme. If your home was built before the 1920s, it probably has solid walls, which you need to have for the upgrade of SWI. We can then offer you a tailored package of energy-efficient upgrades to improve your home, which could include some of the upgrades listed below.

If your home has cavity walls (your home was built after the 1930s, so it won't be suitable for SWI) or you already have SWI, this scheme isn't for you. We have a number of other energy-efficiency grants that you might be eligible for, like the Great British Insulation Scheme or the Home Upgrade Grants, to help reduce your home's running costs and keep you warm and cosy.

 

Solid wall insulation

If your home was built before the 1920s, it’s likely to have solid walls. Homes with solid walls can lose up to twice as much heat as modern cavity walls.

Loft insulation

Another key area in the home for heat loss is the loft or roof space. Insulating your loft or roof space is a simple and effective way to limit heat loss and reduce your heating bills.

Floor insulation

Heat can escape through floors in a home and insulating under your ground floor could help in reducing your heating bills.

Air Source Heat Pump

Air source heat pumps are a great, energy efficient choice for heating your home and water and as well as being low maintenance, they can help to cut your heating costs and lower your carbon footprint.

Solar PV

Solar panels are an efficient way for homes to generate their own clean power, reduce carbon emissions and cut electricity bills. They also allow you to choose how and when your energy is used.

Am I eligible for ECO4?

You'll need to meet the following eligibility criteria to benefit from funding:

  • You must own your home or privately rent
  • Your property has an EPC rating of D5, E, F, or G
  • You receive one or more means tested benefits, or
  • You're in receipt of child benefit (income thresholds apply)

Qualifying benefits:

  • Income based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income Support
  • Pension Savings Credit
  • Guarantee Credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Child Benefit

If you qualify through our online eligibility checker, we'll need to perform a home survey to make sure we can install solid wall insulation along with any other energy-efficient upgrades you might qualify for.

Apply now

What is the income threshold for claiming Child Benefits?

If the only benefit you claim is Child Benefit, your family must have earned less than the amounts below to be eligibile for funding:

  • Single Parent

     

    1 Child: £19,000

  • 2 Children: £24,800

  • 3 Children: £29,600

  • 4+ Children: £34,500

  • Parents in a couple

     

    1 Child: £27,500

  • 2 Children: £32,300

  • 3 Children: £37,200

  • 4+ Children: £42,000

Why choose E.ON

Fully funded solutions

Free energy efficiency upgrades with no hidden cost help reduce your energy bills.

Accredited installers

Every solution is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and other guidance, such as British Standards and Building Regulations.

Trusted supplier

With over 5 million energy customers and thousands of successful installations, you're in safe hands.

How to tell the difference between cavity and solid walls

If your home was built after the 1930s, then it’s likely that you have cavity walls. You’ll see a regular pattern of bricks laid on their long sides.

If your home was built before the 1930s, then you'll probably have solid walls. You'll see a regular pattern of bricks laid on their long and short sides.

When we come to see you, our engineer will be able to check what type of walls you have and if they're already insulated.

Cavity wall
Solid wall
What type of walls do you have?

How ECO4 works

Apply online

Use our grant finder to check your eligibility for ECO4 support and book an appointment for a bespoke survey. We'll then work out what upgrades you need to qualify for funding.

All set to go

Let us know that you are happy to go ahead with the improvements we've recommended. You’re under no obligation to proceed at this point.

Install your upgrades

We'll book your installation at a time that suits you. Then one of our TrustMark-registered installers will do the rest.

FAQs

Are there any additional costs if I'm eligible for ECO4 measures?

We’ll install your energy efficiency upgrades for free with no hidden costs.

Any additional work to your home outside of the installation of energy saving recommendations from the survey will be your expense and we’ll let you know before you agree to proceed.

I don’t receive benefits but someone that lives in my property does. Can I still apply?

Yes. If there’s a permanent resident living at the property who is in receipt of benefits, we could still help.

If I have a survey, do I have to have the measures recommended installed?

Yes. The ECO4 funding offer will be subject to a tailored package of improvements that will be required to improve your property’s EPC rating, we’ll discuss these with you after the survey.

How long will it take to have everything installed?

The time it will take to install the improvements will depend on the measures we’ll be installing. We’ll discuss this with you after the survey.

Who will carry out the installation of the upgrades?

One of our TrustMark registered installers will install your upgrades.

Legal Stuff

1 All applications need to meet the ECO eligibility criteria as set by OFGEM and will be subject to a free independent home survey. You will be required to pay for any additional work to your home outside of the installation of energy-saving recommendations from the  survey, and we’ll let you know before you agree to proceed.

2 The ECO4 funding offer will be subject to a bespoke package of improvements that will be required to improve your property’s EPC rating; we’ll discuss these with you after the survey.

3 Savings information for the installation of solid wall insulation in the UK provided by the Energy Saving Trust, based on a detached house.

4 Carbon savings information for the installation of solid wall insulation in the UK provided by the Energy Saving Trust, based on a detached house.

5 Not all local authorities accept an EPC rating of D. Please speak to one of our team to find out the requirements for your area.



More funding options