29 Nov 2022
Ageing Better responds to £1bn government scheme to help households reduce energy bills
The ECO+ scheme will extend home improvement support to the most vulnerable households and those in the least energy efficient homes in lower Council Tax bands.
Our Deputy Director for Homes, Holly Holder, welcomes the news that action is being taken to tackle our country’s crisis of inefficient housing but highlights the need to remove barriers to accessing home improvement support.
Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has announced new plans to help households bring down their soaring energy bills. The new ECO+ scheme joins the existing ‘Help to Heat’ energy scheme and an upcoming public information campaign to reduce energy consumption.
The new scheme will extend home improvement support to households that do not benefit from existing schemes. Around 80% of funding available through the ECO+ scheme will be targeted towards households living in homes with an EPC Rating of D or below and in the lowest council tax bands. And around a fifth is targeted towards the most vulnerable households, such as those in fuel poverty.
The ECO+ scheme will run from Spring 2023 for up to three years and provide households with predominantly low-cost insulation measures such as loft insulation. It's part of a broader government push to help the UK meet its ambition of becoming energy independent.
Holly Holder, our Deputy Director for Homes, said:
“We welcome the news that steps are being taken to tackle housing energy inefficiency. Our nation’s homes are among the oldest and least efficient in Western Europe, leaving many households spending significant proportions of their income on energy bills.
“The Energy Price Guarantee provides a temporary sticking plaster amid soaring energy prices and falling temperatures. Substantial action is needed to resolve the root cause of the problem – cold, draughty and inefficient homes. And, as the government notes, a national initiative like this will support net zero targets and generate jobs.
“Under the ECO+ scheme, grants will become available next spring and, according to the government, the average annual energy savings for consumers will be £310. This could be too little too late for older people in the least efficient homes, who will still face enormous energy bills this winter, far above the Energy Price Guarantee. Over 50s are already using less fuel at home because of rising living costs, more than any other age group. And this presents serious health risks, especially for older people with health conditions.
“It is positive to hear that the scheme intends to support people with lower incomes whilst widening eligibility to people living in the least efficient homes. However, as the government’s previous Good Homes Grants scheme showed, money is not the only barrier to people improving their homes.
“Our research shows that people also need professional advice and practical support to understand and make the right changes to their homes. They also need help to find tradespeople who are going to do a good job for a fair price and who they can trust to bring into their homes. Currently, some communities offer elements of this support, but provision is patchy.
“We’re calling on the government to respond to the poor quality housing crisis we have in this country by ensuring every community has an independent, one-stop-shop offering trusted advice and support to help people make their homes warmer and safer.”