Home Energy Efficiency
Information and guidance for home energy efficiency, including:
- ECO4
- Warm Wales
- Nest Scheme
- HEAT Energy Advice
- Homewise
ECO4
ECO4 is the latest Energy Company Obligation scheme administered by OFGEM.
The aim of ECO Funding is to help those who are living in fuel poverty and vulnerable to the risk of living in a cold home, and whose house is energy inefficient.
ECO funding pays for energy efficiency measures such as heating improvements and insulation to be installed, thereby helping to reduce the cost of heating the home and create carbon savings with is good for the environment too.
Residents may be eligible for ECO funded measures if they are in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (PCGC)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
- Child Benefit (subject to income caps and composition)
If none of these benefits are being claimed, the household may still be able to receive funded measures through the flexible eligibility process (‘ECO flex’ for short), for example if the household has a combined income below £31,000 or someone in the home has a qualifying medical condition.
This statement of intent sets out Bridgend County Borough Council’s flexible eligibility criteria for ECO4 Flex:
The council has partnered with E.ON on the delivery of ECO4 flex. If you are an installation company and wish to enquire about on-boarding with our scheme, please contact E.ON at:
If you think you may qualify for ECO Funding, please speak to an organisation who can offer you free and impartial energy and bill saving support and assess whether you might be eligible for funding, either from ECO or any other grant programmes to help pay for improvements to your home.
Warm Wales is one provider who offers such assistance for any residents in Wales:
Please note: The council will not be accepting any ECO related requests. If you are assessed as potentially eligible for funding, you will be referred on to the relevant funding scheme provider or an approved installation company.
If ECO flex eligibility is required, the installation company will ask you to provide them with documents to help them evidence your application. This information will be provided to the council for checking via our ECO flex delivery partner E.ON.
Nest Scheme
The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme makes Welsh homes warmer and more energy efficient places to live.
Nest provides eligible households with free energy efficient home improvements such as heating, insulation, or solar panels.
All households in Wales also have access to free, impartial advice to help you reduce your energy bills, maximise your income, and improve your carbon footprint.
The scheme offers all households in Wales free, impartial advice to help you lower your energy bills and improve your health and wellbeing.
Households could be eligible for free home energy efficiency improvements if you meet all 3 conditions:
- you own or privately rent your home (not local authority or housing association)
- you receive a means tested benefit or you live in a low-income household
- your home has an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of 54 (E) or less; or 68 (D) or less and someone in your household has an eligible health condition.
For energy saving advice, or to find out if you’re eligible for free home energy efficiency improvements, please contact:
Homewise
Homewise helps residents create warmer, healthier homes and save on their energy bills with a tailored retrofit action plan from their property tool.
By completing a simple online survey, residents can get a personalised home energy action plan tailored to their needs and budget in minutes. They’ll also get an indicative EPC rating and a breakdown of the cost for any work and potential savings.
HEAT Energy Advice
HEAT provides 1-1 mentoring support and advocacy to vulnerable households in England and Wales.
They provide ongoing support throughout the process, helping customers understand their options and make informed decisions.
This includes:
- Tackling energy emergencies
- Managing fuel debt and related issues
- Advocate on your customer’s behalf
- Accessing energy grants and crisis funds
- Optimising energy usage and efficiencies