ECO4 ENQUIRIES ARE NOW CLOSED IN SCOTLAND
Eco Scotland is no longer accepting new ECO4 enquiries. But if you’re looking to reduce your energy bills, there are still options available for your home.
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ECO 4 Grants Scotland
What is the ECO4 scheme in Scotland?
The ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation) Scheme is a government-backed energy efficiency scheme in Scotland that provides funding to help households escape from fuel poverty. It is funded by the major UK utility companies including British Gas, EDF and Scottish Power. The government has asked these companies to provide funding from profits to provide funding to help people make their homes more efficient.
ECO grants provide non-repayable funding to cover the cost of installing energy saving products like roof and wall insulation, solar panels and air source heating. By making your home more energy efficient you can reduce your energy bills substantially. This contributes to lowering the amount of harmful emissions your heating system releases into the environment.
The ECO grant scheme in Scotland runs until March 2026 for low-income households that are off the gas grid.
ECO is designed for homeowners, landlords and private tenants who live / own properties which are off the gas grid, and are heated by oil, LPG or electric heaters.
The scheme provides 100% grants for eligible households where a member of the household claims a specific income-related benefit.
The ECO scheme has been around in Scotland since 2013. It is funded by the major utility companies.
The latest version is called ECO4. It runs until March 2026. Homeowners, private tenants, and landlords in Scotland can get 100% non-repayable grant funding to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
If you, or someone who lives with you claims a means tested benefit, and your property has a low energy efficiency rating, you may be eligible for home improvement funding. The cost of energy-saving technologies like solar panels, air source heat pumps, and insulation for walls and roofs is covered by 100% grants. Find out more about the ECO Scheme at the OFGEM Website ECO.
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Solar Panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity. They also function when it’s cloudy so they are even suitable for the Scottish climate.
Installing solar on your roof means that you can self-generate a substantial percentage of the electricity you use to power your home appliances and lighting. A solar grant mean immediate savings on energy bills.
More on solar panel options in Scotland
Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps use the latest technology to provide a sustainable and energy efficient way of heating your home. You can claim a 100% ECO4 grant to get your boiler replaced.
Fossil fuel boilers are very inefficient. Because they burn a fuel source like LPG or oil, they are expensive to run and release harmful emissions that have a negative impact on the environment.
Replacement air source central heating systems run on fresh air and are available in Scotland through the ECO Grant Scheme.
More on grants for heat pumps >>
Effective roof and wall insulation are the best way to prevent your home losing heat. Even if you have efficient heating, if your home is not insulated correctly, up to 60% of the heat you generate will escape, mainly through your exterior walls.
Many older properties in Scotland were constructed using solid brick or stone. Therefore they don’t have a cavity and need to be insulated, either externally, or from the inside.
Many properties are not suitable for external insulation. ECO solid wall grants cover 100% of the cost of solid internal wall insulation.
ECO4 Scheme in Scotland
How do eco grants work?
Getting an ECO grant is easy. If you live in a Scottish postcode area, and a member of your household claims an eligible benefit, we will take care of all the paperwork for you.
Step
01
Check ECO4 eligibility
Use our contact form to provide us with a few details about your property’s heating and construction.
Step
02
Arrange a home survey
If you are eligible one of our accredited energy assessors will contact you to arrange a free home survey.
Step
03
Free installation
We install the required energy efficiency measures and claim the grant from our ECO funders. You don’t have to do anything.
Check Eligibility for an ECO4 grant in Scotland
ECO Scotland
Why Apply for ECO?
Scottish ECO grants have assisted thousands families deemed to live in fuel poverty improve their home energy efficiency by upgrading central heating systems and insulation free of charge.
Energy Savings
Improving your home’s energy rating means real time financial savings on domestic energy bills.
Home Comfort
Keep your home warmer and improve the internal comfort without worrying about the cost.
Sustainable Heating
Air source heat pumps are a cheaper, more environmentally-friendly way of heating your home.
Generate your own electricity
Be less reliant on the grid and fluctuating energy prices with a free solar panel install.
ECO Scheme Eligibility - Who Qualifies?
The latest version of the government scheme is known as ECO4. It differs hugely from previous versions of the scheme in terms of property and applicant eligibility. ECO4 focuses on a deeper retrofit of energy improvement measures.
In previous versions, single heating or insulation products like boilers, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation could be installed, ECO4 aims to optimise the energy performance of every property. Therefore a “whole house” or “multi-measure” approach is taken to every retrofit project.
According to government regulations, a property’s energy rating must increase by a minimum of two EPC bands in order for the project to be successful.
This means substantially more energy savings for each property. However, it also means no more single measures can be installed.
The transition from ECO3 to ECO4
The previous phase of the scheme (ECO3) reached completion in June 2022. The current version, ECO4 is due to run until March 2026.
The transition between the two phases of the grant scheme saw many of the previously eligible benefits being scrapped, with new eligibility criteria introduced.
Eligible benefits under ECO3
Under ECO3 eligibility for a grant was based on households with lower incomes and disibility benefits shown in the list below:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Tax Credit
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Income-Based ESA
- Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit
- Income Based JSA
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Universal Credit
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
- Working Tax Credit
ECO 4 grant Eligibility
Qualifying benefits have changed. Disability benefits have been removed from the ECO4 eligibility criteria, with the main focus being on low income families and vulnerable households with young children. Households on the following, means-tested benefits may still eligible for an ECO 4 grant in Scotland
- Child Benefit*
- Child Tax Credit
- Income-based ESA
- Housing Benefit – new eligible benefit
- Income Support
- Income-Based JSA
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
ECO4 Property criteria
Until March 2026, ECO4 grants will focus on properties that have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F, or G. Homes with this type of low energy rating usually have an inefficient heating system or substandard insulation. Properties that are off the gas grid and built with traditional stone are normally the least efficient.
Numerous rural properties in Scotland fall into this category.
Due to their stone construction and the fact that many of them have oil, LPG, or electric central heating, thousands of properties in Scotland have not yet benefited from prior grant schemes.
Previous iterations of ECO concentrated on insulation for lofts and cavity walls as ways to improve energy efficiency. But stone-built properties don’t have cavity walls, so internal solid wall insulation has to be fitted on the inside of your external walls.
ECO4 adopts the “whole house approach.” Grant funding is provided to install all energy efficiency measures required to improve your energy rating by a minimum of two bands, which is also part of the scheme’s requirements.
If your house fits one of the above categories and you reside in a rural region, you might be qualified to get a new heating system and solar panels free of charge.
Heating systems and insulation
Before an ECO grant for a new heating system is allocated , your property must fulfil the minimum insulation criteria, just like with other heat pump programmes like the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
If your home requires solid wall or roof insulation, this will also be installed at no cost. Smart controls and room thermostats will be included with all heating systems to increase your home’s overall energy efficiency.
ECO is a UK gov energy efficiency grant program backed by the Scottish government. It is funded by the major utility companies.
ECO Scotland
How your home loses heat
The ECO grant scheme provides non-repayable grant funding for families who are struggling to keep warm in the winter. The grants cover the cost installing insulation and heating measures which help prevent your home losing heat.
If your home is not insulated correctly, the heat you generate with your boiler or central heating system literally escapes through the walls, floor and roof of your house.
Installing effective insulation raises your property’s energy efficiency rating and value. It can also mean a substantial reduction on energy costs.
Our experienced energy efficiency surveyors will carry out a free, indepth survey of your property. They will look at things like the age of the property, the construction type, heating system and existing insulation to assess its energy rating and suitability for an ECO4 grant.
Are you eligible for an ECO grant in Scotland?
ECO Grant Scheme FAQ’s
ECO Scheme in Scotland – Eligibility
ECO funds are available to many Scottish homeowners and private tenants who are classified as living in fuel poverty. Your home may be eligible for a complete energy efficiency upgrade if a member of your household claims any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
- Income Based ESA
- Income Based JSA
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Income Support
In addition, families who claim basic child benefit may also be eligible for financial help through the scheme if they are on a low income.
What measures does the ECO grant scheme cover?
The ECO scheme covers the full cost and installation of a variety of energy efficiency improvements including heating upgrades, solar panels, wall insulation and roof / loft insulation.
Can I get solar panels through the ECO 4 scheme?
Yes. Grants for free solar panels can be claimed through ECO4 in Scotland if installed with a heating upgrade and insulation. They cannot be installed on their own but as part of a project.
ECO4 adopts what is known as the “Whole House Approach.” Installers encourage property owners to move away from the idea of installing single energy saving measures. You will also be encouraged to upgrade your properties heating system and insulation.
Can I get first time central heating grant through ECO?
Yes. Properties which have electric storage heaters or panel heaters are amongst the least energy efficient. Air source heat pump central heating is available through ECO4 and is seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to existing electric heating systems.
You must be off the gas grid and have no gas connection to your property to qualify for FTCH.
Is the ECO Scheme really free?
Yes. There are other energy efficiency funding streams in Scotland, including the Home Energy Scotland grant and loan scheme, and Warmers Homes Scotland. But these initiatives only provide partial grants and normally require a customer contribution. Under ECO4 all installations are free and you will never be asked to pay any money back.
How long does the ECO Grant Scheme run for?
The ECO Scheme is live in Scotland until March 2026. Enquire now before government funding runs out
Check ECO4 Scheme Eligibility Scotland Now
Start your journey towards an energy efficient home with a free ECO Scotland grant. Eligible households can access almost unlimited funding to improve their energy rating with free insulation, solar panels and air source central heating.