Individuals suffering from ailments such as arthritis or asthma could potentially secure £30,000 in financial aid for home renovations at no cost to them.
In a recent development, travel agent Sarah Jones has shared her experience of receiving financial assistance from her energy supplier, Octopus Energy, to upgrade her home. The assistance came through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, a government-backed initiative that provides grants to homeowners with common chronic health conditions.
The ECO4 grant scheme, offered by energy firms at the behest of the Government, can be used to pay for home insulation, air source heat pumps, double-glazing, and other eco-friendly upgrades. More than 2.5 million homes have received upgrades through ECO grants since its introduction in 2013, playing a vital role in upgrading homes in Britain, particularly for low-income families and those with health conditions.
Sarah Jones, who lives in a three-bedroom bungalow, spent £11,000 on double glazing and more than £2,000 on purifiers, boosting her property's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating to a C, the cut-off point for qualifying for ECO4 grants. Prior to this, her property had an EPC rating lower than a C, and Octopus Energy admitted that had she contacted them earlier, she might have been helped with additional financial assistance.
Octopus Energy issued Sarah with a free electric blanket, switched her to a cheaper fixed-tariff gas and electricity deal, and provided details of solar energy panel grants she might claim in the future. Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product officer at Octopus Energy, encourages customers to get in touch to see what's available for eco-upgrades.
GPs can refer eligible households, and it is entirely up to them to judge whether someone's condition fits the ECO criteria. Eligible health conditions include high blood pressure, eczema, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, respiratory diseases, limited mobility, and immunosuppression. An estimated seven million people in the UK suffer from asthma, and ten million live with arthritis, many of whom may qualify for the grant.
If a homeowner doesn't know their EPC rating, they can visit the Government website at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate and enter their postcode to find out. Households in England that own and occupy a property with low energy efficiency can apply for an ECO4 grant through approved energy suppliers, usually by contacting them directly or via an eligible installer or local authority.
Sarah regrets not being aware of the ECO4 grant earlier, as it could have saved her thousands of pounds that she could have used for other health essentials. She encourages others to investigate the possibilities and take advantage of the scheme if they are eligible. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero states that the Energy Company Obligation scheme plays a vital role in upgrading homes in Britain, particularly for those in need.
