GUEST ARTICLE: Re-imagine the future of warmer retrofitted homes

James Rimmer, Director at Consumer-Rights CIC, highlights the importance of creating net zero energy efficient homes in this guest article…

One of the key reasons why households were hit so badly with high energy bills in recent months is because of poorly insulated homes. This is as a result of the UK’s housing stock being the oldest in Europe with four-in-ten homes built before 1946.

As EPC regulations continue to tighten, it is increasingly important for properties to meet modern energy efficiency standards. This compliance is crucial not only for adhering to growing legal requirements but also for lowering energy bills for tenants and contributing to societal sustainability.

Because we need to improve the energy standards of properties throughout the UK, for accredited installers, opportunities abound to make homes more energy efficient.

Fortunately, the governments drive towards upgrading homes via the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme mandates energy companies to fund the energy-efficient upgrades to eligible low-income and vulnerable households.

ECO scheme

Now in its fourth phase and aptly called ECO4, the scheme adopts a whole-house approach to energy efficiency improvement whereby multiple measures are installed in a property following a full assessment of the home’s needs.

Many homes eligible for the scheme must have its insulation upgraded before any heating installations can take place.

The ECO scheme has been operating since 2013, with just over 9% of all households in Great Britain having benefitted from installed measures under this scheme.

To date, the most common tenure of households receiving measures is owner-occupied, with around 1.7 million households (70%). The remainder of households were rented, with socially rented households accounting for 16 per cent, and private rented households 14%.

Under the ECO scheme there are a variety of government-funded insulation and heating upgrades available for qualifying properties, including:

 – Efficient Boilers: reduces fuel consumption and emissions, leading to lower monthly energy bills.
 – Solar Photovoltaic Technology (PV): provides clean, renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
 – Floor Insulation: enhances temperature stability and improves the property’s energy efficiency.
 – Roof Insulation: keeps the home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
 – Internal and Cavity Insulation: reduces heat loss and boosts energy efficiency.
 – Heating Upgrades: implements modern heating technology to significantly improve energy efficiency in homes.

The ECO4 scheme runs until 31 March 2026 and focusses on improving the least energy efficient homes and households in fuel poverty, as only properties in bands D-G can be treated.

Lack of progress

According to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) the lack of progress on insulting homes across the UK costs energy bill payers on average £3.2 billion per annum.

If the rate of insulating homes had not fallen over the past decade states the ECIU, an additional 11 million homes could have benefitted from energy efficiency improvements by now.

The ECIU further states that upgrading a typical home (EPC D) to reach the government’s own target (EPC C) would have saved the household over £200 a year under the new prices. For the 4.4million homes that have even worse energy efficiency, the savings would have been almost £400 for EPC E and £550 for EPC F.

Accredited providers

PAS-qualified, government-approved installers with robust P.I. cover and government-backed guarantees are key to implementing these measures, ensuring customers benefit from the ECO4 scheme.

ECO4 is part of the pivotal steps the country is taking in our journey to achieve net-zero carbon emissions through more energy efficient homes, and this can be achieved through continuous engagement with consumers and industry stakeholders alike.