Like most of us, John is concerned about spiralling fuel bills.
So when the householder from Anglesey heard about a Government-backed initiative to make his home more energy efficient, cut heating costs and help protect the planet - possibly at no cost to himself - he knew it was time to act.
The ECO4 scheme enables qualifying households without a mains gas supply to access grants to upgrade their insulation both inside and out. And that can mean internal wall insulation, external wall insulation, loft insulation and underfloor insulation, draught-proofing and renewable energy generation, such as solar panels and heat pumps.
And you aren't limited to one improvement, qualifying households can have multiple installations as well as smart heating controllers, new radiators and pipework if required.
"I think the scheme is a very good idea. It is good for the environment, but the most important thing is it is saving me money," said John
"My oil bill used to be £150 a month, and so we’ve saved that money straight away. My electric bill was £68 a month, and that’s gone down to £39 a month now, so it’s a saving already. We got solar panels on the roof, a heat pump, a cylinder in the airing cupboard, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, and all new radiators."
Cathy from Ceredigion couldn't agree more. She said: “I thought it looked too good to be true when my husband first mentioned it to me, and then when I saw the comments on Facebook I assumed we wouldn’t be eligible because we’re not on any benefits,” explained Cathy. “But when I looked into it in more detail, I realised we would qualify.
“It was a bit of effort producing the paperwork but it was worth putting the effort in. After that, it was plain sailing.”
Cathy’s home has seen some big energy-saving changes. She said: “We have solid walls, so we had the loft insulation installed and we also had some ventilation measures put in. Our roof wasn’t in good enough repair to have the solar panels installed on the roof, so we had ground-mounted ones installed, and this actually meant we could have more panels.
“We had an air source heat pump installed too, and it has been working well so far, heating our water just as well as the oil boiler did. One benefit so far is that we have been able to do away with the oil boiler and the oil tanker in the garden.
“We hope that these measures will help us save money this winter, that’s the most important thing for us. We’ve kept our log burner in case we need a top-up in the winter, but we are hoping the new measures will keep a consistent baseline warmth for us in the house.
“I would advise anyone else thinking about ECO4 to just go for it. It is brilliant for us.”
Allaying fears
The ECO4 scheme is available to those who may not have been able to afford these upgrades in the past.
This is a means-tested scheme, so the applicant or somebody living in the household must be in receipt of one of the below eligible benefits, or the total annual household income must be below £31,000.
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Benefit (certain criteria applies)
- Tax Credits (Child or Working Tax Credit)
But many people remain wary, perhaps from fear that it really must be too good to be true. Energy Advice Helpline is keen to allay those fears. It provides advice regarding rising energy costs and help when applying for the latest Government grants.
You can find out in 60 seconds whether you qualify without providing any personal details. Check your ECO4 eligibility here.
Debunking heat pump “myths”
Among the raft of grants available are those for air source heat pumps. But whilst popular in Scandinavian counties and North America, they are still a relatively new concept in the UK.
Although uptake in the UK is trending upwards, there is still a lot of uncertainty around the product, stemming from a lack of understanding but also that early versions of the air source heat pumps were less effective, sometimes installed incorrectly or the wrong sizes were fitted.
Here we debunk some of the myths surrounding heat pumps:
1. Heat pumps are only efficient in warm climates – FALSE
Modern heat pumps work efficiently even in colder climates. Manufacturers regularly test their heat pumps’ performance in temperatures as low as -25. In fact, 50% of homes in Norway have moved to using heat pumps, and they experience much colder winters than in the UK.
2. Heat pumps are noisy – FALSE
This myth comes from the early days of heat pump technology when they were louder than traditional heating systems. However, modern heat pumps are designed to be much quieter, and in some cases can be almost silent - it is similar to the noise level from your fridge.
3. Heat pumps are expensive – TRUE
Heat pumps are much more expensive than traditional boilers, but this is why the UK government have put into place grants such as ECO4. This means people who would not normally be able to afford a heat pump can get one installed for free.
4. You can’t just replace any heating system with an air source heat pump – TRUE
Fitting a new air source heat pump is complicated, which is why it is best left to the professionals. Often new radiators need to be fitted throughout the house, and precise measurements need to be taken beforehand so that the correct size is fitted. For anyone getting a new heat pump through the ECO4 grant, as John and Cathy mentioned above, new radiators and fittings are all included.
5. Heat pumps aren’t suitable for all properties – FALSE
Heat pumps are suitable for homes of all ages provided they are well insulated. The ECO4 scheme covers whole home insulation which can include internal wall, external wall, loft, underfloor and more. In fact, if your house is older and you’ve got solid walls you might even qualify for internal wall insulation. A surveyor will calculate the potential heat loss and make sure your property is ready for a heat pump before it is installed.
6. Radiators don’t get as hot with heat pumps – TRUE
Actually, because the heating is on all the time, you don’t need the radiators to be roasting hot. This would be overpowering and just waste energy. Air source heat pumps are designed to maintain a constant warm temperature in your home. While the insulation works with the heat pump to keep in the heat generated, like a thermos does for a hot drink.
7. Heat pumps require a lot of maintenance – FALSE
There are very few moving parts in an air source heat pump and this means they require very little maintenance. Especially when compared to the maintenance a traditional boiler requires. Air source heat pump engineers are also on the rise as more people invest in the technology.
Here to support you
Energy Advice Helpline is a not-for-profit community interest company whose mission is to raise awareness of energy initiatives like ECO4 in order to help combat fuel poverty.
You can access the helpline for free impartial advice on available financial support and more, including how to reduce your energy bills, information on the latest energy news, and access to government grants.
Want to know more about the ECO4 scheme or check if you are eligible to apply for a grant? Browse energyadvicehelpline.org
