Energy Efficiency

The Council aims to help residents within the district to reduce energy expenditure in their home. Energy efficiency work contributes to tackling climate change, increases the provision of affordable warmth in Tendring and can save money on residents’ fuel bills.

The main functions of our service include:

• Referring people to home insulation grant schemes
• Maximising the grant funding available within the district
• Committing to reach net zero carbon by 2030 – having issued a Climate Emergency

If you are interested in making your home more energy efficient by installing; cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, external wall insulation, an energy efficient boiler and more; please contact your energy provider and enquire about any available deals. Additionally, you may be eligible for one of the schemes below.

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Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

Essex County Council has launched two schemes to help low-income households and vulnerable residents reduce energy costs and emissions. 

Residents across Essex can apply to have solar panels, heat pumps and more energy-efficient measures installed for little to no cost. 

ECO4 Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex (GBIS) are being offered by Essex County Council through Better Housing, Better Health to help improve energy inefficient properties. Essex County Council has partnered with Better Housing, Better Health, run by the National Energy Foundation, to deliver ECO4 and the GBIS

Both schemes are available to homeowners and tenants, with landlord permission, with a household income below £31,000 and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G. Residents with a property tax band between A and D can also apply for the GBIS. 

Both schemes are also available to residents with a qualifying benefit or health condition. No income limit is applied to those with a qualifying health condition. 

Eligible residents could save energy costs and improve their EPC rating with insulation, boiler replacements, low-energy lighting, air source heat pumps and solar panels. Potential installations and any associated costs for residents are assessed on a case-by-case basis

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)  are government energy efficiency schemes run by Ofgem. 

They are both four-year schemes and are intended to run from 01 April 2022 to 31March 2026.

The main aim of these schemes is to support low income and vulnerable households to:

• install energy saving measures
• improve the efficiency of the lowest rated homes

This is to help the government’s fuel poverty and net zero commitments. 

Participating local authorities (in this case Essex County Council) can refer households they consider to be:

• living in fuel poverty
• on a low income
• vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home

Read the Essex County Council ECO4 GBIS statement of intent here: Statement of Intent for ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme (essex.gov.uk)

Eligibility

To be referred for the ECO4 and GBIS Flex schemes you must be living in Essex and be a homeowner, private tenant or landlord.

Landlords may be asked to contribute towards the costs of installed measures. This will depend on the circumstances of the tenant at the qualifying property.

Your property must have an energy efficiency rating between bands D to G and you must either:

• have a household income below £31,000
• be identified by your doctor or GP as having a health condition which may be impacted by living in a cold home
• be identified by Essex County Council as a vulnerable household which is not eligible under any other scheme

To gain funding, a survey of the property must be done to determine suitable measures and certain other criteria. Not all properties will be eligible.

If you do not meet the criteria

The Warm Homes Essex website has details of other funding, advice, and support available in Essex.

How to apply

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All applications for the ECO4 and GBIS Flex schemes are being handled by our Managing Agents, Happy Energy Solutions Ltd, via their dedicated Heat Essex application portal and contact centre. Find out more on the Heat Essex website.

Apply online with Heat Essex

You can save the application form and return later if you do not have all the details available.

You can also call the Heat Essex team on 01206 326808.

If you live in Southend or Thurrock you should apply for energy schemes with Southend City Council or Thurrock Council.

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What happens next

An advisor from Heat Essex will call you to complete an eligibility assessment over the phone. The number they will call from is 01206 326808. The eligibility assessment will include questions about the household and the residents occupying it.

If you pass the eligibility assessment your personal data will be shared with an approved contractor. You will need to give consent for this data to be shared. The contractor will then contact you to arrange for a survey on your property.

You will be told the name of the contractor that will be contacting you. You will not be “cold-called” by doorstep contractors. All eligible applicants will be contacted directly by the contractor to arrange an appointment. If in doubt, please contact Heat Essex on 01206 326808.

Once the survey is done and measures are agreed, the contractor will ask for additional paperwork to be able to process the application. The contractor will advise on the timeline for works to be done.

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Information for suppliers and contractors

Essex County Council have appointed the National Energy Foundation (NEF) as our Managing Agent for ECO4 and GBIS Flex.

Only declarations submitted to and by NEF can be considered for funding. No declaration requests made directly to Essex County Council will be accepted. 

All interested suppliers must be onboarded with NEF first. Fees will apply for this process. Visit the NEF website for full details.

Energy Advice

To receive free and impartial advice on energy saving measures you can contact one of the following:

The Energy Saving Trust

0300 123 1234

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Citizen’s Advice

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/

Simple Energy Advice

0800 444 202

www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/

Essex Energy Switch

If you are thinking about switching your energy provider, visit the Essex Energy Switch Page; on this page you will find details on how to apply and how much savings could be on offer!

Home Energy Conservation Act

Home Energy Strategy & Report 2017

Home Energy Strategy Appendix B

HECA Report 2019

If you are unable to print or view any document, or for any other enquiries please email energyefficiency@tendringdc.gov.uk or telephone 01255 686798.