UK Launches £1 Billion ECO+ Scheme to Slash Energy Bills
The government has unveiled a bold new plan to cut energy bills and boost home insulation across the UK. The £1 billion ECO+ scheme targets households currently missing out on support to upgrade their homes, aiming to help the country move closer to energy independence.
Who Benefits from ECO+?
Building on the existing £6.6 billion ‘Help to Heat’ schemes, ECO+ will fund insulation for hundreds of thousands more homes. Around 80% of the money is earmarked for the least energy-efficient properties—those rated EPC D or below—and for households in lower Council Tax bands. Another 20% will focus on the most vulnerable, including people on means-tested benefits or living in fuel poverty.
New Public Campaign to Cut Energy Use
Alongside ECO+, the government is rolling out an £18 million public information campaign. The campaign will dish out expert tips on energy-saving tricks that keep people warm without racking up bills. Advice includes:
- Lowering boiler temperatures from 75°C to 60°C
- Turning down radiators in empty rooms
- Draught-proofing windows and doors to stop heat loss
This push comes ahead of further announcements from Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, who is set to reveal more steps toward affordable, home-grown energy solutions.
Grant Shapps: Protecting Brits from Soaring Energy Prices
“The government put immediate help in place to support households in the wake of global energy price rises caused by Putin’s illegal march on Ukraine. Today, we launch the first of many measures to ensure the British public are never put in this position again as we move towards an energy independent future. A new ECO scheme will enable thousands more to insulate their homes, protecting the pounds in their pockets, and creating jobs across the country. And in the short term, our new public information campaign will also give people the tools they need to reduce their energy use while keeping warm this winter.” – Grant Shapps
Critics Say More Urgent Action Needed
But not everyone is convinced. Greenpeace UK energy campaigner Georgia Whitaker warned the new scheme barely scratches the surface. She told BBC News:
“Nearly seven million homes are suffering fuel poverty, while 19 million homes in England alone are badly insulated. This is a drop in the ocean compared to what people actually need to stay warm and well this winter and in the winters to come.”
