Climate change

We are working with local charity HEET to support residents assess their energy needs and apply for available funding. If you, or someone you know, needs additional support applying for any of the schemes below, please give them a call on 020 8520 1900. 

HEET has also produced a 'Fuel Handbook' (PDF) for private tenants to support our work. This booklet has been designed specifically for renters. It will help you save money and keep your household safe and warm.

HUG 2 is a UK Government-funded scheme that aims to improve the energy efficiency of homes across England. 100% funding is available for eligible householders that own their property. We are working with the Greater London Authority to deliver this, in partnership with Everwarm, in Waltham Forest. 

The scheme can fund energy efficiency improvements including:

• wall, loft and floor insulation
• low carbon heating
• solar panels

The GLA is seeking to support residents who:

• own their home
• have a gross household income of £36,000 per year or less OR live in a certain postcodes
• live in a home with a low energy rating
• live in a home with no gas central heating
• live in a property that is an existing domestic dwelling (rather than a new build or self-built property)

We will then carry out an initial eligibility assessment and contact you within six working days. Customers will then be required to provide documentation to enable us to verify your eligibility for the scheme.

How to apply

To find out if you may be eligible to benefit from this scheme, please complete the initial application form on the Everwarm website and one of their team will be back in touch with you. 

What is ECO4?

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government scheme to help eligible households upgrade the energy efficiency of their home for free. This scheme could save you hundreds a year on your energy bills, as well as helping to tackle climate change.

ECO4 supports the installation of energy efficient measures, such as insulation measures, and upgrades to heating, such as renewable heating. The main objective of ECO4 is to improve the least energy efficient housing occupied by low income and vulnerable households. 

ECO4 is available for measures such as External and Internal Wall Insulation, Loft Insulation, Updated or Renewable Heating Systems and more. ECO4 requires homes to achieve an EPC uplift or 2 EPC bands (e.g. from an EPC E to an EPC C). 

What is GBIS?

GBIS supports the installation of energy efficient measures, predominantly cavity wall insulation. The main objective of GBIS is to improve the least energy efficient housing occupied by low income and vulnerable households.

The scheme complements the previously delivered ECO4 scheme, yet unlike ECO4’s ‘whole house’ approach, this scheme will mostly deliver single insulation measures. In Waltham Forest, this focuses on un-insulated cavity walls. This scheme could save you hundreds a year on your energy bills, as well as helping to tackle climate change.

As well as supporting low-income and vulnerable households, it will also be available to those living in homes with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D-G, and within Council Tax bands A-D.

GBIS is available for single-measures such as Cavity Wall Insulation and Loft Insulation. 

ECO4

We are working with Golden Globe, a TrustMark registered ECO4 Installer funded by energy companies taking part in the ECO scheme. If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply.

GBIS

We are working with Eon and their TrustMark installer, Carbon Rewind, to deliver GBIS. 

You do not need to be an Eon customer to apply for this scheme.

ECO4 and GBIS are not grants and energy companies are able to choose which projects they want to deliver. It is up to the energy companies to determine which projects they choose to fund, the level of funding they provide, and the Retrofit coordinators and installers they choose to work with.

How do I know if I'm eligible?

ECO4 and GBIS support those in receipt of qualifying benefits and living in a house with low energy efficiency (EPC D or below). Check your EPC rating. 

Qualifying Benefits:

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support (IS)
• Pension Credit Guarantee
• Credit Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• Child Tax Credits (CTC)
• Universal Credit (UC)
• Housing Benefit
• Pension Credit Savings Credit

General Group (GBIS)

• Council tax band A-D in England. You can find out more about your Council Tax Band here. No heating control measures are available for this group. 

ECO4 Flex

ECO4 Flex is a household referral mechanism within the wider ECO4 Scheme which enables Councils to widen the eligibility criteria for ECO, allowing them to tailor energy efficiency schemes to their respective sector.

Download the London Borough of Waltham Forest - Statement of Intent (V3 Word doc)

We are also able to provide Flex declarations for other installers meeting the TrustMark requirements. Please contact climate.action@walthamforest.gov.uk to discuss in further detail.

ECO4 Flex Eligibility: For privately owned housing (Owner occupiers and Private Renters) via Four qualification routes:

• Route 1: Private tenure SAP bands D-G households with a gross household income less than £31,000.
• Route 2: Owner-occupied or private tenure SAP bands E-G households that meet a combination of two of the following:
  • Proxy 1 Homes in England in Lower-layer Super Output Area 1-3 (LSOA). [Proxy 1 cannot be used with proxy 3]
  • Proxy 2 Householders receiving a Council Tax rebate (rebates based on low income only, excludes single person rebates).
  • Proxy 3 Householders vulnerable to living in a cold home as identified in the NICE Guidance 2. Only one proxy from the list can be used, excludes the proxy ‘low income’. [Proxy 3 cannot be used with proxy 1].
  • Proxy 4 A householder receiving free school meals due to low-income
  • Proxy 5 A householder supported by a LA run scheme, that has been named and described by the LA as supporting low income and vulnerable households for the purposes of NICE Guideline.
  • Proxy 6 A household referred to the LA for support by their energy supplier or Citizen's Advice because they are struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills. Proxy 6 cannot be used with proxy 7].
  • Proxy 7 Households identified through supplier debt data. [Proxy 7 cannot be used with proxy 6].
• Route 3: Private tenure SAP bands D-G households that have been identified by their doctor or GP as low-income and vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home. These health conditions may be cardiovascular, respiratory, immunosuppressed, or limited mobility related.

If you have any questions regarding the above, or to request a GP referral letter for Route 3, please contact climate.action@walthamforest.gov.uk. 

If you want to find out more about the ECO4 scheme, please visit Ofgem’s website.

Scheme qualification – the installer will determine if you are eligible to qualify for the ECO scheme. If you are they will arrange for you to have a home survey.

Free home survey - the installer will arrange a date and time for a contractor to visit your property to determine what improvements are suitable for your home. They will propose a bespoke package of upgrades and there is no obligation to proceed with the recommendations.

Installation - the energy efficiency improvements for your home will be carried out by accredited contractors. 

Aftercare – the installer will continue to provide you with ongoing support. Warranties, guarantees, and terms and conditions will be provided on completion of the installations.

Connected for Warmth is an award-winning grant scheme offering FREE energy-saving measures to homes across Britain, that can help you reduce your energy use and stay warm and well, funded by the National Grid. If you’re interested in insulation or Air Source Heat Pumps, take a look at their website.

Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.

Fossil fuel heating systems include oil, gas or electric.

After you’ve checked you’re eligible, find out how to apply for the grant.

This scheme is open to people in England and Wales, administered by the Government. 

Energy Advice London is a free and impartial advice service for anyone living in London, funded by the Mayor of London, and delivered by Energy Saving Trust.

Anyone who wants advice and support on reducing energy bills or improving home energy efficiency can visit the Energy Advice website or via telephone 0808 196 8260

You can also find more tips on how to reduce your energy usage on our website.