Month: July 2022

Arktek are proud to have a partnership with local boxer, Kiaran Macdonald, who will be competing in the Commonwealth Games this week with the aim of representing Team GB in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris!

Arktek have had an active partnership with Kiaran for over five years, and we are proud to promote local talent. We are dedicated to being active members of our local community, and work with numerous North East individuals, organisations, and charities.

Kiaran began his training at the Sunderland Amateur Boxing Club. He received two national titles in 2016 and 2017, competed in the 2021 World Championships, and recently won silver in the European Championships 2022!  

In an interview with ITV news, Kiaran said, “I feel a real sense of pride and honour and I can’t wait to go and represent my country at the Commonwealth Games. It’s massive.

“I’ve done World Championships and European Championships which are sole boxing events, but the Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport event and I really hope all the athletes get the same backing as the athletes did for the London 2012 Olympics.”

Two other North East boxers, Joe Tyers and Savannah Stubley, will also compete in the Commonwealth Games this year. The team of 14 athletes are part of the World Class Programme (WCP) for Boxing and the GB boxing squad that trains at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Watch Kiaran and the team compete in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games by registering on this link. The boxing will take place at Birmingham’s NEC venue from Friday 29 July through to Sunday 7 August.

Best of luck to Kiaran and Team GB!

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 and LA Flex funded measures to help you save on energy bills. Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.

You may be eligible for funded home energy improvements under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme that begins in August 2022 and runs until March 2026.

Learn about the changes to the legislation and find out if you qualify:

FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ECO4 FUNDING

The ECO scheme has been delivered in the UK since 2013. Its aim is to ensure energy suppliers improve the energy efficiency of British homes by providing funding towards the cost of home energy improvements including the installation of different types of insulation and heating systems.

ECO4 is the fourth phase of the ECO scheme and it follows the highly successful third phase of the scheme (ECO3) which ended in March 2022. While the overall aim of ECO4 remains similar to that of ECO3, there are some noteworthy changes to the eligibility requirements and the way services are delivered under the scheme.

Changes to eligible benefits under ECO4

TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF ECO4 ELIGIBLE BENEFITS AND TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR FUNDING, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

The following benefits did not qualify in ECO3, however they are now eligible in ECO4:

• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Pension Credit Savings Credit

The benefits below were eligible under ECO3 but they are no longer eligible in ECO4:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• War Pensions Mobility Supplement

Changes to scheme delivery

Unlike in ECO3, the ECO4 scheme promotes a fabric first approach to home energy improvements. This involves assessing a property’s current energy efficiency band with the aim of increasing this by as many bands as possible with the installation of various insulation and heating measures.

To qualify for ECO4, properties must be in bands D – G; this rating is shown on a property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The minimum requirements for ECO4 state that:

• Existing EPC bands of F or G must now be increased to at least a D rating
• Existing EPC bands of D or E must now be increased to at least a C rating

Changes to funding for private rented tenants

While there have not been significant changes to the criteria for private rented sector tenants, the guidance in ECO4 suggests that a project may only be carried out on a rented property if the existing energy efficiency band is an E, F or G. Additionally, the property must be eligible for either First Time Central Heating or Solid Wall Insulation to qualify for other insulation or heating measures.

Limits to ECO4 boiler installations

In ECO4, the number of boiler grants that are available have been capped to 5,000 (across all suppliers). In comparison, almost 134,000 boilers were installed under ECO3. The rules about types of boilers that qualify under the scheme have also been tightened, including removal of LPG or oil boilers.

LA Flex changes under ECO4

The Local Authority Flexible Energy scheme (LA Flex) allows local authorities to offer funding for home energy improvements to individuals who are not in receipt of an ECO4 qualifying benefit.

In ECO4, suppliers can now deliver up to 50% of their obligation through LA Flex, which has increased from 25% under ECO3.

The Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) criteria for each local authority varies, so contact Arktek who will be able to advise if you qualify via this route.

As you can tell, there are several factors which need to be carefully considered when applying for ECO4 funding, however, we are here to help. Simply fill in our short form to find out if you qualify for funded home energy improvements under ECO4!

Arktek are a team of North East based Gas Safe engineers, accredited insulation installers, and a proud installer of ECO4 and LA Flex funded measures to help you save on energy bills.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you apply for funding for energy improvements in your home.