We recently published our response to the much-awaited change in the Government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). The change allows heating controls to be installed as a secondary measure for owner-occupied households under the programmes.
These two programmes are vital to help low-income households access support to create warmer and more energy-efficient homes. As we transition to net zero, it is crucial that low-income households and those in the private rented sector are not left behind.
What has changed?
While homeowners and social housing providers can purchase heating controls to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, these solutions weren’t previously recognised as an eligible measure under the GBIS programme.
As a consequence, smaller energy efficiency improvements such as heating controls would not be eligible for support, which instead favours larger improvements such as insulation measures for cavity walls and lofts.
The recent news will mean that heating controls such as Wiser can be installed as a secondary measure under the GBIS scheme, as a measure installed alongside a larger primary measure to further bolster a home’s energy efficiency.
Who is eligible to apply for the scheme
TrustMark registered installers are able to work on projects funded by government programmes like ECO4 and GBIS.
ECO4 is a requirement for gas and electricity companies with more than 150,000 customers to support low-income customers and inefficient social housing by installing eligible measures that will increase the efficiency rating of a home. Heating controls are already an eligible measure under ECO4 and have had a positive impact for low-income households across the country. So far, over 300,000 heating control measures have been installed under the scheme.
GBIS is the Government’s flagship insulation support scheme, which aims to tackle efficiency levels in low-income homes, homes with lower energy performance certificates (EPCs), and those in specific council tax bands. Homeowners themselves, as well as landlords or tenants can apply for the scheme, which provides support for installing cavity wall and loft insulation. Thanks to the recent change in policy, homeowners and tenants will be able to bolster their energy efficiency levels even further after insulation has been installed, with the additional option to apply for support to install heating control measures.
Why is this news important?
Wiser’s control systems are a small but effective energy efficiency uplift and has the capacity to save each home as much as £425 a year for an average 3-bedroom house and the Ofgem energy price cap as of April 1st 2025, on top of any savings created by other heating system upgrades[1].
The change in policy will mean that the scheme can provide up to 30% more energy savings per property with products such as Wiser’s heating controls[2], all the while requiring a much smaller investment from the Government and energy companies.
As well as energy savings, Wiser’s heating controls will also provide owner-occupied households - receiving support from the scheme - with enhanced control over their energy consumption, improved monitoring capabilities, and ultimately cost reductions.
Furthermore, heating controls also provide a great alternative for households ineligible for support under the ECO and GBIS scheme, maximising energy savings even if a complete heating system upgrade is not currently a viable option.
They can reduce energy consumption without the need for major renovations with easy installation, and Wiser’s systems also use open protocols, meaning they’re compatible with many existing boiler and heat pump products.
How to get involved
If you’re a TrustMark registered installer, and want to install Drayton’s products under the Government’s retrofit programmes, visit Ofgem’s website to find out how you can become part of the supply chain.
[1] Smart thermostat system percentage savings based on BEAMA and Salford university research statistics 2021. Savings are a guideline and will vary based on your home's thermal performance.
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