ECO4 has closed to new applications — here's the help you can get now
ECO4 grants are no longer available. See the grants and funding you can get now.
In summary
Consumer Rights – Helping People – Helping Gloucester
For the past few years, our team at Consumer Rights CIC has been working with Gloucester residents and the surrounding areas to assist them save money on their energy bills while also supporting the UK’s carbon reduction goals.
We are dedicated to assisting Gloucester people obtain the funds they are eligible for with ECO4, and The Great British Insulation Scheme, which are backed by LA Flex, which is accessible to eligible homes.
So How and Why Do We Do This?
The UK Government has launched the ECO4 scheme and other grant initiatives to help reach its Net Zero emissions target. Consumer Rights is committed to supporting this goal.
The average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for homes in Gloucester is around 63, which is slightly higher than the national average for England and Wales and falls into band D. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) require private rental properties in Gloucester to have a minimum EPC rating of E.
Properties rated F or G may not be legally rented out, unless there is a valid exemption.
Residents of Gloucester are receiving assistance from Consumer Rights to enhance their property’s EPC rating. This is achieved by facilitating access to government-backed initiatives, including ECO4 and The Great British Insulation Scheme.
Given the diverse housing stock in Gloucester, which includes many older properties in need of energy efficiency upgrades, these schemes are especially important in the area:
As of 2023, the city had approximately 58,196 homes, mainly consisting of two-storey detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses.
Houses and bungalows make up 84.6% of the stock, while flats account for 15.4%. Many areas, such as Barton & Tredworth and Kingsholm & Wotton, have high rates of pre-1919 construction. This older housing stock poses challenges for retrofitting, as many properties need upgrades to improve their energy efficiency.
Fuel poverty is an issue in Gloucester, with 10.8% of households considered fuel poor as of 2020. However, this figure is likely higher now due to the ongoing energy crisis.
To address these challenges, Gloucester City Council has set ambitious energy efficiency goals. The city aims to retrofit about 50% of homes by 2045, including installing energy efficiency measures, renewable heating systems like heat pumps, and solar panels, focusing on a “fabric first” approach, prioritising insulation and draught-proofing.
EPC Ratings in Gloucester
- C and above (good energy efficiency): Around 30-35% of homes in Gloucester have an EPC rating of C or higher, making them relatively energy-efficient. However, they may still benefit from further upgrades, such as solar panels or modern heating systems.
- D (average efficiency): The most common rating for homes in Gloucester is band D, indicating moderate energy efficiency. These homes could significantly reduce their energy costs with insulation improvements and renewable energy solutions.
- E (poor efficiency): A smaller percentage of properties fall into band E, meaning they have poor energy performance and are likely to have higher energy bills.
- F-G (very poor efficiency): The least common group consists of homes rated F or G, indicating very poor energy performance. These properties often require major upgrades to meet modern efficiency standards.
Many homes in Gloucester are already eligible for government energy improvement funding, since the property must have an EPC rating of D or below to qualify.