Written by Kate Hallewell
ECO4 and GBIS are Government-designed grant schemes designed to improve energy efficiency in UK homes.
ECO4 primarily targets low-income households and vulnerable groups, while GBIS offers insulation grants to a broader range of households, including middle-income families. Both schemes aim to reduce energy consumption, lower bills, and cut carbon emissions.
This glossary aims to help applicants understand the language of these schemes and make the grants easier to navigate.
Comprehensive ECO4 and GBIS Abbreviations Table
| Abbreviation | Term | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Energy Company Obligation (Phase 4) | The fourth phase of the ECO scheme, running from 2022 to 2026, focusing on improving energy efficiency in homes. |
| GBIS | Great British Insulation Scheme | A scheme running alongside ECO4, offering insulation grants to all households with broader eligibility. |
| HHCRO | Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation | A sub-obligation requiring suppliers to reduce heating costs for vulnerable and low-income households. |
| HWI | Hybrid Wall Insulation | Insulation combining internal and external wall insulation for better thermal performance. |
| IMs | Innovation Measures | New or advanced energy efficiency technologies approved under ECO4 and GBIS. |
| IS | Income Support | A welfare benefit for low-income households, that qualifies applicants to ECO4 and GBIS grants. |
| IWI | Internal Wall Insulation | Insulation applied to the internal surfaces of solid walls to improve thermal efficiency. |
| JSA | Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance | A benefit that can qualify applicants to ECO4 and GBIS grants (only income-based JSA is an eligible benefit and not contribution-based or new style). |
| kWp | Kilowatts peak | A measure of the output of a solar photovoltaic system under peak conditions. |
| LA | Local Authority | Councils or administrative bodies involved in declaring households are eligible for ECO4 and GBIS funding. |
| LAD | Local Authority Delivery | A funding initiative for local authorities to deliver energy efficiency measures. |
| LDEC | Loft Insulation Declaration | A document certifying the completion of loft insulation measures. |
| LPG | Liquefied Petroleum Gas | A heating fuel often replaced with more efficient alternatives under ECO4 and GBIS. |
| LSOA | Lower Super Output Area | A geographical area used for statistical reporting, often targeted for ECO4 and GBIS grants. |
| MCS | Microgeneration Certification Scheme | A certification scheme for renewable energy technologies and installers. |
| MEES | Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency Standard | Regulations requiring properties to meet minimum energy performance standards. |
| MR | Minimum Requirement | The least acceptable improvement for an ECO4 full project grant. |
| NICE | National Institute for Health and Care Excellence | An organisation providing guidance on health and social care, including energy-related impacts. |
| NMAP | New Measures and Products | Newly approved technologies or solutions eligible under ECO4 and GBIS. |
| OI Factor | Orientation and Inclination Factor | A variable affecting the performance of solar panels based on their position and angle. |
| ONS | Office for National Statistics | UK government agency providing data, including for ECO4 and GBIS target areas. |
| OO | Owner Occupied | Properties owned and lived in by the owner, eligible for certain ECO4 and GBIS measures. |
| PAS | Publicly Available Specification | Standards ensuring quality installations for energy efficiency measures, such as PAS 2030 and PAS 2035. |
| PCDB | Product Characteristics Database | A database of product specifications used in energy performance calculations. |
| PCGC | Pension Credit Guarantee Credit | A benefit for low-income pensioners, used for ECO4 and GBIS eligibility. |
| PCSC | Pension Credit Savings Credit | A supplement to Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, also used for ECO4 and GBIS eligibility. |
| PHI | Park Home Insulation | Insulation for park homes to improve thermal efficiency. |
| PIBI | Pre-installation Building Inspection | An assessment conducted before installing ECO4 or GBIS measures. |
| PICI | Post Installation Customer and Installer Declaration | A document confirming the completion of ECO4 or GBIS measures. |
| PPM | Pre-payment Meter | A type of energy meter, often associated with ECO4 or GBIS measures for vulnerable customers. |
| PRI | Pitched Roof Insulation | Insulation applied to pitched roofs to reduce heat loss. |
| TRVs | Thermostatic Radiator Valves | Valves that regulate radiator temperatures, often installed under ECO4 heating grants. |
Why This Matters
ECO4 and GBIS are transforming homes across the UK, improving energy efficiency and reducing costs for households. Understanding these abbreviations ensures you can take full advantage of the grants available.
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Energy companies are funding home upgrades, but these grants will end once they’ve met their legal obligations—so they won’t be around for long.