ECO, or the Energy Company Obligation has been set up by the UK government to help vulnerable home owners improve the efficiency of their homes and reduce their heating bills. On every utility bill there is a ‘Green Tax’. This money is now being distributed to vulnerable, low-income and fuel poor households to help cover the costs of new boilers, and insulation measures. The funding is controlled by the UK's biggest energy companies, including, but not limited to: British Gas EON EDF Scottish Power Octopus Shell OVO Bulb

With winter drawing in fast, it's important to be prepared. If your current boiler is 10+ years old then it's more than likely going to be unreliable, and expensive to run. All new boilers which are installed via the free boiler scheme are A rated, which in percentage terms is 90%+. By comparison, older boilers can be anywhere from 60% efficient. This means that for every £1 you spend on your heating, 40p is literally wasted. If you qualify for a free boiler via a government grant, your new boiler will waste less than 10p which is a huge saving. Recent figures taken from the Energy Saving Trust have shown that by replacing your old in-efficient boiler, with a new A rated combi condensing boiler, you could save up-to as much as £580 over the course of a year. If you're a pensioner in receipt of Pension Credit, apply for a grant online.