Confused over green homes grant & Energy Obligation Scheme. Please Advise

Lethagized

Hiya, a contractor has said we can get full no cost central heating installation under the energy obligation scheme (ECO). He said we need to have this done first before anything else can be done. The thing is, we desperately need new windows because we still have the old sash windows. We also need external cavity wall insulation and a new skylight. Its my dads house, hes elderly and im his carer. I understand we can get the full £10k from the GHG scheme, but we really prefer the new windows and insulation over the new heating. Obviously we would love central heating and running hot water, but not at the expense of windows and insulation. It seems backwards how we must have a new heating system first, but still have drafty windows and no insulation.

Are we entitled to both schemes? We would hate to get taken for a ride and use up all the funds on central heating.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

kindnessfallslikerain

You will likely be entitled to both scheme’s - you just have to have different things done on each. I would advise applying to the ECO scheme for the central heating - this won’t take any of your GHG budget of £10,000. You can then apply to the GHG for cavity wall insulation (and loft insulation if needed) and upgrading your single glazing to double glazing. I’m not sure about the skylight - if it’s single glazed then I’m guessing it will qualify for doible
glazing. Just remember that they won’t give you any more towards the window replacements than you’ve ‘spent’ on the primary measures. 

Another option is to get the cavity wall insulation done via the ECO scheme (alongside the central heating) and then go for something like solar thermal (primary measure) on the GHG scheme if your house is suitable which would give you more money for the window replacements (secondary measure). 

Lethagized

Thanks a bunch for taking the time and effort to reply. This 'contractor' went silent and didn't call me for 2 weeks and I was starting to suspect him as some conman, but has just called today to arrange for a surveyor to come. Its put my mind at rest a little bit now that he's actually getting things started.