Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Energy efficiency definition

What does Energy efficiency mean? Energy efficiency describes, in legal practice, achieving the same service or performance using less energy by cutting waste and improving the performance of buildings, plant and appliances (for example, better insulation, controls, heat recovery and higher‑efficiency equipment). The expression is descriptive rather than a single statutory definition, but legislation commonly refers to related concepts such as energy performance, energy savings and cost‑effective measures. It is a core issue in: - Real estate: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in England and Wales; Section 63 duties for certain non‑domestic premises in Scotland; EPC requirements in Northern Ireland;...

Energy Company Obligation in Great Britain: ECO1/ECO2 statutory framework, supplier obligations (CERO, CSCO, HHCRO), Ofgem administration, notifications and transfers, funding, brokerage, and 2013–2018 developments

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Practice notes

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) replaces Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP)

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) began in January 2013, replacing the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) which ran from 1 April 2008 to 31 December 2012, and the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) which operated from 1 October 2009 to 31 December 2012.

CERT, which superseded the Energy efficiency Commitment, required selected gas and electricity suppliers to meet targets for cutting carbon emissions in domestic properties.
CESP sought to lower carbon emissions by obliging gas and electricity suppliers and electricity generators to deliver energy‑saving measures to domestic consumers in designated low income areas of Britain.

What is the ECO?

ECO works alongside the domestic Green Deal to provide support and funding for energy efficiency improvements in existing properties. It focuses on installing energy efficiency measures in low income households and areas, and in harder‑to‑treat homes where the most effective carbon‑saving measures do not meet the Green Deal’s Golden rule. Note that in July 2015, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd announced the Green Deal Finance Company and the related home improvement fund would no longer...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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