Older and disabled people ‘put off’ by UK energy saving scheme

Focus groups commissioned by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (Decc) to assess the "perceptions" and "potential take-up" of the green deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) found significant concerns, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The green deal facilitates loans - paid back via energy bills - to allow property owners to make energy-saving improvements. The ECO was introduced in January to work alongside the green deal to force energy companies to help low-income and vulnerable groups to make similar improvements.