A Guide to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

In a world where we are trying to reduce the energy that we use, it stands to reason that heating our homes is one of the biggest ways in which we consume fossil fuels. The Government has therefore brought in a new Boiler Upgrade Scheme to try and lure people away from their current fossil fuel powered boilers to more energy efficient systems. This can help to reduce the amount we are spending on heating our homes whilst also doing our bit for the environment. What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme? As part of the Government’s target of reaching zero emissions by 2050, a Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been announced to encourage homeowners to make the switch to low carbon sources of heat for their homes. This could mean changing from a fossil fuel boiler to an air source heat pump, which will both help to combat rising energy prices as well as acting as a much greener alternative. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a £5,000 voucher towards the purchase and installation of an air source heat pump or a £6,000 voucher towards the purchase and installation of a ground source heat pump. These vouchers are applied for by an MCS accredited organisation which will be redeemable once the installation has been completed and certified, although this does mean that you will be required to pay the full cost upfront before you can receive the voucher. Boiler Upgrade Scheme Eligibility The focus of the scheme is to encourage existing properties to upgrade to a heat pump instead of replacing one fossil fuel boiler with another, however, self-build properties are also included. To qualify for the upgrade, your property and heat pump must be privately owned and replacing a fossil fuel system such as a gas boiler or a direct electric system. The heat pump must be able to provide all the heating and hot water that the property requires, and therefore cannot be supported by another boiler or oil filled system, although localised sources such as plug-in heaters or wood burning stoves are permitted. You must make sure that the heat pump you select is eligible for the scheme. It must therefore be MCS approved and able to achieve a minimum Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 2.8. You will also need a valid EPC that is less than 10 years old if the heat pump is for an existing home, whilst new builds will need a planning application reference. There should also be no history of previous energy grants such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) or the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding. With an air source heat pump typically costing between £10,000 to £12,000 and a ground source heat pump requiring a budget of £15,000 to £20,000, it has been considered too costly by many to make the change from a traditional system. It is hoped that this new Government incentive can make these more efficient and environmentally friendly systems achievable for many more homeowners to install.

For more information on A Guide to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme talk to Chill Air Conditioning Ltd