If your boiler is more than 15 years old, it might be time for an upgrade. You’re not alone: there are hundreds of thousands of people in the UK who need a new boiler due to poor energy efficiency. In fact, if you live in England, Scotland or Wales and own or privately rent your home, you could be eligible for help. There are a few different options available but this article will focus on two in particular – the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
What is the ECO scheme?
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme is a government scheme introduced to help cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty through various energy-saving measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation and boiler upgrades or repairs. The implementation of these measures, such as upgrading to an A-rated boiler can help save you money on your energy bills, as well as reduce carbon emissions from your home.
Who is eligible for a grant under the ECO4 scheme?
ECO4 is the latest iteration of the scheme, ECO4 launched in July 2022 replacing its predecessor ECO3. To be eligible for the ECO4 Scheme you must meet all of the following criteria:
- You must own or privately rent your home
- You must be in receipt of certain benefits (Department for Work and Pensions)
- You must have an old boiler that has reached its end of life
- Your property must be located in England, Scotland or Wales
If you qualify for the scheme, you may be able to replace your current heating system with one that’s cheaper to run while also being more environmentally friendly.
The amount of help varies from case to case and can depend on your circumstances, the boiler you choose and the cost of installation. You can get an idea of what a modern boiler will cost by using our instant quote tool here.
To find out more about applying, visit the Simple Energy Advice website, Once you know how much contribution you are eligible for, you can get your new boiler installed by an approved installer – get in touch with us to discuss the next steps to get your new boiler installed.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) was introduced in April 2022 and provides grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems – heat pumps or biomass boilers. For each home £5000 is available towards the cost and installation of an air source heat pump or biomass boiler, and £6000 for a ground source heat pump. This grant does not include fossil fuel based systems such as gas boilers.
What is a heat pump?
An air source heat pump is similar in principle to the air conditioning unit but provides heat instead of cooling – it absorbs heat from the air outside which is then compressed which increases the temperature – this heat can then be used to either heat radiators or provide hot water.
Who is eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)?
To be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Your property must be located in England or Wales
- You must own or privately rent your home
- Your property must have an installation capacity up to 45kWth (this covers most homes)
- Your property must have a a current energy performance certificate (EPC), with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation
The scheme is not available for those in social housing, new build properties, or properties which have already received funding for a heat pump or biomass boiler.
Biomass boilers will only be available for rural properties and properties with no connection to the gas grid. Hybrid heat pump systems are not eligible for grant funding.
Conclusion
If you’re a homeowner, there’s a good chance that you can get some sort of grant to replace your old boiler. You’ll need to be eligible for the schemes – but if you are, it could save you hundreds of pounds on installation costs.
If you have been accepted for the ECO4 scheme and would like us to install a boiler for you, call us on 0808 134 9499 (landline) or 01992 238 252 (mobile) to discuss the options available. We install boilers across the South East and East of England Including Kent, Cambridgeshire, Milton Keyenes and further beyond.
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