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Heat pumps: How do they work and how do I get one? | Heat pumps: How do they work and how do I get one? |
(25 days later) | |
Air-source heat pumps look a bit like an air-conditioning unit on the outside of a building | Air-source heat pumps look a bit like an air-conditioning unit on the outside of a building |
The government is increasing the financial support available to help households in England and Wales replace their gas boilers with heat pumps. | The government is increasing the financial support available to help households in England and Wales replace their gas boilers with heat pumps. |
The Boiler Upgrade Grant is rising from £5,000 to £7,500. | The Boiler Upgrade Grant is rising from £5,000 to £7,500. |
The sale of new gas boilers will still be banned from 2035 but poorer households will now be exempt. | The sale of new gas boilers will still be banned from 2035 but poorer households will now be exempt. |
UK heat pump costs | |
The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) estimates that air source heat pumps - the most common type for households - costs £10,000 more than a gas boiler on average. | |
Some energy companies are offering heat pumps as low as £3000 with the government grant. | |
The NIC analysis suggests that as the UK moves towards using electricity based heating, generated from renewable energy, household bills will fall from £2,200 on average to below £1,400 in the mid 2030s. | |
Whether this will be cheaper than running gas boilers is challenging to say as it depends on fossil-fuel energy costs, which have fluctuated significantly in recent years, but experts say that costs could be more stable under a renewable energy system. | |
What is the scheme and who is eligible? | What is the scheme and who is eligible? |
The boiler upgrade scheme was launched in April 2022 to help reduce the cost of more environmentally-friendly heating systems. | The boiler upgrade scheme was launched in April 2022 to help reduce the cost of more environmentally-friendly heating systems. |
It is part of the government's commitment to reach "net zero" - the point at which the UK no longer adds to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - by 2050. | It is part of the government's commitment to reach "net zero" - the point at which the UK no longer adds to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere - by 2050. |
Grants are available to existing homes and non-domestic buildings in England and Wales, and can be used for: | Grants are available to existing homes and non-domestic buildings in England and Wales, and can be used for: |
air source heat pumps | air source heat pumps |
ground source heat pumps | ground source heat pumps |
water source heat pumps | water source heat pumps |
biomass boilers (for those living in rural areas) | biomass boilers (for those living in rural areas) |
Even at the increased level, the grant will not necessarily cover the full cost of installation. | Even at the increased level, the grant will not necessarily cover the full cost of installation. |
The property must have an eligible Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued in the last 10 years, with no outstanding recommendations to install loft or cavity wall insulation. | The property must have an eligible Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued in the last 10 years, with no outstanding recommendations to install loft or cavity wall insulation. |
If that has been recommended, you'll need to insulate your home first, or do it as part of the application process. | If that has been recommended, you'll need to insulate your home first, or do it as part of the application process. |
The scheme is not available if you live in social housing or a new-build property. Private rented accommodation is also eligible but the landlord has to apply. | The scheme is not available if you live in social housing or a new-build property. Private rented accommodation is also eligible but the landlord has to apply. |
Then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced in the 2022 Spring Statement that there would be no VAT on heat pumps for five years in England, Scotland and Wales. | Then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced in the 2022 Spring Statement that there would be no VAT on heat pumps for five years in England, Scotland and Wales. |
Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate schemes to help make homes more efficient. | Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate schemes to help make homes more efficient. |
Check if you may be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme | Check if you may be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme |
Ofgem: Boiler upgrade scheme | Ofgem: Boiler upgrade scheme |
Find a certified installer | Find a certified installer |
How is the scheme changing? | How is the scheme changing? |
In March 2023, the government extended the scheme until 2028, after the House of Lords Net Zero Committee warned take-up was so low the national target for green heating was "very unlikely to be met". | In March 2023, the government extended the scheme until 2028, after the House of Lords Net Zero Committee warned take-up was so low the national target for green heating was "very unlikely to be met". |
In September, as part of a series of changes to the government's approach to net zero, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the 2035 ban would remain and the grant increase. | In September, as part of a series of changes to the government's approach to net zero, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the 2035 ban would remain and the grant increase. |
He also said there would be a "new exemption" to help households who would particularly struggle to switch. The government suggests this could apply to about a fifth of homes. | He also said there would be a "new exemption" to help households who would particularly struggle to switch. The government suggests this could apply to about a fifth of homes. |
It is also delaying the ban on installing oil and liquid-petroleum-gas (LPG) boilers and new coal heating for "off-gas-grid" homes, to 2035. | It is also delaying the ban on installing oil and liquid-petroleum-gas (LPG) boilers and new coal heating for "off-gas-grid" homes, to 2035. |
This had been due to be phased in from 2026 but the government wants to give these households more time to adapt. | This had been due to be phased in from 2026 but the government wants to give these households more time to adapt. |
Mr Sunak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the average life of a boiler was about 15 years - so even if people had a gas boiler at the time of the ban, 2035, the 2050 target could still be met. | Mr Sunak told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the average life of a boiler was about 15 years - so even if people had a gas boiler at the time of the ban, 2035, the 2050 target could still be met. |
PM gambles as he walks towards blizzard of criticism | PM gambles as he walks towards blizzard of criticism |
Could Sunak's green review threaten UK net zero? | Could Sunak's green review threaten UK net zero? |
How do heat pumps work? | How do heat pumps work? |
A heat pump is an electrically-powered device which absorbs heat from the air, ground or water around a building. | A heat pump is an electrically-powered device which absorbs heat from the air, ground or water around a building. |
For example, air-source pumps suck in outdoor air and pass it over tubes containing refrigerant fluids to produce heat. | For example, air-source pumps suck in outdoor air and pass it over tubes containing refrigerant fluids to produce heat. |
This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
Heat pumps explained in 60 seconds | Heat pumps explained in 60 seconds |
Heat pumps explained in 60 seconds | Heat pumps explained in 60 seconds |
How big are heat pumps? | How big are heat pumps? |
A box of about 1m x 1m x 0.4m needs to stand outside - close to, or attached to the property - to draw in air. | A box of about 1m x 1m x 0.4m needs to stand outside - close to, or attached to the property - to draw in air. |
It should be at least 1m from your neighbour's property so they will not be able to hear it, although it won't be much louder than a fridge. | It should be at least 1m from your neighbour's property so they will not be able to hear it, although it won't be much louder than a fridge. |
You will also need space inside for a heat pump unit and hot water cylinder. The unit will be about the size of a gas boiler - while the cylinder depends on the size of the home. | You will also need space inside for a heat pump unit and hot water cylinder. The unit will be about the size of a gas boiler - while the cylinder depends on the size of the home. |
A ground source heat pump needs much more space outside - either a bore hole as deep as 100m, or a horizontal system dug into the ground over a large area. | A ground source heat pump needs much more space outside - either a bore hole as deep as 100m, or a horizontal system dug into the ground over a large area. |
How will we heat homes in zero-carbon Britain? | How will we heat homes in zero-carbon Britain? |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Greenhouse gas emissions | Greenhouse gas emissions |
Climate change | Climate change |
Heat pumps | Heat pumps |
Renewable energy | Renewable energy |
Carbon neutrality | Carbon neutrality |