Air Source Heat Pump Grant
Air source heat pumps are an energy-efficient and low-carbon source to warm your house. Luckily, the UK government grant for air source heat pumps allows a free air source heat pump, or at a low cost. Grants are provided under the ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation) scheme, which started in 2022 and will run till 2026. The ECO4 scheme will provide a grant of up to £7,500 to assist in the installation.
Green Home Grants UK is working for the UK Government to help households make energy-efficient and eco-friendly home improvements. Connect with us if you are eligible for the air source heat pump grant in the UK, and reduce your energy bills with increased energy efficiency.
It is the first question concerning the grant. You are eligible if you cover the criteria below:
- A beneficiary of Ofgem benefits such as Income Support (IS), Child Tax Credit (CTC), Housing Benefit, Universal Credit (UC), JSA, ESA, PCGC, WTC, PCSC, and Child Benefits.
- You are the homeowner, or you have permission from the owner if you live as a tenant.
- Your home has a low-energy performance certificate.
The air source heat pump works similarly to a refrigerator in reverse. The process includes the following steps:
- Air from the outside is pulled across a series of tubes containing a refrigerant, which works at -28°C. It allows to absorb thermal energy from the external air.
- The refrigerant gas is compressed, escalating its pressure and temperature, causing it to transition from a low-temperature gas to a high-temperature liquid.
- The high-pressure, heated liquid is then directed through a heat exchanger, which uses the liquid’s heat to warm water circulating through your home’s radiator heating system.
What are the benefits of installing air source heat pumps?
Air source heat pumps (ASHP) come with a variety of benefits:
- An energy-efficient source, which can save up to £1,330 per year compared to older variants
- Environment-friendly and low-carbon emissions than heating through oil and gas.
- Longer lifetime in contrast to the traditional boiler.
- Two-in-one option providing both heating and cooling.
- Low maintenance requirement as compared to other boiler alternatives.
- Government support in the form of funds available to assist in the installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Various energy-efficient improvements come under the umbrella of ECO4, which include:
- Loft insulation
- Solar PV
- Wall padding
- Pitched roof insulation
- Upgraded boiler
- Green heating system
- Cavity wall insulation
If you do not fall in the above eligibility criteria, there is also another way through which you can get a grant. LA Flex scheme will help you get the grant even if you are not receiving any benefit and are still struggling to run your home.
Under this scheme, the local authorities will select homes eligible for grants. The criteria for selecting homes may differ by local authority. Still, the general criteria include households with net income less than £31,000 and an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
The UK’s government is granting funds for a free air source heat pump with the aim of achieving net zero emissions by the end of 2035. These goals were set by 195 countries in the Paris Agreement. Another reason is the continuous fluctuations in fuel prices, and this grant will assist in replacing the gas boiler with an energy-efficient alternative.
There is a range of air-source heating pumps available in the market, such as Hybrid Heat Pumps (HHP), Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP), and Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), but selecting the best depends on the following factors:
- Available financial estimate.
- Property size.
- The location of the home.
- Insulation condition in the house.
Although air-source heat pump comes with a variety of advantages, there are also some cons associated with them, such as:
- Installing without a grant can cost you a sum of money.
- If the correct insulation is not installed, then the running can also be expensive.
- Although it has low maintenance, it needs to be done on a regular basis.
- It requires an extra allotted space for the outdoors.
- The house will require other upgrades to take full advantage of ASHP.
Most UK homes are equipped with small radiators and will require a replacement to a bigger one, as they will radiate the low heat of ASHP efficiently.
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