No receipt received Air conditioning grants under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme since it was announced in November last year, according to government figures.
Figures from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme indicate that just 62 people have applied for £2,500 vouchers for air-to-air heat pumps since they became available and none have yet been issued.
The reason for this is said to be a delay in the certification process, which has effectively stalled the scheme.
What government grants are available for air conditioning?
This The grant is for installing air-to-air heat pumpswhich provide air conditioning but can also heat homes if operated in reverse. Thermal batteries were also made available for claiming through the scheme as part of an expansion announced late last year.
Anyone with an oil or gas boiler in their home is eligible to make a claim Boiler Upgradation SchemeWhich is part of the government’s bid to move households away from fossil fuels.
Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU)said: “The recent June heatwave is estimated to have killed more than 800 people and is often the least well-affected case with climate change. The need for air con is now an additional cost imposed on families by climate change but not everyone can afford it.
“It won’t work for absolutely every home, but help is at hand through the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which gives households up to £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump that produces warmth in winter, but cool air in summer.”
Why has no one taken the air conditioning grant?
Lack of uptake is reported due to no accredited installers.
This Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the body responsible for accreditation but it is still awaited United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to give a final signal.
Now, although the grant was made available in April, there is no timeline for when installers can begin applying for accreditation to install. Air-to-air heat pumps.
As a result, while 62 people applied, no installation was carried out.
Jess Ralston said I paper It was frustrating because the money was waiting there but no one could claim it due to lack of paperwork
Homebuilding & Renovating contacted MCS and UKAS for comment, but had not received a reply at the time of publishing this article.
What did the government say in response to this?
The government neither confirmed nor denied the delay.
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) told Homebuilding & Renovating: “The British public is showing record demand for heat pumps and our Scheme of warm houses It will help millions of people to use clean power technology.
“With our new £2,500 grant for air-to-air heat pumps, we’re making sure everyone can access the savings they can bring and boost our energy security.”
