UK Launches New Boiler Scrappage Scheme

According to new reports, households with a working G-rated boiler will get £400 towards the installation of an A-rated boiler or renewable heating system. Thousands of homes across the UK will be able to apply for the £400. This is a new scheme that is backed by the UK government.

The scheme, which was just announced in December’s pre-budget report, is designed to cut carbon and help people save money on their energy bills over the years. Almost 125,000 households in England with working boilers with the lowest G rating can apply for vouchers from the Energy Saving Trust. This money must be put towards buying an A rated boiler or installing a renewable heating system, such as a heat pump or biomass boiler.

The government said that the £50 million scheme would save as much carbon as taking 45,000 cars off the roads. It will cut household energy bills as much as £235 a year. The prime minister, Gordon Brown, said that this new announcement will slash household energy bills and carbon emissions while providing an important boost for the British heating industry.

The average cost of a boiler and its installation is almost £2,500. People who own their homes and landords who rent homes are eligible. However, social landlords, housing associations and boiler installers are not.

Of course, not everyone is happy with the new scheme. Friends of the Earth criticized the scheme for not going far enough. They said that the scheme is a welcome initiative, but pathetically small. It will only reach about 125,000 households in the UK.