You may have heard that the UK government is highlighting the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. This is due to start proceedings in April 2022. This initiative sees boiler grants of £6000 being handed out to help the UK’s homes transition to more sustainable energy sources such as air source heat pumps or ground source heat pumps. This move is to enable homes to move away from traditional gas boilers. However, is there any interest in the boiler scheme from the British public? No one can deny that generating clean heat is an important issue for climate change, but it’s a costly one too. Not everyone can afford a replacement boiler and the grants may not be enough to support low-income households who would benefit the most from energy efficient heating, energy saving and lower energy bills.  

Great British Home Heating Survey

The Great British Home Heating Survey asked 18,000 customers a variety of questions about their home heating and the future of fossil fuel boilers and heating systems. It yielded some interesting results. 51% of people that responded said that they wouldn’t apply for the scheme, with 43% not supporting the gas ban. However, unsurprisingly the majority of homeowners were concerned about the “cost to install” eco heating sources. They were unsure of renewable energy. 17% suggesting that the new boiler systems wouldn’t be suitable for their property. Other concerns included lack of space. Over three quarters of respondents said that the government should be providing more financial help to decarbonise and install low-carbon heating systems to improve energy efficiency as the current suggestion wouldn’t be enough.

Generally, the public were in support of decarbonisation and attempting to reduce their carbon output. However, they didn’t think the government grant offerings were significant or substantial enough to make a difference due to the high upfront costs. A third of those surveyed said they wouldn’t spend anything on upgrading their home heating for the reasons above. Yet 37% said they’d spend up to £3000 to upgrade, with the remaining saying they’d spend £3000+ to replace an inefficient boiler and carry out a heat pump installation.  

The Future of Home Heating in the UK

These results are interesting when we consider whether the government’s 2050 goal of net zero carbon are achievable. They are relying on contributions from the public heavily. Although there does seem to be an interest, it may not be enough when looking at the financial implications of these upgrades. The need for change is undeniable, but who does this responsibility fall with? We will keep you updated on any major policy changes to the Government scheme close to the launch.

Here at Mr Central Heating, we’re doing what we can to reduce our contribution to carbon emissions and waste. Check out our sustainability page for more information on how we’re conscious of our environmental impact. Alternatively, you could check out our Going Green board over on Pinterest. There you will find lots of different ideas to help you be more green.