Heating For Households With New Boiler Scheme
By Alison Steed
AROUND 125,000 households are expected to get a new boiler by benefitting from the UK’s Boiler Scrappage Scheme, which will help them upgrade to an energy efficient boiler.
The scheme, which sees the Government pay £400 to help households get a more energy efficient boiler, is being matched by British Gas, meaning up to £800 can be saved in total on a boiler upgrade.
However, Tom Lyon, energy expert at uSwitch.com, said that while this was “welcome news” people should still get a number of quotes before making a decision.
He said: “The Government is moving very quickly on this scrappage scheme and energy companies are getting on board with it too. But consumers should still get quotes from a number of different sources, including independent plumbers, to ensure they are getting the most competitive price. Consumers should also never be tempted to risk their safety by going with a plumber who is not Gas Safe registered even if they are offering a lower price.
"Inefficient boilers contribute significantly to household carbon emissions. In addition, installing a modern energy efficient boiler can save households up to £235 a year on heating bills. With the average boiler lifespan of 15 years this is a substantial saving on energy bills which means the boiler could pay for itself.
"Heating and hot water accounts for over 60 per cent of the average household energy bill. In total, people can expect to pay £1,239 a year on energy - heating and hot water accounts for £756 of this so it makes absolute sense to focus energy efficiency efforts here where people have the most to gain. Hopefully we will start to see people looking to take advantage of the boiler scrappage scheme."
