Find out all you need to know about preparing your home for the new boiler upgrade scheme.

Starting today, 23 May 2022, the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) application and payment scheme will open for installers to apply on behalf of residents and homeowners. This is the latest government programme to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, to reduce harmful emissions and lessen our reliability on climate-harming carbon emissions. The scheme includes £450m of government grants to help homeowners in the UK upgrade to low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps and biomass boilers.

What funding is available?

The new funding will allow homeowners to apply for a one-off grant of either:

Air-Source Heat Pump

£5,000 towards the cost of an air-source heat pump

An air source heat pump, sometimes referred to as an air-to-water source heat pump, transfers heat from the outside air to water, which heats your rooms via radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps, showers and baths. Find out more from the Energy Saving Trust about Air-Source Heat Pumps.

a photograph of heat pump loops being installed in a domestic garden

Ground-Source Heat Pump

£6,000 towards the cost of a ground-source heat pump

A ground source heat pump, sometimes referred to as a ground-to-water heat pump, transfers heat from the ground outside your home to heat your radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water stored in a hot water cylinder for your hot taps and showers. Read more from the Energy Saving Trust about Ground-Source Heat Pumps.

a photograph of logs and a log burning stove in red

Biomass Boiler

£5,000 towards the cost of a Biomass Boiler (for properties in rural areas not connected to the gas grid only)

Biomass heating systems burn wood pellets, chips or logs to provide warmth in a single room or to power central heating and hot water boilers. A stove burns logs or pellets to heat a single room – and may be fitted with a back boiler to provide water heating as well. A boiler burns logs, pellets or chips, and is connected to a central heating and hot water system. Find out more from the Energy Saving Trust about Biomass heating systems.

Am I Eligible For The Boiler Upgrade Scheme?

You are eligible for the grants if you:

Live in England or Wales
Own your property (whether this is a home or a small non-domestic property).
Have a property with a maximum installation capacity of up to 45 kilowatt-thermal (kWth) – this covers most homes.
You must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your home.
Your EPC must not have any outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation – unless you have an exemption covering these recommendations.

New build homes and social housing will not be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The only exception is if you are building your own home.

Preparing Your Home for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme – Insulation, Insulation, Insulation!

Is Your Home Fully Insulated?

Every home is unique, and it’s important to consider all the changes you might need to make before making big retrofit home improvements in isolation or installing a new heating system.

Your loft is one of the easiest places in your home to insulate! Even if you have loft insulation, you may still be in need of a top-up, or an upgrade of the quality of the insulation. We recommended a full 10 inches of high performance insulation, such as Knauf or Kingspan.

Book a loft top-up appointment

The Whole Home Approach

Some areas of the home are often missed when people are looking at installing retrofitting measures. Although most people do consider loft and wall insulation, a typical home loses 25% of heat through the windows and doors not being well-fitted and fully insulated.

Our signature Maxitherm insulated glazing units can make your windows up to 90% energy efficient when installed into uPVC frames! We only stock the best energy efficient doors to stop draughts and losing valuable heat from your home.

Book a window upgrade appointment

diagram showing heat loss in a typical home

Thermal imaging conducting a home energy assessment

Our FREE home energy efficiency assessment

If you are thinking about retrofitting your home for energy efficiency, or installing a heat pump, it’s s good idea to have a home energy assessment carried out. You can contact an independent body or a qualified thermographer (thermal imaging professional), but there will be a cost to this.

We provide all of our customers a free, no obligation home energy efficiency assessment! We use thermal imaging technology to find the cold spots in your home, and provide our recommendations with what to do about them!

Book a home assessment