New Green Homes Grant to give up to £5,000 in vouchers for insulation and double-glazing

Petriix

I'm wondering if it could be applicable for installing an air-to-air heat pump as a secondary heating system. That would benefit us when combined with our solar PV system for heating on cold but sunny days and the bonus of cooling in the summer.

VioletTG

I was hoping to get my non-working boiler replaced but it looks like this now won’t be an option under this scheme, is a the pump something that could work without a boiler to produce heat and hot water? 

VioletTG

@LA468

it says on the Gov website that trade people need to apply for a certificate. 

seradane

VioletTG said:

I was hoping to get my non-working boiler replaced but it looks like this now won’t be an option under this scheme, is a the pump something that could work without a boiler to produce heat and hot water? 

Yeah, we were hoping that we could use the scheme to replace our ancient (but thankfully still functional) boiler. Sadly doesn't look like the case.

But to answer your question, yes, you don't usually need a boiler if you have a heat pump. However when installing into an existing property, it isn't just a swap-it-over-and-go the way a replacement boiler is, there are a few more factors to consider, like potentially whether your heating system is compatible or needs re-doing as well. Heat pumps are the sort of thing that often requires a bit of a holistic re-think of your heating system to get the most out of them.

If you have an older property, and your EPC recommends installing cavity or loft insulation, you'll need to carry those out in order to qualify for the RHI payments (if you can even get them in conjunction with these vouchers). But payments or no, you are likely to want to do that anyway, as heat pumps need a certain level of energy efficiency to work well, and they may struggle to keep up with the demands of a drafty cold house if left as-is. Heat pumps don't produce the instantaneous oomph of heat the way a boiler does, it's more lower level heat over a longer period of time. Which is why they work really well with things like underfloor heating.

Uxb1

It will be the usual story:
The quotes will be artificially inflated to take account of the government discount available so the overall end price with the discount applied will be exactly the same as it would have been before the scheme started.
The "expert installers" will do an even more crap job than usual as they are overwhelmed with work.
You will be left with a bodge up, the taxpayers will be left with the bill for the Gov incentive/discount and the shareholders of your 'expert installers' will be well in the money and off to spend it in the Bahamas - or anywhere except the UK.
Welcome to the world....

batesy2007

I'm sorry but as usual the scheme is over complicated and will not really help many people. I was hoping for double glazing but seems I need to do my roof insulation first to qualify. Madness. I'll wait and get it done when prices aren't artificially increased.
Same thing happened when I got a quote for a driveway. I mentioned I worked in a hospital, was told some key worker discount patter and watched as the initial quote was so high my nose bled and watched it magically discounted to a more reasonable but still high price. 

Funqi

So, my parent's house still has single glazing. They are both pensioners.
I had their boiler & radiators all replaced last year, I paid it myself. It would be great if they could get the double glazing installed, but from reading Martin's article am I right in understanding that they could only claim for the double glazing if they first claim for new heating? Which of course they don't need now, because I done that already last year.

stator

Funqi said:

So, my parent's house still has single glazing. They are both pensioners.
I had their boiler & radiators all replaced last year, I paid it myself. It would be great if they could get the double glazing installed, but from reading Martin's article am I right in understanding that they could only claim for the double glazing if they first claim for new heating? Which of course they don't need now, because I done that already last year.

It won't cover glazing unless you install some insulation at the same time

Yu should consider installing floor insulation and wall insulation.

wuzzypoo

ewartterry said:

Hello hello everyone 
i have blown air heating which is 26 years old the hot water side has not worked for over a year now. British gas have condemned the hot water side saying parts are obsolete.
I get child credits does anyone know if I would be eligible for a new boiler under the governments new grant system please many thanks terry

Hi Terry,

have a look on your electric or gas suppliers website there should be info on there about help with s new boiler.
I’m with Npower and there is a link on their website about help with new boiler. They called me back same day and s surveyor is coming out and I’m not sure but it might cost me £395 for new boiler but that’s so much better than thousands! But I might get it free as I’ve just gone onto universal credit as laid off did yo COVID. 
Its worth looking and asking. I know not everyone has £395 to spare but if you need a boiler it’s a lot cheaper than paying the full amount.
i just thought I’d let you know you don’t have to wait until September. 

I hope you get sorted 

Petriix

Just a thought: is there anything stopping you from swapping out some of your old double glazed windows for single glazing so as to then claim the grant for replacing them again?