Boiler scrappage scheme will save as much carbon as taking 45,000 cars off the roads

By Susie Weldon

Thousands of households can now apply for £400 off the price of a new A-rated boiler or renewable heating system such as a biomass boiler or a heat pump after the Government yesterday launched its long-awaited boiler scrappage scheme.

The £50million scheme is aimed at cutting carbon and helping people save money on bills. The Government said it would save as much carbon as taking 45,000 cars off the roads and also cut a household’s energy bill by up to £235 a year.

But to qualify you have to have a working boiler with the lowest ‘G’ rating – estimated to apply to up to 125,000 households in England.

The cash comes in the form of vouchers (obtained through the Energy Saving Trust) and amounts to roughly a sixth of the average £2,500 cost of a boiler and its installation (according to the heating industry).

Some energy companies are planning to complement and even match the Government offer with money-off initiatives for upgrading to more efficient boilers – so that more householders can take advantage of the scheme.

The Government said the programme would also help sustain work for the 130,000 installers as well as secure 250,000 jobs in the UK’s boiler industry during the recession.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the scheme would “slash household energy bills and carbon emissions while providing an important boost for the British heating industry”.

To register for the scheme and to find out more, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.