What the boiler scrappage scheme means for you

The recent announcement by the government that they are introducing a scrappage scheme for old, inefficient boilers has been roundly welcomed as a positive step to prevent climate change and prevent fuel poverty. Many of the boilers currently in use in British homes are highly inefficient, wasting a significant percentage of the energy that they use to provide heat and hot water for the home.

The recent announcement by the government that they are introducing a scrappage scheme for old, inefficient boilers has been roundly welcomed as a positive step to prevent climate change and prevent fuel poverty. Many of the boilers currently in use in British homes are highly inefficient, wasting a significant percentage of the energy that they use to provide heat and hot water for the home.

Every boiler in the UK has a SEDBUK rating, which denotes their energy efficiency. Boilers that are over 90% efficient are given the A rating, which is the highest available. The lowest rating is G, which means that a boiler is less than 70% efficient, and it is these boilers that the government wants to take out of circulation. It is estimated that over 4.5 million band G boilers are currently in use in the UK. In an effort to encourage people to upgrade to a modern high efficiency model, the government are offering a £400 grant for the first 125,000 applicants to trade in their old band G boiler for a new band A or B one.

This means that there has never been a better time to upgrade your old boiler. A modern, high efficiency boiler such as the A-rated Baxi Duo-Tech 24HE Combi Boiler costs in the region of £700 to buy new. Trading in your old boiler for this one would save you approximately £200 per year in fuel bills, and with the scrappage grant, the boiler will effectively pay for itself over the course of 18 months or so. Also, you would have saved around one and a half tonnes in CO2 emissions over this period.

If your boiler is a back boiler, was installed before 2005, or has permanent pilot ignition, it is worth checking to see if you have a G rated appliance. You can also check online to see if your model of boiler has a G rating.

The government are not the only ones offering incentives to trade in your inefficient old boiler. British Gas are currently offering a £300 discount, free heating controls and a year’s free boiler insurance, plus a further £300 discount if you are over 60, when you trade in your old band G boiler for a new Baxi boiler, making a total potential saving of £1,052. Visit the British Gas website for more information on Baxi central heating.

(Submitted article)

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