Thousands of Brits could be eligible for free air conditioning under a little-known government scheme expanded by the Labour Government. The Warm Homes Scheme, which includes the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), provides a grant of £7,500 for household heating devices and was expanded last year to cover air-to-air heat pumps. These units act as air conditioning in the summer and keep homes warm in the winter.
Scheme Largely Unclaimed Despite High Demand
Experts have noted the scheme is "largely unclaimed," with just 45 households reportedly making use of it. Despite low uptake, the scheme has enough funding to supply 950,000 households with air conditioning. Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said the heat pumps offer consumers "the best of both worlds" as they can both heat and cool a home.
A three-bedroom home will likely cost around £3,700 to install. The BUS is available to all homeowners, and applications are currently open. There are no income limits, but not all properties are eligible; most new build properties, for instance, will not qualify.
How to Apply
Your installer can tell you if you are eligible. Those interested were urged to contact an MCS certified installer, who will apply on your behalf through the Ofgem website. The value of the grant—up to £2,500—will be deducted from the installation cost. Further details can be found on the Gov.uk website.
Heatwave Conditions Prompt Warning
The air conditioning offer comes as the Met Office warns of heatwave conditions this weekend, with temperatures set to spike at 35°C in parts of the country. Met Office science manager Dr Amy Doherty said: "This year has already seen a number of remarkable temperature milestones. Not only have we now recorded a record eight days with temperatures exceeding 34°C, surpassing the previous record held by 1976 and 2020, but it is also the first year in the UK weather record to see temperatures reach 35°C or higher in May, June and July. These records highlight just how notable this year has been for UK temperatures, with exceptional warmth observed across multiple months."
