Lack of boiler upgrades is ‘missed opportunity’ in Green Homes Grant

The HVAC sector has given a mixed reaction to the details unveiled around the government’s Green Homes Grant and the technologies that will be applicable to receive funding.

Funds will be provided for heating technologies alongside insulation upgrades, but while these include heat pumps and solar thermal systems, boiler upgrades are exempt from the scheme. Meanwhile, installers working on a project that makes use of the grant will be required to be accredited under one of two standards.

Some have rued the lack of any boiler upgrade or scrappage scheme as a missed opportunity.

The Hot Water Association said it was 'baffled' by the exclusion of hot water cylinders under the grant programme.

HWO head of external affairs Isaac Occhipinti said that the government should use the funding as an opportunity to support long-term transformation of heating and energy storage.

He said, “If the UK is to increase its use of low carbon heating technology, then storage of some sort will be necessary, and currently hot water storage is the only practical solution for storing energy and banking it for when it needs to be used.’

‘It makes absolutely no sense that a hot water cylinder isn’t on the list of approved measures. Why isn’t the government recognising the importance of hot water storage? The Green Homes Grant scheme appears to be another missed opportunity.’

 

The Green Homes Grant was one of several packages unveiled in a Summer Statement issued by Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month to try and encourage a transformation of public sector buildings and private homes.

The aim of the fund is to curb energy bills and domestic carbon emissions, while also encouraging a greener economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

It has now been announced that in order to apply for the funding, a chosen installer must either register with the TrustMark or Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation standards to supply solutions to a home.

Alok Sharma, the Business and Energy secretary said that the Trustmark scheme would provide a guarantee for property owners that work undertaken through the Green Homes Grant would be of a high standard.

He said, “Green home improvements will save people money on their energy bills, help to cut carbon emissions, and create new work for many thousands of builders, plumbers and other tradespeople.”

Tradespeople accredited under these either of these two standards will be added to a local list of installers capable to undertake energy efficiency or heating work. This list will also be used by the government-endorsed Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service.

According to the government, the SEA will advise suitable home improvements to interested homeowners to cut domestic carbon emissions and fuel bills with vouchers covering the cost of these projects set to be issued by September of this year.

Funding support

Money will be provided through the grant in the form of vouchers and will allow homeowners, owner occupiers or landlords to install one or more of a set list of technologies and energy efficiency measures.

These include: air source or ground source heat pumps; solar thermal heating systems; and insulation - either solid wall, underfloor, cavity wall or in-roof.

Vouchers can be used on energy saving measures such as double or triple glazing or secondary glazing as a replacement for single glazing. Upgraded doors can also be obtained under the grant, along with hot water tank/appliance tank thermostats or heating controls.

Mike Thornton, chief executive with the Energy Savings Trust, said the Green Homes Grant represented a significant investment in the environment and carbon cutting initiatives.

He said, “It will particularly help low-income households access much-needed funds to make their homes warmer. I would really encourage homeowners to apply for the scheme.”

Industry response

The Heat Pump Federation and sister body the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) said they were pleased heat pump technologies were directly supported via the grant.

The trade body claimed that the heat pump sector did have the ability to curb emissions from heating homes, as well as to train and upskill the country’s workforce to supply and install the technologies on mass.

Work is already underway to step up training and build consumer awareness around introducing and maintaining the technologies and developing effective performance standards, according to the association.

GSHPA Chair Bean Beanland said, “With the electricity industry rapidly increasing the options for heat pump compatible tariffs, there has never been a better time for homeowners to invest in heat pump technology.”

However the lack of cash for upgrades for inefficient boilers drew criticism from some corners of the industry.

Martyn Bridges, Worcester Bosch’s director of technical communication and product management, said that an estimated six million non-condensing boilers were in operation in the UK that could be updated.

Mr Bridges added, “Another concern is that tradespeople need to be TrustMark or MCS accredited registered companies to undertake the work. The overwhelming majority of heating installation businesses are not members as they are small, one-man operated businesses.”

“Therefore, while we will end up with more efficient properties for homeowners, there will be no great job retention outcome for the businesses that are not able to take advantage of this grant.”

Mr Bridges said he welcomed the announcement that secondary measures such as smart controls would be supported through the Green Home Grant.

Peter Thom, md of Green Heat said that the government could have taken the opportunity to encourage replacement of non-condensing boilers with 92 per cent efficient ERP compliant boilers or even hydrogen-ready boilers. He said: "In efficiency terms, this is not even low-hanging fruit, it's fruit that’s already on the ground."