Worcester commends boiler scrappage scheme

Worcester, Bosch Group has commended the speed of introduction of the UK government's Greener Boiler Initiative, .

The scheme, informally known as the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, was first unveiled in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report in December 2009.

Worcester Bosch Group has commended the speed at which it has been introduced and the simplicity of the application process.

The scheme will offer up to 125,000 homeowners in England a GBP400 incentive to replace their old Band G gas or oil-fired boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler, on a first come first served basis.

Grants will be administered by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and vouchers will be issued from 18 January onwards.

Homeowners are able to apply for a grant immediately and can arrange for their boiler to be replaced now by their chosen installer.

All applicants will be entitled to the grant, providing the installer is Gas Safe or OFTEC Registered and they have a Band G boiler.

Vouchers can be redeemed against any A rated gas, oil or LPG-fired boiler, Microgeneration Certification Scheme-registered biomass boilers and heat pumps.

Solar thermal systems are also included if combined with an eligible boiler replacement.

Electric boilers will not be eligible.

Vouchers are valid for 12 weeks from the date of issue.

If the voucher is not redeemed within this time, it will be cancelled and reallocated.

It is estimated that there are currently 4.5 million Band G gas-fired boilers in use throughout the UK which contribute heavily to the country's high level of harmful carbon emissions.

Carl Arntzen, director of Bosch Thermotechnology, commented: 'The initiative will make a real impact, by both significantly reducing carbon emissions and securing affordable long term energy prices for homeowners'.

Carl added: 'If the full amount of money allocated for the initiative is utilised, it will save the country 140,000 tonnes of carbon'.

Currently the Greener Boiler Initiative grant will only be available in England due to legislation governing the Devolved Administrations, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Assemblies and Governments will take decisions on whether they want similar schemes.

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