Air Source Heat Pump Grant: Your Gateway to Energy Efficiency
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) offer a sustainable and efficient way to heat your home by transferring heat from the outside air. With rising energy costs and environmental concerns, government energy support programs like the Air Source Heat Pump Grant are becoming increasingly important.
This article serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the Air Source Heat Pump Grant, specifically under the government energy support programmes such as ECO4 scheme, to help you understand both the technology and the application process for obtaining financial support.
Air source heat pump grant applications under ECO4 are now open for: December 2023
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Who Can Apply for an Air Source Heat Pump Grant?
Eligibility Criteria:
- Homeowners or private tenants (with landlord permission)
- Recipients of OFGEM-approved government UK benefits
- Homes with low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC rating meaning)
What UK benefits criteria qualify for the grant
- Child Tax Credits (CTC)
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Pension Credit Savings Credit
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Child Benefits
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Income Support (IS)
How to Apply for an Air Source Heat Pump Grant
Before diving into the application process, it’s essential to know if you qualify for the Air Source Heat Pump Grant. Eligibility often depends on factors like your location, income level, and the current heating system in your home.
Step 1 – Eligibility check
First, answer a few questions to find out if you qualify for the grants available for air source heat pumps.
Step 2 – Survey
Once you’re confirmed eligible, we’ll schedule a home visit so that we can determine whether an heat air pump grant can be applied to your circumstance.
Step 3 – Installation
As soon as your home is approved for grants available for heat pumps, all that’s left to do is to agree an installation date!
What is an Air Source Heat Pump?
An Air Source Heat Pump is an energy-efficient heating system that uses outside air for climate control. It serves as an eco-friendly alternative to gas boilers and electric heating systems, and can be integrated into a hybrid heat pump system with a ground source heat pump for improved EPC rating.
Ideal for both homes and commercial buildings looking to install a new heating system. You can find out more about how air source heat pumps work, their benefits and tips about maintenance from our blog.
Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps
- Energy Efficiency: ASHPs are highly energy-efficient, providing up to three times more heat energy than the electricity they consume.
- Environmental Impact: They are a viable alternative to fossil fuel-based systems, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
- Financial Savings: Grants are available for low-income households, covering the installation costs.
Why Apply for a Grant?
Air source heat pumps serve as an efficient and sustainable alternative for home heating. Opting for a heat pump with UKES over a traditional gas boiler or electric heating system offers several advantages:
Lower Energy Bills
Heat pumps are generally more energy-efficient, leading to reduced utility costs.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Unlike gas boilers, heat pumps have a lower impact on the environment, helping you contribute to greenhouse effect mitigation.
100% free
Government grants are used to subsidise full cost of installing heat pumps, making them financially accessible for those in need of free grants for low-income families.
Insulation Benefits
Grants, including Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), often extend to additional energy-saving measures like cavity wall insulation, maximizing your home’s overall efficiency.
Alternative Options
If a heat pump isn’t suitable for your property, grants may also cover other sustainable options like air source heat pumps and solar panels, storage heaters, back boiler removal grant or loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, among other insulation grants.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
By partnering with UK Energy Support (UKES) and avoiding these common mistakes, you can streamline your application process and increase your chances of approval.
Incomplete Documentation
Choosing Non-Accredited Installers
Always opt for approved installers like UKES. We adhere to OFGEM regulations, ensuring your application won’t result in disqualification.
Skipping Site Survey
Not Considering Additional Grants
Pros and Cons of Air Source Heat Pumps
While ASHPs offer numerous benefits, they may not be suitable for all settings. They may be less efficient in extremely cold temperatures and can produce some noise. However, modern systems are designed to mitigate these issues.
Pros of Air Source Heat Pumps
- Financial incentive: UK heat pump grants fully offset the initial cost of the air source heat pump as well as its installation.
- Energy Efficiency: Air source heat pumps are highly energy-efficient, often more so than traditional fossil fuel heating systems.
- Low Carbon Footprint: As low carbon heating systems, they significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
- Renewable Energy: Air source heat pumps are considered renewable heating systems, utilising air source heat from the environment.
- Versatility: They can be used for both heating and cooling, offering a multi-seasonal solution.
- Energy Saving Measures: These systems are compatible with other energy-saving measures like solar panels.
- Reduced Fuel Costs: Over time, heat pumps can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, lowering your energy bills.
Cons of Air Source Heat Pumps
- Initial Cost: Without grant eligibility, the upfront cost can exceed that of traditional fossil fuel systems.
- Electricity Use: These systems require electricity, which could come from fossil fuels if not paired with a renewable energy source.
- Space Requirement: An outdoor space is necessary for the external unit, making it impractical for some living situations.
- Hybrid Systems: For optimal performance, a hybrid system combining air and ground source heat pumps may sometimes be necessary.
- Noise: While modern units are quieter, some noise is still generated during operation.
- Maintenance: Regular upkeep is required for optimal performance, although maintenance needs are minimal with modern units.
Case Studies and Real-Life Examples
One compelling case is that of Mark, a UK farmhouse owner who rents his property on Airbnb. Leveraging the air source heat pump grant and boiler upgrade scheme, Mark transitioned from a traditional gas boiler to a low carbon heating system featuring a source heat pump and solar panels.
This change qualified him for the government’s renewable heat incentive and allowed him to make substantial energy efficiency improvements. Funded in part by the energy company obligation, his initial investment was significantly offset.
Mark now saves around £1,200 per year on heating costs and has reduced his property’s carbon emissions by 40%. His farmhouse, previously reliant on the gas grid, now utilizes sustainable heat energy, making it a prime example of the benefits of integrating renewable energy systems.
Financial and Environmental Impact Data
| Metric | Initial | After upgrade |
| Annual Heating Cost (£) | £3,000 | £1,800 |
| Annual Savings (£) | N/A | £1,200 |
| Percentage Change | N/A | 40% |
| Carbon Emissions (Tonnes/year) | 10 | 6 |
| Carbon Savings (Tonnes/year) | 0 | 4 |
| Energy Efficiency Rating | D | A |
Expert Opinions and Tips
If you’re contemplating a low carbon heating system for your home, expert research offers compelling reasons to consider Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs). A study by Hongyu Zhang et al. in 2019 highlights that increasing the use of heat pump heating is advantageous not just for reducing carbon and air pollutant emissions, but also for its benefits to the power grid and economic operation. This makes ASHPs a compelling heat source in the fight against climate change.
“Increasing the share of heat pump heating is advantageous in terms of carbon emissions, air pollutants emissions, benefits to the power grid, and economic operation”
Zhang, H., Zhou, L., Huang, X., & Zhang, X. (2019). Decarbonizing a large City’s heating system using heat pumps: A case study of Beijing. Energy. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2019.07.150.
“20% of the expected reduction of electricity consumption is converted into increased comfort in the homes, including extended heating areas, keeping a higher temperature and a longer heating season”
Gram-hanssen, K., Christensen, T., & Petersen, P. (2012). Air-to-air heat pumps in real-life use: Are potential savings achieved or are they transformed into increased comfort?. Energy and Buildings, 53, 64-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2012.06.023.
Furthermore, research by K. Gram-hanssen et al. in 2012 reveals that ASHPs can lead to a 20% reduction in electricity consumption, which homeowners often convert into increased comfort, such as extended heating areas and a longer heating season.
When it comes to space heating, ASHPs not only offer a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional systems like biomass boilers but also contribute to a more comfortable living environment. With such strong scientific backing, an air source heat pump could be your next smart, sustainable choice.
Future Outlook
Source heat pump grants, including those for air source and water source heat pumps, are likely to expand due to climate change concerns. These grants target low-income homes and often cover total upfront costs, especially if you meet means-tested benefits criteria like Universal Credit. They aim to improve energy rating and meet minimum efficiency levels, aligning with cavity wall insulation recommendations and microgeneration certification schemes for alternative systems like biomass boilers.
Are Air Source Heat Pumps Worth it?
Air source heat pump grants provide a sustainable alternative to traditional gas boilers and electric heating systems, covering the total cost of installation. Meeting means-tested benefit criteria can make you eligible for these grants, aimed at achieving minimum efficiency levels. Whether you’re considering a heat pump or other heating solution, these grants offer financial relief for loft or cavity wall installations as well. Find out more about weather air source heat pumps are worth it in our recent interview with an industry expert or check your eligibility today for a greener, more energy-efficient home.
Is Air Source Heat Pump Grant Available Under ECO4?
Government energy efficiency scheme measures are fitted through installers, such as us, approved by the biggest energy suppliers. This ensures a high standard of work and gives you peace of mind.
Don’t worry, if your current energy supplier isn’t on the list, you may still qualify for Government Energy Grants. Complete our form, and we’ll confirm that you meet enough of the other criteria to benefit from the Energy Company Obligation grant. This could be your chance to receive a valuable heat pump government grant and increase the energy efficiency of your home at no cost to you.
ECO4 is a government initiated scheme overseen by Ofgem
Apply Today for a grant for Air Source Heat Pumps
Here at UK Energy Support, we want to help as many people as possible improve their energy consumption. Get in touch and start saving on your energy bill with the heat source pump grant.