Options may expand for heating homes

HOUSEHOLDS will be able to choose from more options to upgrade their home heating systems with the help of Government grants, under new proposals.

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The Government said its boiler upgrade scheme, which offers up to £7,500 off the cost of heat pumps, could be expanded to include other technologies, such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries.

Ministers are also looking at new purchase and ownership models to spread the cost of a heat pump over several years or give households the opportunity to lease one for a monthly fee.

Launching a consultation on the plans yesterday (Wednesday), ministers said they aim to give people who want to shift to low-carbon heating the opportunity to choose what works best for them.

Heat pumps, which use electricity to draw heat from the air or ground to warm homes and provide hot water, are seen as a key technology in replacing gas boilers to reduce climate emissions from homes as well as cutting household bills.