Government green heating scheme shut down for slow start

A major new grant scheme to replace gas boilers in England and Wales has got off to a slow start

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[{"selector":"#anim-a81d8280-800f-4870-b259-b805d5ada2c9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-37.98828118469647%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bc4cf29-1b03-4cdf-ad20-d772594d023a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(128.07017%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff65dd2e-1683-423c-b4cb-92078ee74b33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64c255c1-74da-4f02-91b4-9728ef0538ff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Households can apply for vouchers under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to help them switch to a heat pump. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-9b87f3d3-1a0a-4646-b10c-d7e3b48c9fd1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.204696485203577%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0f7134b-e65e-4486-885d-fced4aa555be","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-125.33783%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0f26c2f-c8b2-47ad-9545-36aadbb5d115","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55fd2021-24f0-4dba-8325-88b2813eee07","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The government aims to give out 30,000 vouchers annually, but only managed 9,888 between the launch of the scheme in May and the end of the year. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-c78feb2d-31ec-42e5-9832-e9937f7f278e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5211faac-54c8-45f1-9ecd-6d057abd03e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Switching to heat pumps helps reduce heat emissions and so will help the UK meet its climate targets. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-bf0ff936-e228-48cb-9dc1-afdcc26b2eda [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(9.76339297990995%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41c6429d-6d09-4f7f-8568-54cb18ad23d3","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -346.24088%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -97.362935456%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -33.100628128000004%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.430047592000001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.401357728%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}] Since May last year, households in England and Wales have been able to receive a £5,000 grant to replace their boilers with a more eco-friendly heating system. credit-google

The government has set aside £450m for the scheme, saying it will fund 90,000 pumps over three years.

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[{"selector":"#anim-1ec669c1-3cbf-4bd7-820f-e74cc3d1cc46","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb7c36a5-27fc-4936-afba-a75814ca6a0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.21570%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-185976e1-7d4c-4e50-8cdd-92606854b007 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.640086101557266%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] At the current rate, only 42,000 vouchers will be issued by the time the scheme is due to expire in March 2025, based on new figures released on Thursday. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-a49e31b5-2c8c-4675-a737-3787c4c2142d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf93a3f5-a1cc-47b7-9063-6f0d9571b25e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.53732%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5bda66c-9bbc-47a3-aecc-5080c23cb133","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a60932fd-ab3b-436c-92bd-ab6785731e7d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] The scheme was set up by the government to reduce the climate impact of heating UK homes – which produce 14% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-5712aef4-27c5-4327-a906-21c7761b7475 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(48.61469732234649%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8847456b-0170-420a-b313-53ef1c394808","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Heat pumps run on electricity instead of gas and are up to three times more efficient, therefore also giving homes the opportunity to save money. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-c9fb7265-159e-4df1-9d6b-a6ce554a0e98 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc31c338-584f-4274-a7a3-38daba2cfcac","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -420.60025%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -118.27279030000001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -40.209383900000006%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -15.099548975000001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -6.5613639%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}] The plan has already come under criticism for providing funding for only 90,000 vouchers when the government is targeting 600,000 establishments by 2028. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-2e082bbc-b524-410d-8f9f-db35943ef182 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63b01023-6a06-419a-9cdd-13bf06469c96","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a6da352-b15a-4872-968e-4ee1d8b8fe99","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The UK is currently one of the worst performing countries in Europe for heat pump installation, with nearly 400,000 heat pumps installed in France in 2020 compared to the UK's 37,000, according to energy analysts. credit-google

The cost of living crisis may deter some people as the voucher only covers between 75% and 50% of the cost.

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