Share this page
Print this page:
Add this page to:
Call for return of boiler scrappage scheme
22/06/10
Edited by Bob Witham. The speed with which the 125,000 vouchers for the government's boiler scrappage scheme were snapped up suggests the government should introduce a larger programme to meet pent-up demand for more efficient heating systems, it has been claimed.
Richard Clarke, chairman of plumbing specialist 1st Action, said the original scrappage programme, which was announced in December's pre-Budget report by then chancellor Alistair Darling, "hardly scratched the surface" in terms of replacing the UK's 3.5 million G-rated boilers.
Vouchers for the original scheme, which provided a £400 rebate on the installation of an A-rated boiler, were fully subscribed in March.
However, Mr. Clarke said his plumbers are still receiving enquiries from residential property owners looking to take part in the initiative.
"The installation of an efficient heating system is an effective way of reducing household energy bills and CO2 emissions, as domestic heating accounts for 14 per cent of the UK's CO2 emissions," he added.
According to figures from the previous government, the boiler scrappage scheme supported around 130,000 plumbers and heating engineers throughout England.
