£2,500 grants for home air con have just 60 applicants - and no one to install it
A UK government grant scheme offering £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps has failed to produce a single installation seven months after launch. Delays in installer accreditation and restrictive eligibility criteria have been blamed for the lack of uptake.
Why it matters
The failure of this scheme highlights challenges in implementing green energy policies and meeting climate goals during periods of extreme heat.
As people swelter in 30°C heat, they are still waiting to have government-funded air conditioning fitted months into the scheme
Only 62 households applied for vouchers for air-to-air heat pumps ( via Getty Images) Lucie Heath Environment Correspondent close Cancel email X WhatsApp Facebook link share Share bookmark Save Not a single home air conditioning unit has been installed under the Government’s £2,500 grant scheme seven months after it was announced, due to delays in the certification process.
Only 62 households applied for vouchers for air-to-air heat pumps , which provide both heating and cooling, during the first two months of the scheme opening, and no vouchers were issued.
Industry figures said the Government was “playing catch up” as the ongoing heatwave drives demand for air conditioning, particularly within vulnerable peoples’ homes.
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