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Boiler scrappage scheme - switching from a G-rated to an A-rated boiler
Get £400 off a new A-rated boiler or renewable heat technology, when you scrap your old, inefficient G-rated boiler-

What is the purpose of the boiler scrappage scheme?
The UK has one of the most ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets in the world. 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.
There are currently around three and a half million homes in England with the very least efficient type of boiler (G-rated or worse).
To address this the Government is offering up to 125,000 households £400 towards the cost of upgrading their boiler (if G-rated or equivalent or worse) to a high efficiency A-rated one or a renewable heating technology. This will help to save in the region of 140,000tCO2 per year - equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road.

What are the benefits in upgrading your boiler?
New boilers have rated efficiencies of 90 per cent or more meaning that they use less fuel, resulting in lower CO2 emissions and running costs. Renewable heat technologies do not use fossil fuels, reducing CO2 emissions still further.
For example, this means by upgrading your G-rated boiler to an A-rated one, your household heating bill should drop by about a quarter - a saving, on average, of around £235 a year.

Who is eligible for the scheme?
The scheme is open to 125,000 householders in England living in an owned or privately rented home.
Please note:
i) If you are a householder (including tenants) under 60 you can only apply for the scheme if the boiler you are scrapping is in working order and is the main boiler used to heat the home.
ii) If you are a householder (including tenants) and 60 or over you can apply for the scheme regardless of whether the boiler you are scrapping is in working order. However, it still needs to be the main boiler used to heat the home.
Only householders and landlords who privately own and rent dwellings are eligible to apply for a voucher. Boiler installers and manufacturers, local authority registered social landlords, and housing associations are not eligible to apply.

Why isn't this scheme running in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The devolution of power to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland means that their assemblies and governments will take decisions on whether they want similar schemes.

How can you tell if your boiler is G-rated?
A good quick test for gas boilers is to see if it has a permanent pilot light -if it has then it is very likely to be a G-rated boiler. If it is gas fired and over fifteen years old it is likely to be eligible. If it is oil fired and over twenty five years old, it is likely to be eligible.
For a better idea, why not see if your boiler make and model is listed as G-rated or worse by going to
Government Boiler Efficiency Database
SEDBUK Boiler Efficiency Database
Alternatively, you can ask your nominated installer to assist you in determining whether your boiler is eligible.

Want to register an interest in the boiler scrappage scheme?
If you believe that your home has a G-rated or worse boiler and wish to register an interest in the scheme to receive a £400 cashback voucher towards the cost of upgrading to an A-rated boiler, then arrange for your nominated installer to visit, provide you with a quote and have the following information to hand
i) Your full name.
ii) The address of the property you wish to claim the voucher for.
iii) The make and name of the boiler being scrapped.
iv) The company name , address and contact details of the installer carrying out the work.
v) The type of replacement boiler to be installed e.g. gas, biomass.
vi) Confirmation that you have received a quote or visit from the installer to carry out the work.

Once you have this information please call ACT ON CO2 advice line on 0800 512 012 .

When will the vouchers be issued?
The £400 vouchers will be issued from 18 January 2010. You will receive the voucher approximately ten days after application. Vouchers are valid for 12 weeks from date of issue. If the voucher is not redeemed within this time, it will be cancelled and reallocated. There will be only one voucher per household, but if the voucher expires, it will be possible to apply for another if funds are available.
Installations made before receipt of your voucher will invalidate your claim and you will no longer be eligible to receive the £400 rebate.
Please note that no vouchers will be sent out before 18. January 2010.

Which boilers and boiler manufacturers can the vouchers be redeemed against?
Vouchers can be redeemed against a boiler from manufacturer which is for A-rated or equivalent gas, oil or LPG boilers, boilers with a Passive Flue Heat Recovery Device, Micro CHP units or Microgeneration Certification Scheme-registered biomass boilers and heat pumps. Solar Thermal is also eligible if combined with an eligible boiler replacement. Electric boilers are not eligible.

Who can carry out the installation of your new boiler?
Installation of a gas or oil boiler must be carried out by an installer registered with a competent person's scheme (such as GasSafe or OFTEC). Installation of a microgeneration technology must be carried out by a person qualified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

How can you find the best deals on boilers and installation?
We recommend that you shop around by enquiring with a range of installers, manufacturers or energy companies for the most competitive deal. Some companies will be offering complementary deals to encourage you to scrap and replace your boiler with them. Once you have chosen an installer, you will need a quote from them in order to register for a voucher.

How will payment of the £400 be made?
Once you have received your voucher, you can then proceed with the installation. You will need to pay for the new boiler and installation upfront and then claim back the £400 by sending the voucher and invoice to us. If you proceed with your installation before you receive your voucher, this will invalidate your claim and you will no longer be eligible for the £400 rebate.
Payment will be issued within 25 working days of receipt of the voucher and invoice.

What other schemes are available to help you with the cost of installing new heating systems or energy efficiency measures?

1. Warm Front
The Warm Front Scheme in England, which provides owner occupier or privately rented households with a package of insulation and/or heating measures up to a maximum value of £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended).

Measures include:
i) Loft insulation
ii) Draught proofing
iii) Cavity wall insulation
iv) Hot water tank insulation
v) Repairs of an existing herating system
vi) Gas, electric, oil central heating
vi) Conversion of a solid fuel fire to a glass-fronted fire

All successful grant applicant's homes will be visited by a trained Technical Surveyor/Assessor, who will determine the full requirements of each individual property.

If you meet the following criteria then you may be eligible for the Warm Front Scheme.
1. Householders aged 60 or over in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
Income Support
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
Pension Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B1, in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
Income Support
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
Pension Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040, which must include a disability element)
Disability Living Allowance
Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040)
Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
Attendance Allowance

If you think that you are eligible for Warm Front you should visit their website ,www.warmfront.co.uk, or call their enquiry line on 0800 316 2805 to see what help can be provided before you proceed with an application under the boiler scrappage scheme.

Please note that you can only apply for either the Warm Front scheme or the boiler scrappage scheme - not both.

2. Low Carbon Buildings Programme
If you are looking to replace your old boiler with a heat pump, biomass boiler, or solar hot water system then you may be eligible for a grant of up to £2500 towards installation. Visit the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website, www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk, for further details.

Please note that you can apply for both the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the boiler scrappage scheme.

How will the Energy Saving Trust guard against fraud?
The Energy Saving Trust will monitor the scheme and any detected fraud will be reported and prosecuted.

The processes and procedures for monitoring the scheme are as follows:
A voucher submitted for a claim must contain the customer's and the installer's signature. It must also include the GasSafe/MCS registration number of the installer.
As a requirement of law any work undertaken on a gas boiler has to be registered with GasSafe as matter of course.

Therefore, Energy Saving Trust will check periodically voucher claims against work registered with GasSafe. If the work has not be registered with GasSafe in due course this will be further investigated by the Energy Saving Trust and where necessary followed by a home visit to ensure the work has indeed been completed) In addition, a random selection of installations will be checked by the Energy Saving Trust through home visits to ensure a new boiler has been installed.

The Energy Saving Trust will do a daily check if more than one voucher has been applied for a property. This will be done by monitoring postcode data. If multiple applications are detected the Energy Saving Trust will investigate further.

In addition to the post installation audits, the Energy Saving Trust will carry out a small sample of pre-installation audits to confirm that the details on a customer's application are correct. These will be carried out before a voucher is issued.

The Energy Saving Trust reserves the right to conduct other checks and monitoring procedures, as necessary.

Island Insulation Scheme
(http://www.iwight.com/living_here/island-insulation/faqs.asp)

What is the Island Insulation Scheme?
It is a scheme to offer free and discounted home insulation to owner-occupiers and those living in private rented accommodation on the Island. The Scheme is being funded by E.ON and is endorsed by the Isle of Wight Council.

When will it be launched?
It was launched on 11 October 2009 at the Big Day Out.

Why is E.ON funding the Island Insulation Scheme?
E.ON Chief Executive, Paul Golby said, Installing energy efficiency measures like loft and cavity wall insulation are simple ways for individuals to reduce their own energy usage, and this will help to reduce the Island's carbon footprint.
By supporting the Island Insulation Scheme, E.ON can make sure that becoming more energy efficient is easy for everyone.
E.ON is funding the Island Insulation Scheme as part of the Government obligation on energy suppliers to improve domestic energy efficiency known as CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target). Under CERT, energy suppliers must, by 2011, deliver measures that will provide overall lifetime carbon dioxide (CO2) savings of 154 million tonnes. That is an equivalent to the emissions from 700,000 homes each year.

Who are the Partners?
The Scheme is funded by E.ON and endorsed and promoted by the Isle of Wight Council. On-Island delivery of the Scheme (surveying and installation) is through Mark Group and the operation of Heatseekers (see below) is by the Energy Saving Partnership, both of whom are working under contract to E.ON.

How were the partners selected?
In order to select a contractor to deliver the Island Insulation Scheme, a formal tender process was undertaken, with the six major fuel utilities invited to tender. E.ON submitted a tender which offered carbon reduction measures to householders at the lowest price and which most satisfactorily met the requirements of the specification.

How long will the Scheme run?
The Scheme will run until 31 March 2011 which is the end of the period covered by the existing CERT regulations.

Will there be other insulation schemes available to residents?
Yes. All the fuel utilities have home insulation offers and these are likely to be available to Island residents. However, the Island Insulation Scheme is the only scheme which is being endorsed by the Council and which is guaranteed to be available until March 2011.

Why is the Council introducing the Scheme?
Our Eco Island vision requires dramatic action to reduce the energy demands of the Island's housing stock, which is the most significant component of the Island's carbon footprint. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, improved home insulation can also reduce fuel bills for householders, reduce damp and condensation and provide a healthier environment for occupants.

How many jobs are being created?
Mark Group is establishing a permanent contractor base on the Island and will employ 22 local people in administrative, installation and technical surveying services.

Who is the Scheme aimed at?
The Scheme will be available to private households (owner-occupied and privately rented) only, since improvements to the thermal efficiency of social housing are being carried out by Housing Associations under the Decent Homes Standard. The Scheme is therefore applicable to 90% of the Island's housing stock.

What does it cost?
The Scheme provided by E.ON will offer free loft and cavity wall insulation to all private households in receipt of benefits or with a householder aged over 70.

For all other households, subsidised rates of £150-180 for cavity wall insulation and £185-202 for loft insulation will be available.

Additional charges may apply where, for example, scaffolding is needed for cavity wall insulation or a loft hatch fitted to enable loft insulation. E.ON will meet these costs for priority group households.

Are there any other benefits?
In addition to the basic insulation scheme, E.ON will offer free low energy lightbulbs, PC Powerdowns and TV Powerdowns (when available) to priority group households. A Fridgesaver scheme, offering subsidised fridges and fridge / freezers is also proposed. These items, along with Electrisave energy monitors and Eco kettles will be available at discounted prices to all households via the E.ON webshop. Solid wall insulation, draughtproofing and renewable energy systems (e.g. ground source heat pumps) will be made available through the scheme in certain circumstances.

What about co-ordination with other schemes?
Co-ordination with EAGA (the Energy Action Grants Agency) will ensure that households will be referred to the Government's Warm Front Scheme when they require, and are eligible for, heating improvements. Surveyors will also be able to refer people on for benefit entitlement checks where these are required and where the householder agrees to the referral.

How will the Scheme be promoted?
The Council and E.ON will jointly develop and agree a marketing strategy aimed at generating as many referrals as possible. The Scheme will be joint-branded to demonstrate its endorsement by the Council and give householders confidence. A freephone number, 0800 015 2475 , freepost address and dedicated website (www.iwight.com/islandinsulation) will be established as the principal source of information on the Scheme and as the methods of self-referral.

What is Heatseekers?
A key component of the Scheme is an innovative HeatSeekers vehicle (www.homeheatseekers.co.uk) which takes a thermal image of each property from the road. The image clearly shows heat loss from the property and will be hand-delivered to the householder along with details of the Insulation Scheme in a street by street approach. Advance publicity will be carried out to ensure that residents are fully aware of the HeatSeekers approach.

What about No Cold Calling Zones (NCCZs)?
Extra care will be taken with the operation of HeatSeekers in NCCZs. A presentation will be made to all Town & Parish Councils which operate NCCZs before the vehicle starts operation and, with the assistance of Town & Parish Councils, residents will be informed about the scheme. Whilst NCCZs have been established to protect 'vulnerable' residents, these are often the people that can benefit most from home insulation.

What is the Community Rewards Scheme?
As part of the Island Insulation Scheme, E.ON will establish a community reward scheme, whereby community groups nominated by the Council will receive a payment of £25 for every eligible referral they make to the Scheme which results in work being carried out. This is aimed at supporting vulnerable households which would not normally apply to the Scheme, but which are known to local community members. The Council will develop and train a network of agencies to participate in the Community Reward Scheme.

How will standards be maintained?
The contract with E.ON will ensure that work is carried out to a high standard, that all contractors on the Scheme are CRB checked, that high levels of customer care are maintained and monitored through customer feedback forms and technical monitoring and that health and safety regulations are met at all times. A 25 year guarantee is provided for the cavity wall insulation. The contractor will also ensure that data protection legislation is adhered to at all times.

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