According to the latest Boiler Upgrade Scheme figures, 2,000 heat pump installations each received a subsidy of £5,000 in July, costing the UK taxpayer £10m.
The measure will reduce carbon emissions by a combined 3,200 tonnes per year, but not-for-profit trade body the Energy and Utilities Alliance has said the subsidy would be more effective if provided for home energy efficiency measures.
The Energy Savings Trust says £10m would insulate 19,000 lofts, saving households £4.8m per year on bills while cutting emissions by 11,400 tonnes per year. If used to fit cavity wall insulation, 8,400 homes would save £2.4m per year on bills and cut their emissions by 5,600 tonnes per year. Mike Foster, Chief Executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, said: “The scheme over three years amounts to £450m subsidising 90,000 heat pumps. That same amount could insulate nearly one million homes for free, cutting bills by nearly £220m a year. Surely that’s the greater prize in these difficult times?”
Image credit | Getty
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