Homeowners will receive a tax free £7500 voucher towards the cost of installing an air source heat pump through the boiler upgrade scheme (BUS). If your property is classed as rural Scotland you may be eligible for a increased voucher of £9000.

Some of the benefits of using an air source heat pump include:

• Reduce your heating bill by up to 70%
• Reduce your carbon footprint
• Warm and comfortable home whilst reducing energy usage
• Reduce energy requirements (up to 4 times more efficient than a boiler)
• 2 to 2.5 times longer life expectancy than a boiler.

A heat pump works like a fridge in reverse. It extracts cold air from your home and replaces it with warmth. The technology is nothing new, it has been used extensively in Canada, USA and large parts of Europe including Scandinavia for decades. They work in temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius.

To be eligible you need be:

• A homeowner
• Have a non-renewable heating system or have no heating system
• Able to pay for or obtain finance to contribute towards part of the costs (the government will put £7,500 towards the costs)
• Available in England, Scotland and Wales