Free Heat Pumps in Pembrokeshire Wales
Are you tired of high energy bills and looking for a more sustainable way to heat your home in Pembrokeshire, Wales? A heat pump could be the answer! Here we’ll talk about why heat pumps are a great option in Pembrokeshire, what you need to know before installing one, and some tips to get the most out of your heat pump.
Firstly, why install a heat pump in Pembrokeshire? The answer is simple – Pembrokeshire has a moderate climate, with average temperatures ranging from 7-19°C throughout the year. This means that heat pumps, which extract heat from the air or ground, can provide efficient and cost-effective heating for your home.
Which Heat Pump?
Before you rush out to install a heat pump, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, you need to make sure your home is suitable for a heat pump installation. Heat pumps work best in well-insulated homes with underfloor heating or large radiators, as they work at lower temperatures than traditional heating systems. You should also make sure you have enough outdoor space for an air source heat pump or a suitable area for a ground source heat pump.
Another thing to consider is the size of your heat pump system. This will depend on the size of your home and your heating requirements. A larger system will generate more heat but will also be more expensive to install. (However, you may be eligible for the ECO 4 scheme please contact us for more details)
When choosing a heat pump installer, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable company. Look for installers who are certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and have experience installing heat pumps in Pembrokeshire. You should also ask for references and check online reviews to ensure that you’re getting a quality installation.
Once your heat pump is installed, there are a few tips to help you get the most out of it. Firstly, make sure your home is well-insulated to ensure maximum efficiency. Secondly, consider using your heat pump in conjunction with solar panels (as part of our ECO 4 Whole of House Project) to further reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills. Finally, be mindful of your energy usage and try to use your heat pump during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper.
In conclusion, installing a heat pump in Pembrokeshire is a great way to reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint. With a moderate climate and government incentives available, there’s never been a better time to switch to a more sustainable heating system. Just remember to choose a reputable installer and take care of your heat pump to ensure it continues to provide efficient heating for years to come.
So what are ECO4 Projects, and how can the people of Pembrokeshire benefit from them?
This is part of a government scheme called ECO, this stands for Energy Company Obligation, it has been running since 2013 and previously there was a similar scheme in place called warm front which ran from 2002. There has also been ECO3 and the natural progression of that is ECO4 which a scheme created by the UK government designed to support households on low incomes who have homes that are not energy efficient.
Okay, so what is it?
This an obligation the utility companies have to meet through carbon savings (carbon saved by energy saving measures being installed in houses), they are set yearly.
Previously we were in ECO3 which was designed to to run till 2022. ECO4 is the next stage of the scheme and is set to run until 2026.
Why is it free for the general public?
This was brought about because of fuel poverty and in some instances where people could not afford to put their in-efficient heating on in their houses, there have been instances of illness due to the cold weather so the scheme was brought in to prevent this.
When does it end?
The utilities companies have an obligation to meet which is called Energy Company Obligation the scheme is to run till 2026. However, due to the nature of the scheme, and the fact that energy companies are trying to meet their obligations, it stands to reason that if they meet their quota half way through a year, they are unlikely to keep providing free solar panels, free boilers and insulation for everybody. So don’t waste time, find out if you are eligible today! Contact us.
How does the ECO4 scheme work?
According to OFGEM: “ECO4 will be a four-year scheme and is intended to run from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026. The main objective of ECO4 is to improve the least energy efficient housing stock occupied by low income and vulnerable households. One route that can be used to identify these households is ‘ECO4 Flexibility’ (ECO4 Flex)”
– I’ll discuss How ECO4 works so this consists of several routes that allow our customers to qualify, quite recently this has been broadened quite significantly meaning a lot more people can benefit from the energy saving measures.
ECO 4 consists of several routes, the ones we focus on are:
Route 1:
Earnings of under £31k before tax:
Proof needed:
- 3 months wage slips, or self assessment
- 3 months bank statements
Route 3:
Long-term health issues regardless of income:
- – cardiovascular
- – respiratory
- – limited mobility
- – immunosuppression
This will be proven via a doctors referral letter.
Benefits Route:
- – Child tax credit
- – Child benefits
- – Housing benefits
- – Income support
- – Income related employment support allowance
- – Income based job seekers allowance
- – Pension credit guarantee credit
- – Working tax credit
- – Pension credit savings credit
- – Universal credit
- – Working Tax Credit
One of the key differences between ECO3 and ECO4 is that ECO4 only consists of full projects, so this means if you qualify you could get Solar Panels, Loft Insulation, Wall Insulation, New Radiators and to top it off an Air Source Heat Pump to work alongside the Solar Panels and the Radiators to generate heat. This is all 100% free to the customer, let me be clear it will not be added to your bill in any way, it’s not interest free credit or anything like that, for the end customer it is 100% Free!
Who is eligible?
Eligibility is down to either being on an eligible benefit (please see our below) or living in an area that has available Funding
OK, how do I find out if I’m eligible?
We always suggest just reaching out to us and asking, we are happy to help, as a rough guide please see details below that will help you check if you’re eligible or not:
Essentially there are 3 questions that will let you know if you qualify:
1. Benefits or Earnings:
Benefits – are you claiming any? (inclusive of Pension Credits, Tax Credits or Child Benefits)
Or you are not claiming any benefits but you are earning less than £31k.
2. Location:
Are you are living in:
-
- Anglesey
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Gwynedd
- Pembrokeshire
- Powys
3. How do you currently heat your home? – Are you are using electric, oil, solid fuel or LPG to heat your house
If you answer yes to the above – we can potentially install a full heating project that will consist of:
Full Heating System – including:
- Air Source Heat Pump with Radiators & Smart Controls – (we can take out old heating systems and replace with our new systems)
- Wall Insulation – If you have solid walls or granite stone we can install new eco-friendly wall insulation and will ensure this is fully plastered (worth a mention, this is fully covered by Trustmark meaning it is endorsed for quality!)
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- Attic room insulation – we can insulate the slopes and skim the gables and walls
- Loft Insulation
- Solar Panels (We will install 8 – 10 panels depending on the survey, and also include a hybrid invertor(Hybrid inverter’s help you store the power from the solar panels in a battery)
How long will the installer take to come?
After we confirm your eligibility:
- We will contact you via phone, text or email
- We will arrange a free energy survey which takes around 1 hour
- We will explain time-lines, and the process of the installation will be fully explained upon completion of successful survey
- We will then arrange an install date
- Generally the install is arranged between 1-2 weeks
So what’s next? If you claim one of the above benefits, Contact us to Claim Your Free Energy Assessment today!
Hopefully that answers any questions you have, if you are still unsure please feel free to call me personally on my number:
07715 298 983, if I’m engaged please leave a message as we’re receiving a lot of interest in these schemes at the moment!
Thanks & Stay Warm!
Chief Energy Expert