Local expert Will Overton – director of Vectis Refrigeration – says that changes to the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme are ‘transformational’ for Isle of Wight households.
Speaking this week, Will has said:
“The government has just announced new discounts to help families stay warm in winter and cool in summer. It is a national story, but the implications for the Isle of Wight are far greater than most people realise.
Article continues below this advertisement “The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has now expanded to include a £2,500 grant for air-to-air heat pumps, alongside existing support of up to £7,500 for air source and £7,500 for ground source heat pumps. There is also a new £2,500 grant for heat batteries, which help households store cheaper, cleaner energy for use later in the day.
“For a mainland household this is welcome news. For an Island household, it is transformational.
“Many homes on the Isle of Wight face challenges that mainland installers rarely think about. Older properties, quirky layouts, tight lofts, limited outdoor space and coastal weather exposure all make traditional heating upgrades more difficult. Air to air heat pumps change the equation. They are smaller, quicker to install, and offer both heating and cooling in a single system. Given our increasingly hot summers and the Island’s growing demand for cooling, this dual approach makes immediate sense.
“What the government sees as “an extra option”, the Isle of Wight should see as a strategic upgrade to its housing stock.
“The energy landscape here has always been different. We sit at the end of the distribution network. Coastline winds, humidity and salt air all put pressure on heating systems. We pay the price when equipment is unreliable, badly maintained, or installed without long term coastal considerations. That makes local expertise more important now than ever.
Article continues below this advertisement “The new grants offer a rare moment where national policy aligns perfectly with local need. Islanders can take advantage of a technology that suits our homes, our climate, and our unique infrastructure challenges. At the same time, it gives Island businesses who specialise in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps the chance to lead from the front, not lag behind mainland firms.
“But there is a catch: installation standards, design quality and ongoing maintenance will make or break the benefits. A grant is not a magic wand. If the equipment is too small, too big, poorly positioned or left unmaintained, households will not see the savings the government expects. The Island has already suffered enough from “install and disappear” contractors.
“That is why this moment needs to be taken seriously. Local installations should be done by local businesses who understand local conditions. If ever there was a time for Islanders to back their local engineering firms, this is it.
“This is also an opportunity for the Isle of Wight to get ahead on resilience. Cooling is no longer a luxury; it is becoming part of how we protect the health and comfort of residents through hotter summers. Air to air heat pumps solve both sides of the problem at once.
“The grants are significant. The timing is perfect. And the Island is uniquely placed to benefit if the work is done properly.”
Thanks, but just had a new gas boiler fitted along with new radiators.
It didn’t cost a fortune, has a 10 year warranty and can be serviced and repaired by any local gas engineer.
Lovely and toasty last night, plenty of hot water this morning and fingertip control on the the thermostat.
Exactly thousands more for less heat makes no sense..a dirty great ugly noisy box outside a bloody great tank inside somewhere for it..they are crap.
Yet more unacknowledged advertorial.
… but I accept that it is headlined “Opinion”.
They are crap unless you have a newish very well insulted home still going to cost you many thousands of pounds more than a gas boiler so again still why would you ?
All this grant shite is what is making oue bill so bloody high.
I have a Combi serviced by JPR in Ashey.
Can’t fault them or the boiler.
Agree with the other comments.
Unfortunately it is all part of Milipedes plan to bankrupt the country before he becomes PM – AGAIN!
No way he can’t even eat a bacon sandwich right and talks like a demented lunatic ..worse that starlin..
Yeah right, £2500 subsidy, how much do they cost, how much to run given the cost of electricity. At the moment our energy supply is a rip off too much given to wind and solar. We should have gone down the route of geothermal for a 10th of the current cost
Milliband failed in his bid to be PM when the electorate took a look at his ideas & rejected him. Now he’s back as Energy Security Secretary & just as confident that he’s completely right in his approach to net zero even if it bankrupts everyone. Heat pumps ffs? God forbid he replaces Starmer when this next budget fails. We didn’t want him then & we don’t want him now
Heat pumps are shite, don’t let anyone bullshit you that they are better, because they are not, it’s just another government scam to control us, so we do what they want and dictate what we have and do