| In his pre-budget report, the Chancellor of the | | | | lower both your carbon emissions and your yearly |
| Exchequer has announced a large number of | | | | bills. |
| minor reforms that are aimed at rescuing the | | | | However, this might just be too good to be true. |
| treasury, helping economic recovery and doing a | | | | The plans which the government has put forward |
| bit for climate change. These include a 0.5% | | | | make allowances for 125,000 boilers to be |
| increase in National Insurance, rises in benefits and | | | | scrapped and replaced with more energy efficient |
| a one-off tax on bankers' bonuses. However, for | | | | models. This leaves almost three million boilers still |
| the plumbing industry, the most interesting | | | | running and emitting high levels of toxic carbon. |
| announcement was that of a new Boiler | | | | Officials from the plumbing industry have called |
| Scrappage Scheme. Central heating suppliers are | | | | for more funds to be set aside so that a higher |
| currently in talks with the government and other | | | | number of households will be able to change their |
| interested parties to bash out the final | | | | central heating system under the scheme. |
| programme and as such the number of details | | | | Some people have also criticised the government |
| about how the plan will run is limited. | | | | for introducing a minimum spend before the |
| However from what we do know, will the | | | | grants can be given out. A family must be |
| Scrappage scheme be a success? | | | | spending approximately £2000 on their |
| The plumbing industry has estimated that there | | | | new central heating system before they are |
| are approximately four million boilers working in | | | | eligible to receive the £400 grant towards |
| the UK which fit into the government's category | | | | the costs. Whilst this is undoubtedly a large |
| as an old, gas-working, non-green boiler and as | | | | amount, some have argued that there should not |
| such could be scrapped as part of the new | | | | be a minimum spend before it is granted as this |
| scheme. These boilers emit almost a tonne more | | | | will put off those households on a lower income. |
| carbon than their greener counterparts and cost | | | | The full details of the scheme remain to be seen |
| the average household an extra £200 | | | | and as such we should wait and see just how |
| pounds each year in terms of bills. This is because | | | | beneficial this plan will be to the majority of |
| their technology is no longer modern and wastes | | | | households still using an old gas boiler. However, |
| a high amount of energy. | | | | many sides of the argument seem to think that |
| So by scrapping in the gas guzzler you could | | | | more widespread plans should be announced. |