Efficient, Low Carbon Heating for Your Home
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are one of the most effective ways to reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and improve a property's EPC rating. They extract heat from outside air to warm your home and hot water, and are highly efficient because they move heat rather than generate it. For every unit of electricity used, a well installed heat pump can produce three or more units of heat energy.
Cucumber Eco helps homeowners, landlords, and letting agents understand whether an air source heat pump is suitable for their property, and whether installation can be fully or partially funded through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Warm Homes Plan, or the Warm Homes Local Grant. Where funding is not available, 0% finance options may be suitable.
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What Is an Air Source Heat Pump?
An air source heat pump works by absorbing heat from the outside air, even at temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, and using a refrigerant cycle to raise that heat to a usable temperature for your radiators, underfloor heating system, and hot water cylinder.
Unlike a gas boiler, which burns fuel to generate heat, a heat pump transfers existing heat energy from one place to another. This makes it far more energy efficient and produces significantly fewer carbon emissions. When powered by renewable electricity, an air source heat pump becomes one of the most environmentally friendly heating systems available.
How Air Source Heat Pumps Improve EPC Ratings
Heating systems have a major impact on EPC assessments. Replacing inefficient or high carbon heating with an air source heat pump can significantly improve a property's EPC score. Benefits include:
- ✓ Lower energy consumption and running costs
- ✓ Reduced carbon emissions contributing to better EPC environmental scores
- ✓ Improved heating efficiency scores within EPC calculations
- ✓ Better long-term compliance with energy regulations for landlords
When combined with insulation and heating controls, air source heat pumps can help properties move into higher EPC bands and meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
Who Are Air Source Heat Pumps Suitable For?
Air source heat pumps are suitable for many types of properties, particularly where:
- ✓ The property is well insulated or being upgraded with insulation at the same time
- ✓ There is outdoor space for an external unit (typically wall or ground mounted)
- ✓ Existing heating systems are inefficient, outdated, or being replaced
- ✓ The property owner or landlord has a long term interest in energy efficiency
Cucumber Eco will assess your property and advise whether a heat pump is appropriate, or whether insulation or other measures should be installed first to maximise performance and grant eligibility.
Funding Options for Air Source Heat Pumps
There are currently three main routes to funded or subsidised heat pump installation in the UK. Eligibility criteria differ between schemes, so it is worth understanding which applies to your situation.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): £7,500 Grant
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a government grant for homeowners who want to replace a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump. It provides a one-off grant of £7,500 towards the cost of an air source heat pump installation. Critically, there is no income test for this scheme, so it is open to any eligible homeowner regardless of earnings.
Key eligibility points:
- ✓ Property must be in England or Wales
- ✓ A valid EPC with no outstanding loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations (or proof those are not suitable)
- ✓ Property must not have had a BUS grant previously
- ✓ Installation must be carried out by an MCS accredited installer
- ✓ No income limit applies
The BUS grant is applied directly by your installer, reducing the upfront cost of installation. Cucumber Eco works with MCS accredited installers and can guide you through the process from eligibility check to completed installation.
Warm Homes Plan: Up to £30,000
The Warm Homes Plan is the UK government's flagship scheme to improve the energy efficiency of homes with low EPC ratings. Air source heat pumps can be included as part of a funded package of measures. The maximum grant available is £30,000 per property, covering heat pump installation alongside insulation, heating controls, and other approved measures.
Eligibility criteria:
- ✓ Property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G
- ✓ Household income of £36,000 or less per year, OR the property must be in IMD (Index of Multiple Deprivation) deciles 1 or 2 (the most deprived areas)
- ✓ Property must be in England
- ✓ Covers owner occupied and private rented properties
The Warm Homes Plan takes a whole home approach, meaning the heat pump installation may be paired with insulation and other upgrades to achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in energy performance. Learn more about the Warm Homes Plan.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
The Warm Homes Local Grant is delivered by local authorities across England, using funding allocated by central government. It supports households who may not qualify under the main Warm Homes Plan national scheme, or who live in areas targeted for local delivery. Air source heat pumps can be included in the measures supported by this route.
Key points:
- ✓ Delivered by local councils and local energy efficiency partnerships
- ✓ Criteria and available measures may vary by area
- ✓ Generally targets households on low incomes with poor EPC rated homes
- ✓ Can cover heat pump installation alongside insulation and other efficiency measures
Cucumber Eco can advise whether a local grant scheme is available in your area and help you navigate the application process. You can also apply for the Warm Homes Local Grant on gov.uk.
Which Funding Route Is Right for You?
Choosing the right funding route depends on your household income, your property's EPC rating, your location, and whether you own your home or rent it out. In some cases you may be able to combine the Warm Homes Plan with other measures to maximise the grant value. In others, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme may be the quickest and simplest route.
Our free eligibility check covers all three routes, so you understand all of your options before committing to anything.
Get a Free Eligibility Check0% Finance Options
If your property does not qualify for any of the grant schemes above, air source heat pumps may still be installed using 0% interest finance through approved third party providers (subject to eligibility). This allows you to spread the cost over time while benefiting immediately from:
- ✓ Lower running costs compared to gas or oil heating
- ✓ Improved EPC ratings, benefiting landlords under MEES regulations
- ✓ Increased comfort and consistent warmth throughout the home
- ✓ A future ready heating system as the grid moves to renewable electricity
Benefits of Switching to an Air Source Heat Pump
- ✓ Significant reduction in carbon footprint
- ✓ Up to three times more efficient than a gas boiler
- ✓ Consistent, comfortable warmth even in cold weather
- ✓ Eligible for government grants reducing or eliminating upfront cost
- ✓ Future proofed as the UK electricity grid decarbonises
- ✓ Can provide cooling in summer as well as heating in winter (with some models)
- ✓ Qualifies for the Renewable Heat Incentive successor schemes
Why Choose Cucumber Eco for Heat Pumps
Cucumber Eco provides end to end support, including:
- ✓ Free property suitability assessments
- ✓ EPC impact guidance and pre-installation advice
- ✓ Eligibility checks across all funding routes (BUS, Warm Homes Plan, Warm Homes Local Grant)
- ✓ Access to 0% finance options through approved providers
- ✓ Coordination with MCS accredited installers
- ✓ Ongoing support throughout the installation process
We ensure heat pump installations are planned correctly, installed to high standards, and aligned with your wider energy efficiency goals. Our advisors are up to date with the latest funding schemes so you do not miss out on any grants you are entitled to.
Related topics: Grants Overview, Warm Homes Plan, How Heat Pumps Improve Your EPC Rating, 0% Finance Options, and Eradicate Your Energy Bills.
Get a Free Eligibility Check
Tell us about your property and we will assess your eligibility for BUS, Warm Homes Plan, and Warm Homes Local Grant funding. Completely free, no obligation.